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The decline did not happen overnight. It crept in gradually, disguised as recoverable injuries and temporary setbacks. For years, Collins believed he could push through it, as he always had. That mindset served him well in his career, but it exacted a cost. Each tour added strain. Each surgery fixed one problem while creating another. Eventually, the accumulation became impossible to ignore.
Collins does not shy away from his own responsibility in how things unfolded. He speaks openly about his past drinking, acknowledging that it played a role in damaging his kidneys. There is no self-pity in his words, only blunt honesty. He describes how alcohol became a way to cope with the sudden silence after touring ended. For decades, his life had been structured by performance schedules, rehearsals, and travel. When that stopped, the emptiness hit hard.
What stands out most in his reflections is the absence of bitterness. Collins does not rage against the unfairness of it all. He does not romanticize suffering, but he does not wallow in it either. He speaks with the clarity of someone who has had no choice but to accept reality on reality’s terms. The body he has now is the one he must live in, and denial would only make things worse.
The contrast between who he was and who he is now is stark. As the driving force behind Genesis, and later as one of the most successful solo artists of his era, Collins was synonymous with energy and command. He was not just performing songs; he was leading experiences. The image of that man leaning on a cane is difficult for many fans to reconcile, but it is one he refuses to hide from.
Despite everything, Collins is clear about one thing: he does not feel sorry for himself. He acknowledges the losses without exaggerating them. Yes, he can no longer perform the way he once did. Yes, the possibility of returning to the stage is slim. But he views his career as something already complete. He gave everything he had to it, sometimes more than he should have. What remains now is not regret, but perspective.
There is also a quiet sense of peace in his words. Pain has narrowed his world, but it has also simplified it. The pressure to prove himself is gone. The endless cycle of touring, recording, and promoting has been replaced by a slower, more deliberate existence. It is not the life he would have chosen, but it is the one he has learned to live with.
Collins understands that fans grieve this version of him too. They miss the drummer, the singer, the presence that felt indestructible. But he does not apologize for aging, for breaking down, or for surviving long enough to face the consequences of a demanding career. His honesty is not meant to shock; it is meant to tell the truth without decoration.
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