Martin Phillipps was a singer, songwriter and musician best known as the founder and leader of the New Zealand rock band the Chills.
- Died: July 28, 2024 (Who else died on July 28?)
- Details of death: Died unexpectedly in Central Dunedin, New Zealand, following years battling hepatitis C, at the age of 61.
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Martin Phillipps’ legacy
Martin Phillipps was only 15 when he founded one of New Zealand’s earliest punk bands, the Same. After that band broke up, in 1980 Phillipps formed the group that would come to define his legacy and influence an array of early alternative rock artists: The Chills.
The Chills signed to the cutting-edge label Flying Nun Records in 1982 and made a splash with “Pink Frost,” which appeared on the compilation album “Kaleidoscope World.” The song drew significant attention, its jangly, airy quality influencing the college rock scene in the United States. The Chills’ debut full-length album, “Brave Words,” was released in 1987, and reached the top 30 in New Zealand. Their next two both hit the top 5, including “Submarine Bells,” which went to No. 1.
Phillipps and the Chills continued to write, record, and tour for the next 40 years, with songs like “Heavenly Pop Hit” earning raves overseas, too. Phillipps’s story was explored in the 2019 documentary “The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps.”
Tributes to Martin Phillipps
Full obituary: Rolling Stone
