Phil Collins Reveals Near-Death Experience in 2024 Hospital Stay

Phil Collins has opened up about a severe health crisis in a new interview with The Sunday Times, revealing that he nearly died in 2024 after a relapse with alcohol led to organ failure and a seven-month hospital stay.

The legendary Genesis drummer and solo artist explained that his struggles with alcohol returned in 2023. After managing to stop drinking following a 2012 health alert, he fell back into old habits, stating that he would drink wine in the morning.

“I’d have wine when I woke up,” Collins told the publication. “That was what I’d want for breakfast, a glass of wine.”

Intensive Care and Life Support Decisions

Collins was first admitted to a Swiss hospital in November 2023. Although initially discharged before Christmas, he was readmitted shortly after and placed in intensive care unconscious.

“My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up,” Collins said. “People were coming to say goodbye. But I don’t remember them coming. I didn’t have no idea this was going on. They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”

His five children rushed to his bedside as doctors weighed critical measures. “There were some decisions to be made about ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing,” he recalled.

Ultimately, Collins spent seven months recovering in the hospital. He confirmed that he has not consumed alcohol since the ordeal, adding, “I was very lucky to have come out of that.”

Burying the Hatchet With Paul McCartney

In the same interview, Collins discussed mending his rift with Paul McCartney that dates back to 2016. The tension began after an interview where Collins claimed the former Beatle had been condescending toward him.

According to Collins, McCartney emailed him at the time to express disappointment. Recently, however, the two reconnected when Collins contacted McCartney to request memorabilia for a charity auction. McCartney brought up the past comments, allowing the two musicians to clear the air.

“We’ve made up, he’s happy about the fact that we discussed it, and I’m happy we discussed it, so it was just really lovely that it’s gone full circle now,” Collins said.

Phil Collins and Paul McCartney, Genesis

Modest Mouse announced on Friday that guitarist Simon O’Connor will not join the band for their upcoming tour. The decision follows recent accusations on Reddit that O’Connor sent inappropriate messages to a minor on social media.

Modest Mouse live concert — Modest Mouse, Photo: Matthewvetter, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Simon O’Conner will not be joining us on the upcoming tour,” the band said in a statement shared on Instagram. “The good news is that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will be jumping in to play guitar.”

Les Savy Fav live band — Les Savy Fav, Photo: Rama, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, via Wikimedia Commons

O’Connor’s tenure with Modest Mouse began in 2021, and he plays on the group’s recently released album An Eraser and a Maze. He is also a touring guitarist with MGMT. The allegations against him surfaced when a 17-year-old Reddit user posted screenshots of a conversation, claiming O’Connor sent an erotic image and commented on bikini pictures while she was 16 years old.

Simon O’Connor Responds to Allegations

O’Connor responded directly within the Reddit thread to address the situation. He wrote that he unequivocally opposes any sexual behavior toward minors and stated that it disgusts him as a human and a parent.

The guitarist explained that he mistook the user for someone who had previously targeted him online. “Throughout my adult life, there has been a person who has popped up from time to time with the intention of, for lack of a better term, messing with me,” O’Connor wrote, adding that the individual repeatedly creates and deletes social media accounts while posting similar photos.

According to O’Connor, after a long night, he noticed a profile interacting with his Instagram posts and stories. Believing it was the same individual, he admitted to reaching out with a tasteless meme, a sticker reading “Simon calls your bluff,” and an attempt to call out the barrage of likes. He stated that he realized his mistake after a few minutes, unsent the messages, and ceased communication.

“I’m genuinely sorry to the person who received those messages,” O’Connor added. “They didn’t deserve to be put in that position, and I’m sorry for the stress and attention this has brought them.”

Tour Schedule and Status

Despite the explanation and apology, Modest Mouse opted to leave O’Connor off the upcoming tour lineup. A representative for the band declined further comment beyond the group’s Instagram statement.

Modest Mouse’s tour is scheduled to kick off on August 4 at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai, California, and conclude on October 23 in Sacramento. The band concluded their statement by writing, “We look forward to being out there with you all.”