Phil Collins Shares How He and Paul McCartney Ended Their 24-Year Feud

Phil Collins has provided a surprising update on his long-standing estrangement from Paul McCartney, revealing that the two music legends have officially resolved their 24-year tiff. The dispute between the British artists originated from a misunderstanding that took place more than two decades ago at a major royal event.

The inciting incident occurred during rehearsals for the Queen’s Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002. Phil Collins approached Paul McCartney to ask for an autograph on a rare first edition of Hunter Davies’ book about The Beatles. According to the former Genesis drummer, McCartney allegedly turned to his then-wife Heather Mills and remarked, "He’s a big Beatles fan, is our little Phil?"

The remark left a lasting negative impression on Collins, who admitted to taking the comment to heart. Reflecting on the moment, Collins confessed that he likely made much more of the interaction than McCartney had ever intended. However, the perceived slight contributed to years of awkwardness and a public estrangement between the two prominent performers.

The tension spilled over into the public eye in 2016 while Phil Collins was promoting his memoir, Not Dead Yet. During an interview with the Sunday Times at the time, Collins alleged that Paul McCartney had historically treated him in a condescending manner. McCartney reportedly read those remarks, which left a bitter taste for both musicians and prolonged the silent treatment between them for years.

Despite health issues, Collins has remained active in his reflections and previously noted that he has not entirely closed the door on new music. Yet, the unresolved history with McCartney remained a lingering chapter in his career until a recent, unexpected outreach cleared the air between the veteran artists.

The 24-year feud finally came to an end when Paul McCartney placed a direct phone call to Phil Collins. McCartney reportedly reached out after hearing that Collins had been asking fellow musicians about memorabilia they might be offering. During their conversation, McCartney brought up their history and asked, "What is all this about?"

Collins responded by expressing immediate regret over his past remarks, telling McCartney he wished he had never said them. Paul McCartney replied that he had thought they were on good terms, leading the two to clear the air. Collins described the resolution as lovely, noting that it brought their complex relationship full circle.

Phil Collins expressed relief that the long-standing issue has been resolved, sharing that he is glad to have cleared the air because McCartney remains a part of his life. While Collins couldn't resist a final lighthearted jab about McCartney liking to be liked, both musicians are reportedly happy to put the quarter-century misunderstanding behind them.