We have all sung his songs; he is a legend of music; yet just now, his illness and pain have crushed him.

Collins has spoken openly about the severe spinal problems that developed after decades of drumming. The repetitive physical demands of performing, combined with injuries and surgery, gradually took a heavy toll on his body. Nerve damage affected his mobility and his ability to grip drumsticks, making it increasingly difficult to perform the instrument that helped establish him as one of rock music’s greatest drummers. Walking became more challenging, and in recent years he has frequently relied on a cane or wheelchair during public appearances.