Phil Collins is making a musical comeback with a new album and tour

OHMYGOSSIP — Phil Collins is making a music comeback and is plotting a new solo LP – his first record of new material since 2002’s ‘Testify’ – plus a tour. The 64-year-old singer – who first found fame as the drummer and then frontman of Genesis – has officially confirmed he is out of retirement and ready to unveil fresh songs to the world.

Phil’s motivation for ending his self-imposed exodus is that his youngest children, Matthew Collins, 10, and Nicholas Collins, 14, have never seen him perform on stage.

He revealed to Rolling Stone magazine: “I’m no longer officially retired. The horse is out of the stable and I’m raring to go.

“My kids are now 10 and 14 and they want to see what their dad does. They were in nappies when I was last on the road. They love my music and I’d like to take them out so they can enjoy it.”

Phil hasn’t released an album of original material since 2002’s ‘Testify’. He briefly reformed with his Genesis bandmates – Mark Rutherford and Tony Banks – in 2007 for a reunion tour and in 2010 he released a Motown covers LP entitled ‘Going Back’.

Phil retired from playing music due to his bad back and hearing issues, affected from playing drums, but the doctor has told him he can play percussion again.

He told Rolling Stone magazine: “After this surgery, though, the doctor said to me that my vital signs were all there. He said to me, ‘If you want to play drums again, all you have to do is practice.’ “

On touring again, Phil said he doesn’t think it will be a massive set of dates, but he’d love to play stadiums.

He added: “I don’t think I want a very long tour. But I would like to play the stadiums in Australia and the Far East, and that’s the only way to do that. But there’s a part of me that just wants to do theatres, so we’ll see.”

And on whether Genesis will reunite, Phil concluded: “Let’s start with this [solo] bit first. I love the guys. I would just prefer to do this first. For now, let’s just see how this goes.”