Phil Collins gave a tearful acceptance speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Peacock Theater on Saturday night.
The 75-year-old singer whose mobility issues and other health problems kept him from performing, took to the stage slowly using a pair of canes and cried at a huge standing ovation from a crowd that included his daughter, actress Lily Collins.
Phil credited his assistant for saving his life after she told him what he had been doing was bad for him and what changes he needed to make, noting he is a “well man now.”
He told the audience, “I’m not joking when I say without her I wouldn’t be here. I’d be in a box six feet under.”
He went on to thank his manager Tony Smith, Atlantic Records’ Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun, and Virgin Records founder Richard Branson, who he said “took me under their wing and they saw something that was worth nurturing,” as well as “my three ex-wives, because they’ve loved me through the years and given me five great children”
Phil closed his speech by praising Eric Clapton and Robert Plant, who are among the musicians he has performed with, complimenting, “These guys were heroes to me.”
The iconic drummer who hasn’t been able to take the stage since 2022, had an electrifying tribute from Cynthia Erivo and Travis Barker.
The Blink-182 drummer Travis inducted Phil and praised him for his unprecedented dual stardom as a drummer and a hit-making pop singer in the 1980s.
“I grew up just wanting to play the drums,” Phil said. “Everything else has been a really happy accident. I can’t believe, when I look back, how life has gone.”
Travis said Phil’s song In the Air Tonight gave the world “arguably the most badass drum fill of all time.”
Minutes later, Travis played it himself as Cynthia gave a slowed-down, epic rendition of the song that brought the crowd to its feet.
The musician was already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis, but now gets the solo honour too.
At the start of the evening, Phil hit the red carpet using his canes alongside Emily In Paris actress daughter Lily who wowed in a pair of red leather trousers.
It is also pertinent to mention that Phil Collins wasn’t the only star being inducted at the gala, Queen Latifah, Oasis, MC Lyte and Sade were also, along with Billy Idol, New Order and Iron Maiden.
