It’s been 2002 since we’ve gotten an album from Phil Collins (Testify). It’s been 2010 since we’ve even gotten a cover album (Motown Classics).In 2011, he announced a retirement. He had wanted to have more time in raising his two children. The kids are grown and former Genesis frontman has revealed to Rolling Stone that he wants back in the studio and back on the road.
“I’m no longer officially retired,” Collins said. “The horse is out of the stable and I’m raring to go.”
It was shocking in light of the fact that Collins has recently undergone back surgery.
“I had an MRI and my back and hips were just shot,” he said. “The doctor had to go in there, work on the sciatic nerve and take my back apart and unscramble the mess.”After the surgery his doctor is hopeful he could return to the kit. “He said to me, ‘If you want to play drums again, all you have to do is practice.’”
He brought bassist Lelan Sklar and drummer Jason Bonham together for rehearsals last year. But he had gotten sick those sessions fell apart. Whether or not those musicians will continue on with him in this latest revival is still up in the air. But. . he’s moved a recording studio into his home and is preparing to begin recording next month. A tour will depend on the fans’ response to his upcoming reissues campaign. “I’m easily flattered,” Collins said. “If people rediscover the old stuff and show interest, it would be silly to not make more music.”
As far as what a tour would look like: “I don’t think I want a very long tour,” admitted Collins. “But I would like to play the stadiums in Australia and the Far East, and that’s the only way to do that. But there’s a part of me that just wants to do theaters, so we’ll see.”
A Genesis reunion? “I love the guys. I would just prefer to do this first. For now, let’s just see how this goes.” He added that he doesn’t think fans have “thought it through” regarding a full-fledged, Peter Gabriel-led reunion of the band. “Pete won’t sing ‘Invisible Touch’ or ‘I Can’t Dance,’” said Collins. “We’d only do material like ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.’ Also, I can’t play drums, so I can’t do what I did. I just want to settle with the bits of me that I can possibly do.”
Whether this happens or not, Collins appears excited to return to his solo career and get back on road. “No matter what happens, I can go out there, play piano and sing. I’m just in a very happy place right now.” For that matter, his kids are all for his comeback too. “They were in nappies when I was last on the road. They love my music and I’d like to take them out so they can enjoy it.”