Collins calling it a day

LONDON (AP) — Phil Collins (photo) has used his personal website to announce his retirement in a bid to clarify recent speculation over his career.

 In a post titled Breaking News, the London-born multiple Grammy award winner said he wanted to explain his reasons “for calling it a day” in response to articles claiming he was quitting the music business.

“Many of the articles printed over the last few months have ended up painting a picture of me that is more than a little distorted,” Collins, 60, explained. He said he is stopping music so he can be a full time father to his two young sons “on a daily basis” — not because of bad reviews, bad press or because he doesn’t “feel loved.”

Speculation about a possible last act for Collins was sparked by an interview in April’s issue of FHM magazine in which the former Genesis drummer and frontman said “it feels like a good time to stop for awhile.” Contradictory articles soon followed, some focusing on health problems, detailed in the FHM article as a reason behind a possible retirement or break from music.