LOS ANGELES, March 15 (UPI) -- British rocker Phil Collins and his wife of six years, Orianne, issued a statement Wednesday announcing their separation.
The former Genesis drummer will remain in Switzerland to be near his young children, his publicist, Mara Buxbaum, told People magazine.
"They have decided in the interests of their two children that it is better to separate," Buxbaum said in a statement. "They are both very sad that it should come to this, but have as their priority the welfare and happiness of their children and are determined to remain friends and be loving parents to them."
The couple have been living apart since January.
It's the third marriage for the Grammy-winning Collins, 55, who has three children from his previous wives.