Take This Phil Collins Update at Face Value

Phil Collins will attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony but will not perform. He said he was asked to perform and declined, explaining that he would need to be match fit, rehearse, and maintain singing to protect his voice. He cannot currently see a scenario that would lead him to perform again, though he would consider it if his health continues improving. He is focusing on work in his home studio, where he plans to develop lyrical ideas, including half-formed and finished material. His last album of original material was released in 2002, and he intends to start new work before any future live appearances.

"“They asked me if I would perform. I said 'no,'” he told BBC Breakfast in a new interview. “You've got to be match fit to do something like that. You can't just go onstage. You're going to have to rehearse. And by that point, if you haven't been singing, your voice is going to be shot, and that's not going to be good. I'd rather not do it.”"

"Collins “can't really see” a scenario where he would be enticed to perform ever again but “would contemplate” the idea if his health continues upward. He's also encouraging himself to do more work at his home studio as the last album of original material he released was 2002's Testify."

"“I've got lots of lyrical ideas that I write down, and there are things that are half-formed and a couple of things that are finished,” he said. “So there's something that I can get my teeth into to start working on.” Until then, Peter Gabriel better start working on his arrangement of “Sussudio.”"

Read at Vulture