But Seriously: Phil Collins Says He’s Not a “Tormented Weirdo”

We heard Phil Collins was completely quitting music. Then his rep said he wasn't retiring. And now Phil himself has spoken:  And he'd like you to know that he isn't going crazy, but that he IS ready for more life outside of music.

In a message on his website, Phil said that he's not sure where all this came from, since, quote, "I haven't spoken to anybody in the press for a few months."

(The quotes that kicked off the Phil Collins retirement frenzy were credited to "FHM" magazine.)

That being said, Phil did NOT deny his alleged retirement…in fact, he insinuated that he was, quote, "stopping" and "calling it a day."

But Phil DID clean some house…he said, quote:

--"1.)  I'm not stopping because of dodgy reviews or bad treatment in the press.

--"2.)  I'm not stopping because I don't feel loved, I know I still have a very large fan base that loves what I do.  Thank you.

--"3.)  I'm not stopping because I don't fit in, this was proved with 'Going Back' reaching #1 in the U.K., and doing incredibly well worldwide.

--"4.)  I'm not stopping so I can dive full time into my interest for the Alamo.

(Dang it!)

"I am stopping so I can be a full time father to my two young sons on a daily basis."

Other than that, Phil didn't DIRECTLY address retirement, so in the interest of not creating any more Phil Collins-related hyperventilation, let's just say that it seems he's interested in focusing more on his personal life right now.

Phil added, quote, "Some of the things mentioned above have been said by me in various interviews, but said as asides with a smile on my face and in passing.

"The result is that I have ended up sounding like a tormented weirdo who thinks he was at the Alamo in another life, who feels very sorry for himself, and is retiring hurt because of the bad press over the years.  None of this is true."

You can find his entire statement, here.