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Martin Phillipps, the singer-guitarist and founder of the New Zealand jangle-pop band the Chills, has died. The band’s official social media accounts shared the news today, stating, “It is with broken hearts the family and friend of Martin Phillipps wish to advise Martin has died unexpectedly. The family ask for privacy at this time.” Phillipps was 61.
A cause of death was not shared in the statement, but in the 2019 documentary The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, it was revealed that the late musician underwent liver failure after a life-threatening experience with hepatitis C in the 1990s. Phillipps battled liver disease for several years afterwards, confirms RNZ.
The Chills were revered for their sharp and otherworldly take on jangle pop and indie rock that regularly sounded effortless in practice. As the primary songwriter, singer, and guitarist, Phillipps was behind much of the band’s success, including three Top 10 albums on their local New Zealand charts. The band earned international breakout fame with “Heavenly Pop Hit,” the Chills’ biggest song to date and the lead single from 1990’s Submarine Bells, which climbed radio charts in the U.S., U.K., and Australia in addition to New Zealand.
Phillipps formed the Chills in 1980 in Dunedin, New Zealand when he was just 17 years old. From the jump, the Chills underwent regular breakups and lineup changes throughout their entire existence, with the exception of Phillipps, who remained the main songwriter and lone consistent member. Among the notable former members of the band are the Clean’s Peter Gutteridge and David Kilgour, the Verlaines’ Jane Dodd, Luna’s Justin Harwood, and Phillipps own sister Rachel Phillipps.
A staple of Flying Nun Records, the Chills helped define the label’s sound—as well as their own—with a memorable run of records that have gone on to become cult favorites, beginning with 1982’s Dunedin Double EP, 1985’s The Lost EP, 1986’s compilation album Kaleidoscope World, and their 1987 debut LP Brave Words. The strength of singles like “Pink Frost” and “I Love My Leather Jacket” drew major label attention and ultimately landed the Chills a deal with Warner Bros. imprint Slash Records. After rolling out Submarine Bells and Soft Bomb, the Chills disbanded in 1992 and Phillipps joined Kilgour in his 1960s covers band the Pop Art Toasters.
Upon their revival two years later, the Chills rejoined Flying Nun to release their 1996 album Sunburnt, only to split up once more. Phillipps kept busy with other bands and side projects, including his solo album of demos Sketch Book: Volume One, before he picked the moniker back up and assembled a fresh lineup. The Chills went on to record the Stand By EP in 2004 and three more albums over a decade later: 2015’s Silver Bullets, 2018’s Snow Bound, and 2021’s Scatterbrain.