Collins kicks off Genesis tour sitting down

After last playing together 14 years ago,

Phil Collins performed sitting down as Genesis kicked off its reunion tour in Birmingham this week.

With his son Nic sitting in on drums, Collins, who has had a number of health issues over the years that have left him unable to pick up a drumstick, joined bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks for the first date on its anticipated The Last Domino? trek.

But according to a review in Rolling Stone,

the 70-year-old stayed in his chair for the entire show, which kicked off with the 1980 instrumental Duke's End.

“It's been a long time coming,” Collins said early in the show.

While Page Six referred to Collins' appearance as “frail,” fans on social media noted that the singer stayed mostly seated during his 2018 Not Dead Yet tour.

In its review, Rolling Stone said Collins “can still project with real power and conviction and his charisma is undiminished.”

In a BBC interview broadcast earlier this month, the eight-time Grammy winner said he has struggled after surgeries on his back, in 2009 and again in 2015, which affected his nerves.

“I'm kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because I'd love to be playing up there,” Collins said. “I can barely hold a (drum) stick with this hand, so there are certain physical things which get in the way.”

The tour, Collins added, will likely be his last with the 1970s British prog-rockers.

“We're all men of our age and I think to some extent it probably is putting it to bed. I think, just generally for me, I don't know if I want to go out on the road any more.”