Phil Collins was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame last night (November 14), with Cynthia Erivo and Blink-182‘s Travis Barker joining forces for a performance of his classic ‘In The Air Tonight’ – watch below.
The 75-year-old singer and drummer was honoured at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, becoming a two-time inductee after previously being recognised as a member of Genesis in 2010.
Barker delivered the induction speech, paying tribute to Collins’ influential drumming and his extraordinary success as both a member of Genesis and a solo artist.
“I remember hearing the drums for the first time and being blown away,” he said of ‘In The Air Tonight’. “That sound changed everything.”
He went on to describe the song’s famous drum break as “arguably the most badass drum fill of all time”, before thanking Collins for inspiring generations of musicians.
Following the induction, Erivo delivered a powerful, stripped-back rendition of the 1981 single, with Barker behind the kit to recreate the iconic drum part.
Watch the performance below:
Collins, who attended the ceremony alongside his daughter, Emily In Paris star Lily Collins, was visibly emotional as he received a standing ovation.
The musician, who has experienced a series of serious health problems in recent years, walked to the stage using two canes.
“I’m really not as bad as it looks,” he joked, assuring the audience that his health had improved.
Reflecting on his career, Collins said: “I grew up just wanting to play the drums. Everything else has been a really happy accident.”
He also thanked his three former wives for their support over the years and for giving him his five children.
And despite having stepped away from live performance in recent years, Collins ended his speech with a promise to fans: “You haven’t heard the last of me. I promise you that.”
The comments come after Collins ruled out performing at the ceremony earlier this year, explaining that he was not physically ready for the demands of rehearsals and singing live.
Collins has faced significant health challenges since suffering a spinal injury in 2007, which left him with nerve damage and affected his ability to play the drums. He has also undergone multiple knee operations.
During Genesis’ final tour in 2021 and 2022, Collins performed seated, while his son Nic Collins took over drumming duties.
In August, he spoke candidly about his recovery from alcohol addiction, revealing that he had been sober for three years after a period of serious illness that had left him critically ill and on life support in 2024.
Collins launched his solo career with 1981’s ‘Face Value’, which featured ‘In The Air Tonight’, before releasing a string of hugely successful albums including ‘Hello, I Must Be Going!’, ‘No Jacket Required’ and ‘…But Seriously’.
His solo hits include ‘Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)’, ‘Sussudio’, ‘One More Night’ and ‘Another Day In Paradise’.
Elsewhere at the ceremony, Oasis, Joy Division and New Order were inducted, with performances from Deftones, Lauren Mayberry and Peter Hook.
An edited version of the ceremony will air on ABC in the US on December 8, before becoming available on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
