Phil Collins performs live for the first time since retirement – in a school band

Phil Collins has made his first live performance since his retirement in 2011 – performing at his sons’ school music concert. Singing both In The Air Tonight and Land of Confusion, the Genesis frontman played with the middle school band at Miami Country Day School last week, reports the Miami Herald. The singer, 63, took to the stage for the first time since 2010, praising his backing band. “Before we start actually I’d just like to say hello and thanks for having me. I was here yesterday and we did a soundcheck and rehearsals and I met all of the kids up on the stage and most of the teachers… you’re all very lucky to have such committed staff,” he began
Phil Collins attends the Stuttgart Premiere of the musical ‘Tarzan’ at Stage Apollo Theater on November 21, 2013 Phil Collins: ‘I was nervous’ Photograph: Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images

Phil Collins has made his first live performance since his retirement in 2011 – performing at his sons’ school music concert.

Singing both In The Air Tonight and Land of Confusion, the Genesis frontman played with the middle school band at Miami Country Day School last week, reports the Miami Herald.

The singer, 63, took to the stage for the first time since 2010, praising his backing band. “Before we start actually I’d just like to say hello and thanks for having me. I was here yesterday and we did a soundcheck and rehearsals and I met all of the kids up on the stage and most of the teachers… you’re all very lucky to have such committed staff,” he began.

Collins, who reportedly retired after suffering from a painful spine injury, addressed his pre-show nerves before he performed.

I was nervous you know. I’ve been doing this all my life but how good can it be? How good can it be tonight? All of these kids came up to me yesterday and were very pleasant and nice and polite and made me feel like part of the band.

While Orianne Collins Mejjati, his former wife, told the Miami Herald that he had agreed to perform at the show after being asked by their children, Collins last year revealed that he was “thinking about” making a return to music.

“I have started thinking about doing new stuff,” Collins told German media at the Stuttgart premiere of Tarzan, a stage musical based on Disney’s Collins-soundtracked cartoon. “[Maybe playing] some shows again, even with Genesis,” he admitted to Bild am Sonntag. “Everything is possible. We could tour in Australia and South America. We haven’t been there yet”.

Last year, the musician’s eldest son Simon Collins, frontman for rock band Sound of Contact, told Smashing Interviews that he was beginning to turn his attentions to music again. “[My father is] doing really well. He’s starting to write again actually and spending more time with family, myself included.”

Phil Collins has not performed with Genesis since 2007. His last full length album was the 2002 record Testify.

Source: The Guardian