Phil Collins, the beat-weaving wizard who gave us the seismic pulse of “In The Air Tonight,” has been wrestling demons of the body that exiled him from his drum throne for over a decade. But in a heart-tugging twist, the 73-year-old Genesis titan reclaimed his perch behind that legendary Gretsch tom kit in a fresh Drumeo documentary—a raw, rare encore after years in the shadows.
Since a brutal spinal injury in 2007 knocked him sideways, Collins has grappled with drop foot and neck pain that turned drumming into a Herculean feat. Yet, his legacy looms large, undimmed by time or struggle. Enter Drumeo’s “Phil Collins: Drummer First,” a love letter to his rhythmic reign that doesn’t shy from the scars. Alongside his son, Nic Collins, it’s a gritty peek at a dynasty forged in sticks and skins.
The real kicker? Nic and host Brandon Toews resurrect Collins’ mythic kit from the 1992 We Can’t Dance tour—a time capsule of thunder. Nic hops in first, nailing that iconic “In The Air Tonight” fill with a smirk. Then, the air crackles as Phil himself shuffles up. He eases into the seat, gives the drums a few tender whacks—like a lion pawing at old turf—and pulls back with a gruff, “That’s enough of that.” It’s quick, it’s quiet, but it roars with the ghost of glory, a flicker of the untamed soul that still haunts every beat he ever played.
