Phil Collins has shared an update regarding his relationship with Paul McCartney, detailing a feud that has lasted since 2002. The disagreement stemmed from an encounter at the 2002 Queen’s Jubilee Concert.
Collins, 75, recounted on the Piers Morgan Uncensored podcast that he asked McCartney, 84, to sign a rare first edition Hunter Davies book about The Beatles during a rehearsal at Buckingham Palace. Collins stated that McCartney, accompanied by Heather Mills, responded, "He’s a big Beatle fan, is our little Phil." Collins described his immediate reaction as thinking, "You asshole."
Collins noted that he had known McCartney prior to this incident, having played on one of his albums, performed live with him, and presented him with an award. He expressed surprise at McCartney's tone. Collins previously wrote about the incident in his 2016 memoir, Not Dead Yet, and told Billboard in October 2016 that McCartney had reached out via email, but Collins did not reply.
More recently, McCartney contacted Collins after learning he was collecting memorabilia for a King’s Trust charity auction. Collins recalled McCartney asking, "What is all this about?" to which Collins replied, "I wish I’d never said it, Paul. I wish I’d never said it." Collins added that he apologised, believing the issue had been bothering McCartney, who "likes to be liked."