For decades, Phil Collins has been one of the most recognizable figures in popular music. From the thunder of his drumming with Genesis to the unforgettable ballads of his solo career, Collins built a legacy that few in the industry can hope to match. Yet in recent years, a different story has taken shape. Health struggles forced him to retreat from the spotlight in ways both heartbreaking and inevitable, and in that quiet shift, a new chapter of the Collins family began — one where his son, Nic Collins, stepped behind the drum kit to keep the music alive.
A legend slowed by illness
Collins’ health decline has been well documented. Years of back and nerve problems eroded his ability to play drums — the very instrument that first carried him to international fame. Multiple surgeries left him with limited mobility, and in his later tours, fans often saw him seated, leaning on a cane, no longer the fiery drummer who once commanded stadiums with his every strike.
And yet, even as his body betrayed him, his spirit for music never dimmed. Rather than walk away entirely, Collins found another way forward: he turned to his son.
Nic Collins: growing up in rhythm
Born in 2001, Nic Collins grew up in a household where music was not just a passion but a daily language. By his teenage years, it was clear he had inherited more than just a famous last name. His natural rhythm, crisp technique, and fierce energy on the drums set him apart.
When Phil announced his Not Dead Yet tour, it was Nic who took up the extraordinary task of drumming alongside his father. The symbolism was impossible to miss: the same percussive heartbeat that defined a generation of hits now pulsed through the hands of the next generation.
The Last Domino? — a moment of passing the torch
For fans, the sight of Nic behind the kit during Genesis’ final tour, The Last Domino?, was both emotional and inspiring. As Phil sang from his chair, visibly limited but unbowed, Nic delivered the explosive rhythms of “Invisible Touch,” “Mama,” and “I Can’t Dance.” The sound was as powerful as ever, the songs recharged with youthful vigor.
It was more than performance — it was continuity. A father’s legacy carried forward by his son, live before tens of thousands.
One fan captured the moment perfectly after a London show: “Watching Phil sing while Nic played was like watching history renew itself. It wasn’t just nostalgia — it was the music reborn.”
A father’s pride, a son’s humility
Phil has spoken openly about the role his son has played in prolonging his time on stage. “I can’t really hold drumsticks the way I used to,” he admitted in interviews. “But watching Nic play — it’s like seeing a part of me up there.”
For Nic, the experience has been more than a career breakthrough. It has been a connection to his father’s story on the deepest level. Critics who once questioned whether the younger Collins could fill such legendary shoes quickly changed their tune. Reviews praised his technical precision, his composure under the spotlight, and his ability to deliver powerhouse performances without overshadowing his father.
Nic himself has remained humble. He often frames his role not as replacing his father but as supporting him: “It’s his music, his legacy. I’m just honored to be part of it.”
A bittersweet transformation
There is no ignoring the bittersweet nature of this transition. Fans who grew up watching Phil behind the drums now see him seated, a shadow of the physical force he once was. The pain of that image is softened only by the joy of watching Nic take the reins.
The sight of father and son sharing the stage carries a symbolic weight — resilience, continuity, and love. It reminds audiences that while time inevitably slows even the greatest, family has the power to carry the flame.
A legacy secured
As it stands, it seems unlikely that Phil Collins will ever return fully to the drums. His body has made that decision for him. But with Nic behind the kit, the Collins name continues to echo through arenas, ensuring that the songs and the spirit of Phil’s music endure.
For the fans, it is deeply moving. For the family, it is profoundly personal. For music history, it is a rare moment where legacy is not just remembered but actively lived.
As one longtime Genesis devotee wrote after the final tour: “Watching Phil and Nic together was like watching time fold in on itself. The past, present, and future all existed on that stage.”
Phil Collins’ health may have reshaped his career, but it also opened a door for something equally remarkable. In Nic, audiences see not just the continuation of a sound but the continuation of a spirit — proof that while legends may grow fragile, their music never does.
And so, with every strike of the snare, every roll of the toms, Nic Collins reminds us: the rhythm of Phil Collins still beats on.
