Martin Phillips, a legendary figure in New Zealand's indie-rock scene, has passed away at the age of 61. His band, The Chills, was a key player in shaping the 1980s New Zealand music scene, leaving a lasting impact on bands like R.E.M. and Pavement. The announcement of Phillips’ death came through a statement on the Chills’ social media accounts. While the statement didn't reveal the specifics of his passing or the cause, it was noted that his death was “unexpected.”
Phillips' health struggles were not a secret; a 2019 documentary about him and The Chills highlighted his battles with hepatitis C. Recent reports from New Zealand’s Otago Daily Times also mentioned Phillips had been admitted to Dunedin Hospital due to liver complications.
A key figure in the development of the “Dunedin sound” — a distinctive style associated with New Zealand’s Flying Nun record label — The Chills delivered jangly yet powerful guitar pop. Their music combined wistful melodies with arrangements influenced by punk and psychedelia. Phillips, who was known for his poetic lyrics about art, death, and romance, was the band's sole constant member throughout its four-decade history. This consistency earned the band a loyal cult following that spanned generations.
In a heartfelt tribute, Neil Finn of Crowded House, another prominent New Zealand musician, praised Phillips as “one of NZ’s greatest songwriters.” Finn, whose early band Split Enz once had The Chills as an opening act, described Phillips as being “fascinated by and devoted to the magic and mystery of music.”
The Chills were formed in 1980 by Phillips, along with his sister Rachel, after Phillips' previous band, the Same, disbanded. In 1982, The Chills signed with Flying Nun Records, joining a roster that included other influential acts like The Clean, The Bats, and The Verlaines. The band quickly made a name for themselves with a series of gritty yet melodic singles. Hits like “I Love My Leather Jacket” and “Pink Frost” showcased their unique sound, with the latter becoming one of their most iconic songs.
Phillips’ songwriting often featured a striking contrast between upbeat melodies and darker lyrical themes. For example, in “Pink Frost,” he sang, “I want to stop my crying / But she’s lying there dying,” blending an oddly buoyant bass line with somber lyrics. Spin magazine once described this juxtaposition as something akin to “Paul McCartney attempting Joy Division.”
The Chills released their debut studio album, “Brave Words,” in 1987, which was followed by “Submarine Bells” in 1990. For “Submarine Bells,” they signed with Warner Bros. subsidiary Slash Records in the U.S. The album's lead single, “Heavenly Pop Hit,” climbed to No. 17 on Billboard’s modern rock chart, marking a significant moment in their career.
In a bid to build on their success, Slash Records brought The Chills to Los Angeles to record their next album, 1992’s “Soft Bomb.” This record featured contributions from notable musicians like Peter Holsapple, who had played with R.E.M. on their acclaimed “Out of Time” LP. Additionally, Van Dyke Parks, known for his work with Randy Newman and The Beach Boys, crafted a whimsical orchestral arrangement for the song “Water Wolves.”
Parks even invited The Chills to Capitol Studios to witness the recording session. However, Phillips recounted that the band arrived late and missed Parks' speech to the orchestra. Despite this hiccup, Phillips described the experience of hearing the orchestration come to life as a memorable moment.
Following the tour for “Soft Bomb,” The Chills disbanded but reunited with a new lineup in the years that followed. Their most recent album, “Scatterbrain,” was released in 2021, showcasing their enduring presence in the music world.
Details about Phillips’ surviving family members have not been disclosed. Throughout his career, Phillips was candid about the challenges of navigating the music industry. In a 1992 interview with The Times, he spoke about the difficulties of keeping a band together when finances were tight, noting that the “single biggest problem so far has been just trying to keep bands together when we can’t afford to pay ourselves anything.”
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