Phil Collins of Genesis, “Sussudio” and “In the Air Tonight” fame has been described as “cheesy but talented” and “one of the best drummers alive” plus everything in between. But there’s no argument when it comes to the fact that the 58-year-old artist has been influential, legendary and often-imitated as a drummer. That’s why fans worldwide were heartbroken when Collins broke the news that he’ll no longer be banging away at a drum kit due to a spinal cord injury.

When Collins first broke the news of his injury to the public, at a Prince’s Trust garden party, he told Britain’s Daily Mirror the problem had come about because of his drumming posture. The way that he sat at the drums, he explained, had, over the years, caused his vertebrae to crush his spinal cord. This resulted in his inability to even hold his drum sticks or play the piano without experiencing agonizing pain.

He first began feeling the physical effects of the injury during the last Genesis tour, in 2007. But initially, Collins maintained a positive outlook on the injury. The official Genesis web site quoted remarks from Collins, writing that, “There isn't any drama regarding my disability and playing drums. Somehow during the last Genesis tour I dislocated some vertebrae in my upper neck and that affected my hands. After a successful operation on my neck, my hands still can’t function normally. Maybe in a year or so it will change, but for now it is impossible for me to play drums or piano. I am not in any distressed state—stuff happens in life.”

In a more recent statement to the public; however, Collins explained that the pain has forced him to stop playing the drums altogether. He has to put his health first he went on to explain. “I’ve got a condition that means I can’t play any more,” he told Britain’s Daily Mirror. “After playing drums for 50 years, I’ve had to stop. Obviously I’m very sad about it. My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. I can’t even hold the sticks properly without it being painful,” Collins said. “I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through.”

Collins received his first toy drum kit at the age of five and continued to play from there. Eventually, realizing his talents, his parents bought him more complex and complete drum kits and he began playing to television and radio. Collins first achieved stardom in the '70s as the drummer for legendary rock band Genesis, a 26-year-long gig he got after answering an ad for the position.

At first, he performed back up vocals but took lead position on the microphone in 1975 when Peter Gabriel left the band. “A Trick of the Tail,” the group’s first album featuring Collins on lead vocals, entered the charts at No.3. In 1996 he announced was leaving Genesis.

Several years later, Collins ventured out on a solo gig that turned into a wildly successful second career. His first album, “Face Value” went to No.1 and was followed by a string of hit singles, including “You Can't Hurry Love.”

Recently, Collins attracted a new generation of fans with a line of Cadbury's advertisements, including one that featured a gorilla drumming along to “In the Air Tonight.” The ad became an instant YouTube classic generating millions of hits and a chart re-release reached No.14.

The announcement that he’ll no longer play the drums came after all of this as well as on the heels of his 2008 declaration to the London Times that he would no longer be making music. Whether Collins will continue planning any more tours or studio albums or continue writing music even if only for himself is anyone’s guess. “Don't worry, I can still sing,” he told fans.