Collins’ Drumming Days Over

Genesis frontman Phil Collins has revealed that he will never again be able to sit down behind a drum kit and torture the skins.

Collins told U.K. paper Daily Mirror a spinal injury has forced him to hang up his sticks.

“I’ve got a condition that means I can’t play any more,” Collins explained to the Mirror. “After playing drums for 50 years, I’ve had to stop.

“Obviously, I’m very sad about it. My vertebrae has been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing. I can’t even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through.”

Photo: Rod Tanaka
Collins with bandmates Mike Rutherford (L) and Tony Banks (R) in happier times.

Before the Collins haters out there start celebrating, the injury doesn’t mean we won’t be hearing from him anymore.

“Don’t worry, I can still sing,” the 58-year-old drummer and singer told the Mirror.

Collins revealed his condition Sept. 8 at a party given by Prince Charles and wife Camilla at their Highgrove home near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, to benefit the Prince’s Trust.

There’s no word on what this means for the future of Genesis, although rumors of a reunion that would include former members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett continue to surface periodically.