My career's history now, says Phil Collins

Rock star Phil Collins is pursuing a new career as a historian after announcing his retirement from music this year.

The ex-singer and drummer, who quit after damaged vertebrae in his neck left him unable to play, is researching American history and has written his first book.

Collins, 60 - a long-time collector of memorabilia from the Alamo - is now seeking a publisher for his study of Texan history. Speaking at last night's Mojo awards in London, he said his fascination for the 1836 siege grew from Walt Disney's Fifties mini-series Davy Crockett.

He even has a bullet pouch belonging to the frontiersman and a belt belonging to Alamo commander William Travis.

He said: "The book has been taking up most of my time, certainly the last couple of years, but I've finished it now. It sounds very anoraky and I'm a bit embarrassed talking about it."

The ceremony at The Brewery in the City was attended by some of the biggest names in rock and pop, including ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Beach Boys pioneer Brian Wilson and Sandie Shaw.