Against all odds, brave Phil hobbles on stage for first shows in 10 years
PHIL Collins defies the pain as he slowly hobbles on stage aided by a walking stick for his first tour in a decade.
The 66-year-old singer, who had a back operation two years ago, spent the entire concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday sitting down.
The star announced his retirement in 2011 after nerve damage left him unable to play the drums.
But he revealed last year that he planned to go back on tour.
He had hoped to be back on his feet for the shows, as he returned to the stage for the first time since reuniting with his Genesis bandmates in 2007. But he spent the evening seated or leaning against the piano.
Collins has been using a walking stick since he had major surgery on his back in 2015.
In an interview he said he woke up one morning and could not move his right foot. He said: “I had an MRI scan and my back and hips were shot. The doctor had to work on the sciatic nerve, take my back apart and unscramble the mess.”
Despite his discomfort, he put on a terrific show as he dusted off some of his greatest hits.
He was joined on stage by his 16-year-old son Nic, who played the drums.
One fan said: “It was sad to see him sitting down but his voice is still amazing.”
Another tweeted: “Fabulous fabulous fabulous gig at the Royal Albert Hall!”
One fan, Steve Orchard, tweeted: “Phil Collins Royal Albert Hall, bloody superb!! Thanks!”
With his band, he will perform two more nights at the Royal Albert Hall from tomorrow. He then has dates in Paris, Cologne and Dublin before returning for a show in Hyde Park, London, later this month.
Collins, who had more UK top 40 singles than any other artist of the Eighties, made his solo debut with the 1981 album Face Value while still singing and playing drums with Genesis.
His hits include In the Air Tonight, Easy Lover, You Can’t Hurry Love and Another Day In Paradise. HUNDREDS of twitchers rushed to a quiet cul-de-sac to catch a glimpse of a rare bird.
News of the rosy starling spread online and birdwatchers caught the stunning adult male singing on top of a 40ft conifer tree.
The bird is famed for its pink body, pale orange legs and bill and glossy black head, wings and tail. They usually breed in Russia and Ukraine.
Jason Ward, 43, of Harlow, Essex, was overjoyed to be the first of up to 200 twitchers to photograph the bird in Ipswich, Suffolk, on Saturday.
Mr Ward brought more than £7,000 of photographic equpment with him after he “dropped everything” when the news broke on his Bird Guides phone app.
After snapping the bird 280 times, he said: “I was ecstatic. I wandered off to the car and drove with a big smile on my face.”