Musicians Phil Collins and Paul McCartney have reconciled, putting an end to a public falling-out that began in 2016. The two music titans have reportedly “kissed and made up” after years of tension, marking a significant moment for British rock and roll history.
The reconciliation came about after Collins recently contacted McCartney to request memorabilia donations for a King’s Trust charity auction scheduled for November in Los Angeles. During their conversation, McCartney brought up their past disagreement, leading to a resolution.
The rift between the two legendary artists dates back to 2002. Collins recounted an incident at a Buckingham Palace party where he asked McCartney to sign a first-edition copy of Hunter Davies’ “The Beatles” book. McCartney, in the presence of his then-wife Heather Mills, reportedly said, “Oh, Heather, our little Phil’s a bit of a Beatles fan.” Collins took this remark as condescending, later stating in a 2016 interview that he thought, “You f, you f. Never forgot it.”
Collins further elaborated in a 2016 interview with Billboard that McCartney had emailed him expressing disappointment, using the word “sacrosanct.” Collins noted that he wasn’t sure of the word’s meaning but that it “left a bad taste in my mouth and obviously left a bad taste in his.”
The recent conversation, however, allowed both musicians to address the misunderstanding that had divided them. Collins expressed relief, telling The Sunday Times, “I knew where it was going, and said, ‘Thank God you’ve brought it up.’ Because he’s part of my life, you know?” He added, “I wish I hadn’t said it, although it did happen. But we’ve made up, he’s happy about the fact that we discussed it, and I’m happy we discussed it, so it was just really lovely that it’s gone full circle now.”
Both Collins and McCartney are part of an exclusive group of artists who have sold over 100 million records as both solo artists and as members of a band, alongside Michael Jackson. Collins, a former member of Genesis, has achieved ten number-one albums and is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in November 2026.
The interview also touched upon Collins’ near-death experience in 2024, when he was hospitalized and placed on life support due to organ failure, which he attributed partly to alcohol abuse. Despite these health challenges, the reconciliation with McCartney marks a positive chapter for the iconic musician.
The Chenab Times News Desk