Phil Collins open to Genesis reunion with 17-year-old son Nic on drums

Plagued by extensive nerve damage that has made it difficult for him to walk and unable to play drums, Phil Collins came out of retirement last year for his ongoing Not Dead Yet! solo tour and recruited his teenage son Nic on drums.

Now, in a fresh interview with Rolling Stone, Phil has said that Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks were so blown away by Nic’s talents behind the kit on the tour that he believes they would agree to invite him into the Genesis fold.

Asked about the possibility of a reunion, Phil said: “I wouldn’t say there isn’t not a possibility. Me, Mike and Tony are pretty close still. I can’t imagine what it would be like if I didn’t play the drums, but anything is possible.”

Reflecting on Mike and Tony watching Nic performing in London, Phil added: “They both were raving about Nic.

“Mike made the appropriate comment of, ‘He just gets it. He just gets what is needed and what is required and why you’re doing this for that song.’ I thought that was a wonderful thing to say. He was 16 at that point.

“I think that, yeah, if we did anything I think it would have to be with Nic on drums because I don’t think I’m capable of it. I think their opinion of Nic is high enough for them to take him onboard as part of the band.”

Conceding that he’s yet to fully discuss the idea with Tony and Mike, Phil added: “I’m saying this to you I haven’t really said it to Tony and Mike. I did mention to Tony very quietly if we did anything again it would be with Nic on drums. He kind of didn’t say no. But I’m not sure if he heard me or not.”

Speaking to US radio station 91.9 WFKP back in January, Tony Banks said he’d be up for a reunion should the opportunity arise.

“Phil is out there again, which is fantastic … a year or two ago I would have thought he was never going to be out there again,” Tony said.

“He found a way to do it. It involves quite a static performance, but his voice sounds great, and his music still sounds fantastic and everything. So, I don’t rule it out at all. Mike and I see each other all the time, we get on well, no problem, so it’s never an impossibility.”

In an interview with the Daily Mirror last year, Mike Rutherford said that now Phil Collins is out of retirement the doors are open for a reunion – especially as he has maintained close contact with Phil and Tony.

Asked about the likelihood of them performing together again, Mike said: “With Phil retired, we never wanted to go on. But we’ll see. I do appreciate the fact that we’re all very good friends, which is nice, especially the three of us. Who knows?”