{"id":621830,"date":"2026-10-06T01:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T01:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/621830\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T01:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T01:44:10","slug":"phil-collins-provides-update-on-decades-long-rift-with-paul-mccartney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/621830\/","title":{"rendered":"Phil Collins provides update on decades long rift with Paul McCartney"},"content":{"rendered":"

You could feel the tension in the air tonight, up until now anyway.<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 27: Recording artist Phil Collins performs during a stop of his Not Dead Yet Tour at MGM Grand Garden Arena on October 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Phil Collins revealed on \u201cPiers Morgan Uncovered\u201d<\/a> that he and Paul McCartney are on good terms after a rift sparked over two decades ago.<\/p>\n

The incident occurred in 2002 at the Queen\u2019s Jubilee Concert.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a rehearsal at Buckingham Palace and I had a first edition Hunter Davies book [on The Beatles] which was very quite rare,\u201d Collins explained. \u201cI took it to the rehearsal so Paul could sign it Paul came up behind with Heather Mills, who he was married to at that point, and I said, \u2018Paul, could you sign this?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

All was well until McCartney apparently said a comment that left Collins with a bad taste in his mouth.<\/p>\n

\"MIAMI,<\/p>\n

MIAMI, FL – JULY 07: Paul McCartney performs in concert at American Airlines Arena on July 7, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cHe probably didn\u2019t mean it like it sounded, but he said, \u2018He\u2019s a big Beatle fan, is our little Phil,\u2019\u201d Collins recalled. \u201cAnd I thought, \u2018You a–hole.\u2019 I couldn\u2019t help it. That\u2019s just what I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collins admits he might have \u201cmade more\u201d of the comment than McCartney meant, but it still irked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew Paul. This wasn\u2019t the first time I met him. I played on one of his albums. I played live with him with the Prince\u2019s Trust,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d given him an award at an award show in London, so I kind of knew him. So I was kind of surprised at that particular tone of reply.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Genesis musician wrote about the incident in his 2016 memoir, \u201cNot Dead Yet,\u201d and brought it up while on the press tour, which prompted McCartney to reach out via email.<\/p>\n

\"Phil<\/p>\n

Phil Collins said he and Paul McCartney are on good terms now. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller\/Getty Images\/Tim P. Whitby\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

But Collins didn\u2019t replay at the time. It took until a few weeks ago for the ice to melt between the two again.<\/p>\n

Collins said that McCartney got in touch after learning he was collecting music memorabilia to donate to a King\u2019s Trust charity auction.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018While we\u2019re on the phone.\u2019 I thought, \u2018Oh, here we go,\u2019\u201d Collins shared. \u201cSo he said, \u2018What is all this about?\u2019 I said, \u2018I wish I\u2019d never said it, Paul. I wish I\u2019d never said it.\u2019 He said, \u2018I thought we were good, you know.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The music icon didn\u2019t share specifics of what was said, other than the fact the two \u201ckissed and made up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI said I was sorry, because I really didn\u2019t wish him\u201d Collins said before trailing off. \u201cI mean, obviously, this had been bugging him because he likes to be liked, as we all do! Maybe him more than some other people. But we all like to be liked. I understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow us on Instagram @WeArePauseRewind<\/a> for all your pop culture obsessions.<\/p>\n