'Doctors asked if my will was in order' Phil Collins opens up about alcohol abuse

Phil Collins has opened up about his return to the stage after recovering from near-fatal alcoholism and finding happiness again with his third ex-wife.

For two decades Phil Collins was everywhere — radio, awards shows, movies and TV — before, just as quickly, he disappeared from the spotlight in 2008.

An Oscar, two golden globes and seven Grammies added to the pressure of fame and the strain of a third divorce eventually became too much.

"How bad did it get? Well if you cut to the end I was in intensive care in a hospital… strapped in kind of, cables coming out of my neck."

"A doctor said to my girlfriend at the time, Dana, "Is Mr Collins' will in order?"

"That is when I finally got better because the guy said I was going to die."

Years of hard work and multiple stints in rehab have brought him back to life for a massive comeback no one expected.

"I'm terrible at retirement you know. I've changed my mind. I'm not retired, a bit."

"When you go onstage and people stand up and they say thank you for coming back I love you, you know, that's a lovely feeling

Retirement is officially over with a massive world tour scheduled in 2017.

And behind him on the drums is Phil's own son Nick, just 15.

"He can play like me when he wants to."

"I mean his big heroes are John Bonham, Chad Smith and me. And I'll have that."

One of five kids from three marriages, Nick is back in his dad's life full-time since his surprise reunion with his third ex-wife.

"The fact is that we missed each other and we realised that it was a mistake and now we are back together and everything is great and I am with my two sons you know and that is a lovely story."

"You know, we got divorced you know yes I paid her a lot of money but that is divorce."

Three failed marriages cost him an astounding $75 million dollars but it wasn’t the money that sent Phil Collins into alcoholism and, nearly, an early grave.

"I have been married three times, not proud of it."

"When I went down the aisle for the first time I fully hoped and expected that I would be you know with that person forever."

That person was Andrea and their rocky relationship and eventual breakup would lead the former Genesis drummer to write his first solo album, Face Value, which was a huge success.

"[My success] has been due to is me writing about what is happening in my life."

"I wouldn't say that I have capitalised on my misery, you know, I don't think that at all, I've just written what has been on my mind."

His second marriage ended with infidelity.

"Well I was following my heart but it turned out that I was being a bit of a bastard, I mean it is not one or the other you know."

"If you are a musician you get plenty of options I guess."

His health and happiness back in order, Phil describes himself as 'lucky' despite his brush with death.

"I am back with my third wife now, which people find strange, but to me I think it is wonderful, I think it is a wonderful story."

Get your copy of Phil Collins' new book, Not Dead Yet, here.