The multimillion-selling artist is to record first new music since 2002, and intends to take on a world tour

Phil Collins has confirmed he will return to making music after a 13-year break, with new recording sessions beginning next month.

Collins hasn’t released brand new music since 2002 album Testify, though did release a Motown covers album in 2010. But in a new interview in Rolling Stone, he declares: “I’m no longer officially retired. The horse is out of the stable and I’m raring to go.”

The singer and drummer first found fame with Genesis in the mid-1970s, before segueing into a successful solo career with hits like Against All Odds and In the Air Tonight. He has sold 150m records worldwide.

The new material will follow reissues of his solo albums, with Collins saying: “If people rediscover the old stuff and show interest, it would be silly to not make more music.”

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In 2011 he announced his retirement, “so I can be a full time father to my two young sons on a daily basis” – this was following his third divorce in 2008, from Orianne Cevey, who eventually took their sons to live with her in Miami while he remained in Switzerland.

In the Rolling Stone interview he said the period “left me with a lot of time on my hands to think about what happened. I went through a few bits of darkness; drinking too much. I killed my hours watching TV and drinking, and it almost killed me. But I haven’t had a drink in three years.” He also has had to go through surgery, after nerve damage suffered on a Genesis reunion tour in 2007 left him unable to play the drums.

Collins says that he is planning a new tour with his sons in mind. “My kids are now 10 and 14 and they want to see what their dad does,” he said. “They were in nappies when I was last on the road. They love my music and I’d like to take them out so they can enjoy it.”

Regarding another Genesis reunion, Collins said: “I love the guys. I would just prefer to do this first. For now, let’s just see how this goes.”