Phil Collins’ Comeback Continues

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Following back surgery and with hip issues, Collins performs mostly while seated. He’s pictured in Nottingham on November 22, 2017

After testing the waters last year with a couple of brief live performances, Phil Collins announced in October 2016, his Not Dead Yet tour of the U.K. plus five nights each in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany, his first extended time on the road as a solo act since 2004-2005. (The tour name is derived from Collins’ autobiography, Not Dead Yet, published last year.)

The veteran musician began his comeback on June 2 in Liverpool but after just four dates, he suffered a serious fall in his London hotel room, causing him to postpone several dates at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Though he gamely performed his Paris and Cologne concerts, he rescheduled the RAH dates to this month. On June 30, Collins announced that he would augment those dates with another U.K. mini-tour with eight shows in all.

Which brings us to Tuesday night (Nov. 22) at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, U.K., the kick-off date of Collins’ autumn U.K. tour. The setlist, almost identical to his concerts earlier this year, leaned heavily on the musician’s extensive (and hugely successful) solo career, which earned him seven U.S. #1 singles, plus a handful of Genesis hits. (See the complete list below.)

Collins has had back surgery as well as hip issues in recent years and now drums only sparingly. (The 66-year-old now sits throughout most of these arena performances.) His band includes his son, Nic, on drums, as well as the veteran bassist Leland Sklar.

Watch one of those #1 hits, “Another Day in Paradise”

Collins joked about how long he’s been performing. “About three or four hundred years ago, I was in a band called Genesis,” as the crowd roared.

Watch him sing “Follow You, Follow Me”

The evening’s second set included his solo breakthrough, “In the Air Tonight,” with son Nic handling the drum flourish at the end

Collins fans in other countries are still waiting for an announcement of dates elsewhere. For now, his only other scheduled performance, other than the remaining U.K. dates, is a benefit concert for his Little Dreams Foundation in Miami Beach, FL on Dec. 9.

Phil Collins Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, U.K., November 22, 2017 Setlist

First Set
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
Another Day in Paradise
One More Night
Wake Up Call
Follow You Follow Me
Can’t Turn Back the Years
I Missed Again
Hang in Long Enough
Separate Lives
Who Said I Would

Second Set
I Don’t Care Anymore
Something Happened on the Way to Heaven
You Know What I Mean
In the Air Tonight
You Can’t Hurry Love
Dance Into the Light
Invisible Touch
Easy Lover
Sussudio

Encore
Take Me Home

Phil Collins Autumn U.K. Dates (Tickets are available here)

Nov. 24 – Sheffield – Fly DSA Arena
Nov. 26 – London – Royal Albert Hall
Nov. 27 – London – Royal Albert Hall
Nov. 29 – Manchester – Manchester Arena
Dec. 01 – Glasgow – SSE Hydro
Dec. 02 – Newcastle upon Tyne – Metro Radio Arena
Dec. 03 – Birmingham – Genting Arena

The musician’s solo catalog received a significant overhaul from Rhino last year. An 8-CD set was released on November 24, 2017.