Phil Collins has opened up about his personal life, reflecting on his marriages and a long-standing public controversy involving his divorce. The musician, who became the lead singer of Genesis after Peter Gabriel’s departure, detailed the strains his touring career placed on his first marriage to childhood sweetheart Andrea Bertorelli. Married in the 1970s, their relationship unraveled as Collins was frequently on the road, leaving Andrea to care for their young son, Simon, and her daughter Joely, whom Collins had adopted. Andrea eventually had an affair, a development Collins attributes to feelings of abandonment amid his demanding schedule.
Collins has maintained that his professional commitments stemmed from a moral loyalty to his bandmates, which he balanced against the personal costs at home. He acknowledged frustration and anger over the situation, emotions he channeled into writing “In the Air Tonight,” a song that propelled his solo career.
His second marriage to Jill Tavelman, an American artist more accepting of his touring lifestyle, also faced challenges, particularly following the birth of their daughter, Lily, in 1989. Collins expressed regret over not setting clearer boundaries with his work, admitting that while he improved at declining offers to perform later in his career, he probably should have prioritized family earlier. Nevertheless, when asked if he would go back and change his choices, he gave an ambivalent response, reflecting the competing demands he faced.
The musician’s third marriage to Swiss translator Orianne Cevey began amid a tumultuous period during his 1994 tour. Their relationship overlapped with his separation from Tavelman, and public attention was drawn to their disputes partly because of what became known as “Faxgate.” The press labeled Collins the “rock star who divorced his wife by fax,” though he denies the divorce was finalized solely through correspondence, clarifying that proceedings were already underway before the faxes surfaced.
Collins and Cevey married in 1999 and had two sons, Nicholas and Mathew, before divorcing seven years later. The divorce settlement awarded Cevey £25 million, reportedly the largest in British show business at the time. Following the split, Collins retired from performing to focus on fatherhood but struggled with alcoholism. In 2012, he was hospitalized with acute pancreatitis, prompting Cevey to relocate with their children to Miami and remarry. Collins gradually regained sobriety in 2013, reunited with his sons in Florida, and published his autobiography in 2016, revealing that he and Cevey had reestablished their relationship.
However, in 2020, relations deteriorated when it was revealed that Cevey had secretly married another man while still living with Collins. Collins took legal action to remove her and her new spouse from the Miami home they had shared. He discovered the marriage when Cevey introduced him to her new husband, an encounter he described as “unpleasant” and “unethical,” acknowledging the emotional toll it took. Cevey has reportedly admitted wrongdoing, though Collins has yet to fully forgive her.
Despite ongoing contact as co-parents, Collins is cautious about rekindling their romantic relationship, citing the risk of repeating past mistakes. Reflecting on their bond, he acknowledged the depth of their love but expressed reluctance to pursue a reunion at this time.