Introduction
Phil Collins, the “In the Air Tonight” icon, has faced significant health challenges in recent years that prevented him from drumming—the very craft that made him famous. Yet in a touching new Drumeo video, the 73-year-old legend finally got to sit behind his beloved Gretsch tom kit for the first time in over a decade, experiencing once again the thrill of playing that drum set he helped popularize.
Since suffering a severe spinal injury in 2007, Collins has battled “drop foot,” which makes lifting the front of the foot a struggle, and chronic neck tenderness—a drummer’s familiar foe. These issues combined to keep him away from the drums he’s best known for. Despite these setbacks, his passion for drumming has never waned.
Phil Collins Tests His Drum Kit in “Drummer First”
In Drumeo’s new documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, Collins reflects on his storied career as one of rock’s greatest drummers, candidly acknowledging the physical limits he now faces. The film also features his son Nic Collins—himself the drummer for Better Strangers—collaborating with Drumeo host Brandon Toews to reassemble Phil’s long-stored drum kit from the 1992 “We Can’t Dance” Genesis tour.
Once the kit was back in position, Nic took the first turn, expertly running through parts of Collins’ iconic 1981 fill from “In the Air Tonight.” He noted that this particular kit wasn’t the original one used on the studio recording, but the powerful groove was unmistakable. Nic also observed that the drum setup forced his father to lean forward—something Collins believes contributed to his later posture and neck issues.
In the final moments of the clip, Collins approached his old kit, sat down, and gently tapped the drums, his eyes lighting up with nostalgia. After a brief moment, he smiled and quipped, “That’s enough of that,” before rising—proof that even after years away, his connection to the drums remains as strong as ever.
You can watch the full Drumeo documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First on YouTube below: