Phil Collins has candidly reflected on his struggles with alcoholism and the personal challenges that followed, revealing a difficult journey marked by multiple hospitalizations and a long road to recovery. In a recent account, the musician described episodes during his descent into alcohol dependence, including disorienting behavior on airplanes, falls, and moments that alarmed his young sons. He recounted leaving rehab prematurely and requiring a medical evacuation from a family holiday on a Caribbean island to receive treatment in a New York hospital.

Collins credited the medication Antabuse, which causes severe physical reactions to alcohol consumption, for helping him maintain sobriety at the time his autobiography was published. However, he later relapsed, initially unsure when he resumed drinking. He acknowledged that the calendar became irrelevant during those periods and noted a growing resentment toward the restrictions imposed by Antabuse. Despite an intervention facilitated by Eric Clapton at a rehab clinic in Antigua, Collins resumed drinking, mostly wine, which he sometimes consumed in the morning. Reflecting on this, he admitted that his behavior indicated a serious problem, even if he did not fully recognize it himself.

In November 2023, Collins’s alcohol-related health issues culminated in a hospital admission, followed by a short discharge before Christmas and a rapid readmission to intensive care. He remained hospitalized for seven months. He described himself as fortunate to have survived and stated he has not consumed alcohol since. The damage from his drinking has left lasting effects on his pancreas and kidneys, but he has spent the past two years focusing on healing other physical wounds.

Collins’s personal life has seen signs of reconciliation. He spoke positively about his relationship with his second wife, who is assisting him with an upcoming charity auction for the King’s Trust, scheduled for November in Los Angeles. The event has also served as a catalyst for mending long-standing tensions with Paul McCartney. The musician recounted a reconciliation following a candid 2016 interview in which Collins had expressed feeling condescended to by McCartney. After McCartney responded privately, and subsequently agreed to contribute items to the auction, the two resolved their differences. Collins described the renewed connection as a meaningful closure to their past disagreements.

Additionally, Collins mentioned having forgiven broadcaster Piers Morgan after previous disagreements, noting that he now enjoys Morgan’s show and finds common ground with him. On a more personal note, Collins addressed his relationship with his children. He expressed regret and sadness over public revelations by his daughter Lily, who shared feelings of hurt and disappointment in a 2017 memoir. Collins said they have since worked through their differences and now enjoy a positive relationship. His son Simon, a musician aged 49, has had his own struggles with drug addiction and lives primarily with his mother, Andrea. Collins admitted that he does not see Simon as often as he wishes but remains hopeful for future family gatherings.