Los Angeles, Aug 21 (IANS): Musician Phil Collins says he came very close to dying due to alcohol.

The 65-year-old has opened up about his battle with alcohol in his new memoir "I'm Not Dead Yet".

"The book is honest, it's self-deprecating," The New York Times quoted Collins as saying.

"I'm not shirking my responsibilities. You start drinking, then you start drinking too much, then it physically hurts you. I came very close to dying at that point," he added.

Collins and his third wife Orianne Cevey, who divorced in 2008 and have sons Nicholas, 14, and Matthew, 11 together, rekindled their relationship earlier this year and he couldn't be happier.

"It's lovely. I'm back with her. We never really wanted to split. I mean, we did, but we stayed in touch, and we were so close because of the kids, and we kept it sensible."

"We didn't go the way that a lot of couples go, and that obviously is evident because we are back together again. The boys are over the moon because their dad is back with their mom," Collins said.