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 in the message posted on Monday.
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.
An article in the Daily Mail said a Texas clairvoyant had lead Collins to believe he is the reincarnation of an Alamo survivor. It reported that since 2007 an interest in the 1836 battle — where 1,500 Mexican troops lay siege to 200 Texans — had slowly taken over his life.
Collins has sold an estimated 100 million albums as a solo artist, but he told FHM he looks at events like the MTV Music Awards and says he "can't be in the same business as this".
"I don't really belong to that world and I don't think anyone's going to miss me."
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