The son of an Otago University chaplain, Phillipps found their early artistic collaborators in Dunedin's punk scene: Jeff Batts (The Stones); Craig Easton (Verlaines); Peter Gutteridge (The Clean); Terry Moore (Bored Games); and the Kilgour brothers.
A self-described 'escapist' and 'dreamer', Phillipps' first line-up of what would become their career-defining project, The Chills, played their first gig opening for The Clean in November 1980 - already showcasing the kind of melodic psych-pop that would become their artistic calling card.
Phillipps' incredible songcraft helped define a key pillar of what has long since been described (for better or worse) as 'The Dunedin Sound', with The Chills' work, in particular, often attracting significant attention and admiration far beyond the Antipodes.
The Chills in Christchurch, 1982. Left to right: Alan Haig, Terry Moore, Martin Phillipps, Fraser Batts. Credit: Kat Spears from Terry Moore Collection.
3/4 of The Chills of 1990 on the cover of oft-band-champion music publication Rip It Up. Credit: Murray Cammick Collection.
Described by Shayne Carter as "[t]he least malevolent person ever to have three thousand people go through their band," Phillipps' songwriting led The Chills for over forty years and an ever changing band lineup of over twenty members.
In 2019, Phillips participated in their storied life receiving the documentary treatment, courtesy of Julia Parnell and Rob Curry - with the resulting film, 'The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps', described as "a statement about the meaning of music in our lives", playing festivals worldwide.
Martin Phillipps' legacy lives on via their extensive catalogue of recordings, as well as the generations of fans influenced by their beautiful, swirling perfectionist pop.
AUDIOCULTURE: MARTIN PHILLIPPS & THE CHILLS
"The entire music community is utterly saddened by the death of Martin Phillips. His loss will be felt around the world. Aside from his friends and whanau, Martin was loved deeply by a legion of fans - in Dunedin, around New Zealand, and across the globe. He was a true pioneer, a song writing genius, witty and humble. His music is timeless and will continue inspire and resonate. Moe mai rā, Martin."
Anthony Healey - Head of Operations, APRA AMCOS Aotearoa