Martin Phillips, founder of New Zealand’s influential Chills, dies at 61
As a film enthusiast who grew up listening to the Chills and being part of the indie-rock scene, I am deeply saddened by the news of Martin Phillips’ passing. His band was a major influence on my musical journey, and their unique sound, which blended jangly guitar pop with poetic lyrics and a touch of punk and psychedelia, left an indelible mark on the music world.
Martin Phillips, a key figure in the New Zealand indie-rock movement of the 1980s that significantly impacted bands such as R.E.M. and Pavement, passed away at the age of 61.
His death was announced through a statement posted on the Chills’ social media accounts on Sunday. The statement did not reveal when, where, or how Phillips passed away but mentioned that it was unexpected. It came to light earlier that Phillips had been dealing with hepatitis C and had recently been admitted to Dunedin Hospital due to liver issues.)
A supporter of New Zealand’s Flying Nun record label’s distinctive sound, known as the Dunedin sound, The Chills created catchy guitar pop with a jangly rhythm and a sense of urgency. Their melodies were wistful and poetic, while their arrangements blended punk and psychedelic influences. Throughout their four-decade career, Phillips stood out as the band’s consistent member, writing about art, death, and romance with an artistic flair that earned them a devoted cult following.
× On Sunday, Neil Finn from Crowded House, a bandmate and fellow New Zealander whose earlier group Split Enz once featured The Chills as an opening act, praised Phillips as one of New Zealand’s most talented songwriters. He went on to say that Phillips has always been captivated by and deeply committed to the enchantment and secretiveness of music.
In 1980, Phillips established the Chills as a new band, initially comprised of his sister Rachel. Two years later, they joined Flying Nun Records, known for its close ties to acts such as the Clean, the Bats, and the Verlaines. Under this label, the Chills produced a series of catchy singles, including “I Love My Leather Jacket” and “Pink Frost,” which later gained significant recognition as the band’s most popular songs.
“Instead of continuing to weep, he sings as she lies critically ill – an unexpected contrast, prompting Spin to envision a melancholic McCartney tackling Joy Division-like music.”
After releasing their first studio album, “Brave Words,” in 1987 following several lineup changes, The Chills switched record labels for their next effort. They joined Warner Bros.’ subsidiary Slash Records in the U.S., leading to “Heavenly Pop Hits” reaching No. 17 on the Billboard modern rock chart in 1990.
As the excitement built around our successful debut, I, Slash, couldn’t wait to bring The Chills to sunny Los Angeles for the recording of our next album, “Soft Bomb,” in 1992. With R.E.M.’s star keyboardist Peter Holsapple joining us in the studio, and the ingenious Van Dyke Parks crafting a delightfully quirky orchestral arrangement for “Water Wolves,” we were determined to create something truly special.
In the early ’60s, Parks, an established pop artist with collaborations under his belt featuring Randy Newman and the Beach Boys, extended an invitation to the Chills to observe his recording process at Capitol Studios. According to Phillips’ interview with KCRW in 2022, we unfortunately arrived late. He explained, “We got lost on our way there and thus missed Van Dyke’s speech to the orchestra about the project. However, simply being present and witnessing the creation was a breathtaking experience.”
× The Chills disbanded following their tour for “Soft Bomb,” but they eventually regrouped with a new set of members; their latest release, “Scatterbrain,” was dropped in 2021.
Information about Phillips’ survivors wasn’t immediately available.
In a 1992 conversation with The Times, Phillips openly discussed the struggles of making it in the music business. He revealed that the most significant hurdle they had encountered was keeping their bands intact when they couldn’t even afford to pay themselves a penny.
Yet the Chills’ music put across an abiding belief in the power of a great song.
In “Heavenly Pop Hit,” Phillips expressed, “I remain rooted as the sound penetrates deeply within me / I’m overflowing with joy, even able to toss things carelessly around. / Through various phases, I’ve been evolving for quite some time now / Simply singing, drifting, and reveling in my newfound freedom.”
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2024-07-29 00:28