Phil Collins Wants To Call It Quits

Last year, Phil Collins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Genesis, received the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and released a new album that became his first #1 in his native UK in 12 years.  But it seems that's not enough of a vote of confidence for Phil -- he's apparently decided to quit music for good.

According to the British paper the Telegraph, Phil has told FHM magazine that now is "a good time to stop," and added, "I don't think anyone's going to miss me."  In addition to having hearing problems, Phil is suffering from nerve damage in his hands that makes it all but impossible for him to play the drums anymore.  However, his health isn't the only reason he wants to hang it up.  He tells the magazine that he thinks people are "sick" of him, and that there's no place for him in today's music scene.  He says, "I look at the MTV Music Awards and I think, 'I can't be in the same business as this. I don't really belong to that world and I don't think anyone's going to miss me. I'm much happier just to write myself out of the script entirely."

Saying that his enormous success and ubiquity over the years had made people "want to strangle him," Phil says, "It's hardly surprising that people grew to hate me...I honestly didn't mean it to happen like that."

Phil, who admitted to Rolling Stone last year that he has occasionally contemplated ending his own life, told FHM, "I'll go on a mysterious biking holiday and never return. That would be a great way to end the story, wouldn't it?"

This sounds to me like he's almost struggling with depression or something.  I for one certainly don't want to see him go.  While he may have difficulty playing the drums, I think he could come up with some great music or even a new album.  He could sing, write, collaborate, whatever!  I just don't want to see him, "go on a mysterious biking holiday and never return".