Phil Collins' hospital dash and hospice rumours - what we know about his health
Speculation that Phil Collins was in hospice care has been dispelled following a hospital visit for the renowned drummer who has not been the only music legend of his generation to be struck down by illness.
A spokesperson for the Genesis legend clarified that Collins is actually in hospital undergoing knee surgery, and is not on his deathbed.
The rampant rumour that Collins was in hospice care sent shockwaves through his fanbase just days ago, causing distress among admirers already mourning the loss of other cherished stars like Ozzy Osbourne earlier this week.
Earlier in the year, Collins did acknowledge his declining health. In a conversation with MOJO, he expressed a waning interest in making new music due to his "very sick."
condition.
He remarked, "I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I'm not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I've been sick. I mean very sick.", reports the Mirror US.
"It's still kind of sinking in a bit," admitted the Grammy-winning artist. "I've spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock."
Collins, who began drumming at the tender age of 5, noted that his lifelong dedication has "taken its toll on my hands, legs.
"If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything," he stated.
"If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I'll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I've used up my air miles."
The singer performed his last concert with Genesis in 2022 as his mobility issues worsened progressively after a spinal injury in 2007 resulted in severe nerve damage.
He took to the stage with Genesis bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks at London's 02 Arena, with his son, Nic, on the drums.
The Against All Odds singer managed to complete the show while seated comfortably in a chair, joking that he might have to 'find a real job' due to his ongoing health struggles.
Although he didn't elaborate on his current health status during the farewell performance, Collins has faced several health challenges over the years.
In the 2024 documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, he spoke about his deteriorating physical health. The star is renowned for his exceptional drumming skills and powerful vocals as part of the British rock band.
He also holds a special place in the hearts of younger fans for his work on the "Tarzan" film, particularly his Oscar-winning song You'll Be In My Heart.
In 2017, Collins was diagnosed with drop-foot, a condition that resulted in a loss of sensation in one of his feet.
At the time, he revealed that the condition was a "result of a back operation which makes it difficult to walk."
In his documentary, Nic disclosed that his father had major neck surgery in 2015, and has been using a cane to assist with walking ever since.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Son of Sam serial killer 'possessed by demon dog' as Netflix uncovers new tapes
David Berkowitz terrorised New York for more than a year and now Netflix is covering his crimes in The Son of Sam Tapes New York was paralysed by fear for a whole year serial murderer David Berkowitz roamed the city's boroughs, firing his weapon indiscriminately. Now Netflix is releasing chilling recordings in The Son of Sam Tapes documentary, str The series explores the mind and Berkowitz's haunting past , featuring newly unearthed audio interviews recorded with him by reporter Jack Jones in 1980 at Attica Correctional Facility in Wyoming County, New York. The three-part The Son of Sam Tapes features interviews with detectives, journalists, and survivors of Berkowitz's attacks community. Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated Joe Berlinger, who produced and directed the series, said: "'At the heart of Conversations with a Killer lies a commitment to unraveling the complex minds of notorious criminals while providing a space for those closest to the crimes to find closure. 'With The Son of Sam Tapes, we delve into the world of David Berkowitz and his chilling influence on 1970s New York City. These rare tapes reveal unnerving insights into his psyche, shedding light on the intricate details of the case and the pervasive fear that gripped the city. Through these tapes, we hope to not only revisit history, but to bring clarity and depth to a narrative that has long intrigued and unsettled the public.' Berkowitz claimed the lives of six individuals and wounded seven others during his murderous rampage that began in the summer of 1976 and continued into 1977. Berkowitz was apprehended in August 1977 following a string of peculiar letters he sent to the police and journalists. In these letters, he taunted the authorities and promised more carnage as they had failed to catch him. He gave himself the moniker Son of Sam, a sinister alias that remained, and concocted an utterly outlandish reason for his crimes. Berkowitz alleged he was under the control of a demon, which had taken over his neighbour's dog, Harvey. This ruthless murderer maintained he was merely executing the demon's commands. According to Berkowitz, Harvey the dog was owned by his neighbour, whom he referred to as Sam. In some of his eerie correspondence with the police, Berkowitz confessed to being a "monster" but claimed he wasn't in charge of his actions. In one deranged message, he wrote: "I am deeply hurt by your calling me a woman hater. I am not. But I am a monster. I am the Son of Sam. When father Sam gets drunk, he gets mean. He beats his family. Sometimes he ties me up to the back of the house. Other times he locks me in the garage. Sam loves to drink blood. 'Go out and kill', commands father Sam." Berkowitz was adopted by a Jewish couple and his childhood has often been described as "troubled". He harboured an obsession with arson and in a peculiar diary uncovered post-arrest, he claimed to have ignited nearly 1,500 fires across New York. Described by peers as a bully, his adoptive father deceived him into believing his birth mother had died during childbirth. Upon leaving the army, Berkowitz reunited with his birth mother, an encounter he recalled as "wonderful". However, the deception tainted much of his life. Reflecting on his past, Berkowitz remarked: "Looking in retrospect, that characterised much of my life." He admitted: "I struggled a lot with depression as a child and obsessions with death because I thought I deserved to die." His teenage years were further marred when his adoptive mother died; they had shared a close bond, and her loss left him struggling. Berkowitz said: "When you lose someone that you love is a sense of mourning. I tried to put it out of my mind. I was carrying around a lot of guilt. I was carrying around a lot of shame that I deserved to be punished. I can't explain those things. Maybe I was angry at God and then, well, my birth mother and then, of course, my adoptive mother too. You know I found it very difficult." By the mid-1970s, grappling with being born out of wedlock, Berkowitz began a spree of increasingly violent offences. On Christmas Eve in 1975, he attempted his first murder, but it ended disastrously. Armed with a hunting knife, Berkowitz attacked two women. One victim has tragically remained unidentified, while the other, Michelle Forman, managed to survive despite severe injuries – Berkowitz evaded any suspicion. The turning point came when an old army mate gifted Berkowitz a. 44 caliber Bulldog revolver, sparking a dark fixation. Berkowitz's reign of terror began on July 29, 1976, with his inaugural killing. Donna Lauria and Jody Valenti were deep in conversation inside a car when Donna opened the door, only to be confronted by a threatening figure. That figure was Berkowitz, who brandished his gun from a paper bag, leaned into the vehicle, and fired. Donna died on the spot, while Jody sustained a leg wound. Berkowitz vanished as swiftly as he had arrived. Jody lived but could only provide a vague description of the assailant: a white man in his 30s with short, curly, dark hair. Three months on, Berkowitz replicated his earlier method in another attack. Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan were talking in their car when suddenly it "exploded" around them. Carl suffered a headshot and required a metal plate implant, though both miraculously survived without catching a glimpse of their attacker. A month later, Donna DeMasi and Joanne Lomino were chatting on Joanne's front porch post-cinema trip. The two teenagers spotted a dark-haired man emerging from the shadows in military attire. He began to ask them a question but before he could finish, he drew a gun and shot both victims once. Despite being shot in the neck, Donna's injuries were not life-threatening. However, Joanne had been shot in the back and was left permanently paralysed after the horrifying incident. Berkowitz's next attack would result in his second murder in January 1977. Christine Freund and John Diel were sitting in their car following a cinema trip. They were planning to carry on with their night out when their car was struck by three gunshots. John managed to drive away and had only suffered minor injuries but Christine had been shot twice and passed away in hospital a few hours later. Her death marked the first time police began to connect the shootings. Less than two months later Virginia Voskerichian was walking home from college when Berkowitz once again appeared out of nowhere. The 19-year-old attempted to use her textbooks as a shield but they proved ineffective against the bullets and she was killed. Police were now convinced the shootings were connected and held a press conference, causing a wave of fear to sweep through the city. In April, Alexander Esau and Valentina Suriani were once again sitting and chatting in a car when they were both shot twice. Valentina was declared dead at the scene while Alexander died a couple of hours later in hospital. He was unable to describe their attacker before he died. It was after this heinous act that Berkowitz infamously coined his chilling moniker, leaving a note at the scene of the crime signed as Son of Sam. In the letter where he referred to himself as a monster, it read: "Papa Sam keeps me locked in the attic, too. "I can't get out but I look out the attic window and watch the world go by. I feel like an outsider. I am on a different wave length then everybody else - programmed to kill. However, to stop me you must kill me." Upon examining the letter, police had a psychologist assess it, who concluded that the murderer likely suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and believed they were possessed. Yet, this was merely the beginning of Berkowitz's correspondence. He also sent a missive to Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin, marking the envelope with 'blood and family, darkness and death, absolute depravity,. 44'. Berkowitz wrote in the letter: "Hello from the gutters of N.Y.C. which are filled with dog manure, vomit, stale wine, urine and blood. "Don't forget Donna Lauria and don't let the people forget her either. "She was a very, very sweet girl but Sam's a thirsty lad and he won't let me stop killing until he gets his fill of blood." He even addressed the detectives on the case: "Please inform all the detectives working the slaying to remain. Please inform all the detectives working the case that I wish them the best of luck. "Keep 'em digging, drive on, think positive, get off your butts, knock on coffins, etc. Upon my capture I promise to buy all the guys working the case a new pair of shoes if I can get up the money. Son of Sam." The letter was published in the New York Daily News, with Breslin urging the killer to surrender to the authorities. Yet Berkowitz's reign of terror was not yet at an end – he was gearing up for another attack. A mere month after his initial taunting message to the police, Berkowitz set his sights on Sal Lupo and Judy Pacido as they sat chatting in their car. The car was riddled with three bullets. Sal sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, while Judy suffered injuries to her head, shoulder, and neck. Miraculously, both survived despite not catching sight of their assailant. However, nearby witnesses did report spotting a dark-haired man lurking near the crime scene. Despite the police stepping up patrols in areas previously haunted by the murderer, Berkowitz switched up his location for his final onslaught in July 1977. As Stacy Moskowitz and Robert Violante shared a kiss in their car, Berkowitz materialised from the shadows and unleashed four shots into the vehicle. Both were struck in the head; Robert tragically lost an eye, and Stacy succumbed to her wounds. This time, however, there was a witness who got a good look at the perpetrator. Cacilia Davis, out walking her dog, crossed paths with Berkowitz who gave her a chilling stare before she continued on, only to hear gunshots moments later. Overwhelmed by fear, it took her four days to muster the courage to inform the police of her encounter. Officers scoured the area for any cars that had been ticketed nearby, and Berkowitz's vehicle was on the list. The police bided their time outside his residence, waiting to nab him and to secure a search warrant for his flat and car on August 11, 1977. Emerging from his apartment, Berkowitz was met by Detective John Falotico who decided to make a move towards his car. Inside the vehicle, they discovered the. 44-caliber Bulldog revolver, and Berkowitz immediately owned up to being "Sam". Within just half an hour of intense questioning, Berkowitz spilled the beans about his killing spree but claimed his neighbour's black Labrador, Harvey, was inhabited by an ancient demon that commanded him to commit the murders. After being assessed by three medical experts, he was found fit to stand trial and in May 1978, he entered a guilty plea for all the shootings. He received a sentence of 25 years for each murder, to be served one after the other, and has remained behind bars ever since. Berkowitz is often cited as a "model" prisoner, yet he has consistently declined to seek parole at his hearings.
North Wales Live
36 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
Gen Z rank Love Island top cultural moment for summer 2025
Move over strawberries and cream – it's tan lines, bombshell entrances and 'can I pull you for a chat?' that define the British summer according to Gen Z. A new survey has found that Love Island is officially the UK's biggest summer cultural event for Brits aged 18-28, ranking higher in national buzz and recognition than Wimbledon (44%), Glastonbury (37%), and even the hotly anticipated Oasis reunion tour (23%). The annual reality show also ranked higher than the Women's Euros (33%), where the Lionesses dramatically defended their title on penalties in Switzerland in front of a gripped 15m-plus audience back home. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone (25%), Royal Ascot (18%), BBC Proms (16%), Edinburgh Fringe (12%) and Chelsea Flower Show (11%) make up the rest of the list. Gen Z's Top 10 British cultural moments of summer 2025 Love Island, 44% Wimbledon, 43% Glastonbury Festival, 37% Women's Euros, 33% British Grand Prix at Silverstone, 25% Oasis reunion tour, 23% Royal Ascot, 18% The BBC Proms, 16% Edinburgh Fringe, 12% Chelsea Flower Show, 11% Love Island – known for its sun-soaked villa antics, fiery recouplings and meme-worthy moments – has cemented its place in the national psyche as the event of the summer season. And not content with dominating screens, the guilty pleasure turned cultural juggernaut has also broken into the realm of cultural artefacts. The show's iconic personalised water bottle – seen in the hands of Islanders during every heated conversation and poolside flirtation – was named one of the top 10 symbols of modern British culture. In a list that included both serious and tongue-in-cheek contenders, the Love Island bottle rubs shoulders with the likes of the Greggs sausage roll, a Freddo, Colin the Caterpillar, and even the almighty Wetherspoons toilets. A testament to the show's impact, the Love Island water bottle (24%) is considered more of a 'British cultural artefact' by Gen Z than classics such as the Blue Peter badge (23%) and even Doctor Who's Tardis (19%). Both a hydration hero and certified cultural icon, the popular piece of Love Island merchandise has long since transcended the villa to become a must-have summer accessory. Spotted in the hands of Kimberly Wyatt at Wembley Stadium yesterday for the Oasis concert, the ex-Pussycat Doll and radio presenter arrived in style with the new Love Island bottle in tow – personalised with her name and newly released accessories. Taking its place in this season's cultural hall of fame alongside the likes of Oasis, Glasto, and Wimbledon, Love Island's enduring popularity has made it one of the most talked-about moments of the summer – with a quarter of the nation (25%) planning on tuning into the final next week.
Daily Record
37 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Roman Kemp banned from speaking to Hollywood star after interview prank backfired
Roman Kemp got off on the wrong foot with the A-lister with security being called in to remove hm. Roman Kemp has admitted that he's banned from talking to one huge A-lister after a car crash interview with the star that went very wrong. The 32-year-old confessed he was escorted out by security during a 2015 press junket with Jennifer Lawrence, 34 after a prank failed to land. He had been interviewing the Oscar winner as a part of her promo tour for her film Joy but explained he had not seen the list of pre-approved questions from his Capital FM producers before the cameras started rolling. Their discussion quickly became awkward when the actress provided short, clipped answers and said that the experience "sucked", barely engaging with the conversation. However, it was a prank gone wrong that appears to have sealed Roman's fate. The I'm A Celeb star had pretended to be a superfan and unveiled a fake tattoo of Jennifer Lawrence's face on his chest which reportedly caused the actress to call in security and have him removed from the room. Reflecting on the uncomfortable incident in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Roman wrote: 'Found this old picture of when I interviewed Jennifer Lawrence and for fun pretended to be a mega fan complete with a tattoo… She did NOT find it funny. I was escorted out by security and told I would never interview her again.' Roman, whose parents are Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp and singer Shirlie Holliman, wrote in follow-up post: 'Tbf still haven't had the chance to redeem myself or explain the situation to her…' During the exchange over a decade ago, Jennifer was visibly unimpressed by Roman's questions, which included asking her what her favourite type of cheese was. One moment saw him read her a poem supposedly written in her honour, prompting her to sarcastically reply: 'Wow, that was incredibly touching.' Things went from bad to worse when Ronan claimed to have a tattoo dedicated to her and began unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the fake inking. Jennifer responded, deadpan: 'Oh my god. Oh man, wow right over your heart. I would expect nothing less. I'm flattered and honoured, it looks so permanent. How did they get it so glossy?' Roman then explained how his dad is Martin Kemp and hinted that he would like to take her on a date to one of his dad's concerts. She replied, stone-faced: 'To meet your dad? Coolest date ever.' Despite the awkward exchange, Roman clearly took it all in good humour. Speaking about the experience on The Chris Ramsey Show in 2018, he called it his 'trickiest interview' to date. He revealed: 'She's not having the best day clearly. She hasn't said hello to me, she hasn't acknowledged me, she's just sat there on the phone like this… 'I've already sat down and said 'hi how are you?' and all this type of stuff, [she] just said nothing. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 'I ask the first question and she goes, 'sorry have you started?' I was like, 'yeah I'm already in the questioning her'.' Recalling the hilarious moment when he unveiled the fake tattoo, he said: 'She said nothing after that and then the security guard got up and asked me to leave. 'I am now banned from interviewing Jennifer Lawrence.'
