Phil Collins has admitted to struggling to get out of bed in the morning and drinking wine at 11am in the past.
The musician insists that the absence of his children and failed marriage led to a period in his life of heavy drinking and soul searching.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror he explained: "The retirement process started in 2004 when [son] Matthew was born.
"I thought I'm going to do this the right way - I don't need another gold record, or any gratuity or gratification; I want to stop [making music] and bring my kids up. And then stuff happens you can't control. You get a divorce so I'm not living with my kids."
Splitting from third wife Orianne, a time of drinking heavily began.
"I'm getting up and watching cricket, turning on the television at 11am and having a bottle of wine.
"I was never an alcoholic; I just got to be doing that most days.
"But you have to have a reason to get up and my manager keeps saying, 'You have to do something.' But right now I don't really feel the urge to record.
"My doctor said, 'I can stop you drinking but I can't give you a reason to get up in the morning.' I stopped drinking 18 months ago, but they're still trying to find me that reason."
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