It sounds like Phil Collins has been enjoying retirement thoroughly — the former Genesis frontman released a statement today (Sept. 23) saying he wasn't quite ready to get back into touring.
Collins said that he will be performing a handful of songs at a benefit show on Dec. 6, but that's it, Billboard reports. "I will be performing three or four songs semi-acoustically, and maybe one more with my 13 year old son Nicolas on drums, but that's all as I am not ready to return to the full concert stage at this time," he said.
The statement was well-timed, with former Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford speaking to Rolling Stone recently about a possible reunion. "I'm speaking to Phil tomorrow," Rutherford said. "We'll see what happens. But if he does anything, I think it'll be something solo first ... I just think he's testing the waters because retirement didn't really agree with him."
The classic 1970 formation of Genesis that featured Collins, Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel met up recently to film interviews for an upcoming documentary called Genesis — Sum of the Parts. "It was emotional," Rutherford said. "But I also realized that nobody has changed. Peter and Tony still have a nice sort-of interplay. Phil was the joker, just like always." As for a reunion with Gabriel: "We discussed that years ago and that does remain possible," the guitarist said. "I'd like it to be. But from what I see, there are no plans, though no doors are closed."
Gabriel, who sang on six Genesis records before leaving the band in 1976, was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. Genesis received that honor in 2010.
