The Chills

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The Chills are a New Zealand indie rock band that formed in Dunedin in 1980. The band were fronted by founding mainstay singer-songwriter, guitarist Martin Phillipps (2 July 1963 – 28 July 2024).[1] During the mid-1990s they were billed as Martin Phillipps & the Chills. Their top ten studio albums in their homeland are Submarine Bells (1990), Soft Bomb (1992), Snow Bound (2018) and Scatterbrain (2021). The Chills were a cult band in other parts of the world as one of the earliest proponents of the Dunedin sound. Their top 20 singles are "Pink Frost", "Template:Not a typo" (both 1984), "I Love My Leather Jacket" (1986), "Heavenly Pop Hit" (1990) and "Male Monster from the Id" (1992).

History

Early years and first breakup (1980–1983)

File:Martin Phillipps IMG 4449.jpg
Founding mainstay Martin Phillipps on lead vocals and guitar, Wellington, March 2003

After the demise of the Same, one of the earliest punk rock bands in New Zealand, vocalist and guitarist Martin Phillipps started a new band, the Chills, in Dunedin in 1980. The Same had formed in 1978 with 15-year-old Phillipps on guitar before switching over to lead vocals.[2][3] The Chills' initial line-up included his sister Rachel Phillipps on keyboards and former the Clean frontman Peter Gutteridge on guitar, Jane Dodd on bass guitar and Alan Haig on drums.[3] Their first live performance was supporting Bored Games at Dunedin's Coronation Hall on 15 November 1980, after which Gutteridge departed.[3] By June 1981, Dodd and Rachel Phillipps had also left, leaving the Chills on hiatus.[2]

Martin Phillipps became an auxiliary member of the Clean, serving as their touring keyboardist and studio musician for their debut single "Tally Ho!" (1981).[2][3] The Chills reconvened in July 1981 with Haig and Phillipps joined by Fraser Batts on keyboards and Terry Moore (ex-Bored Games) on bass guitar.[2][3] They provided three tracks, "Kaleidoscope World", "Frantic Drift" and "Satin Doll", for a local various artists double-12" record, extended play, Dunedin Double (June 1982) via Flying Nun Records, marking their recording debut.[3][4] Other artists on the release Sneaky Feelings, the Stones, and the Verlaines, also had three tracks each.[5] The Chills issued a music video of "Kaleidoscope World".[3]

Just before the EP's appearance, Haig left to join the Verlaines, he was replaced by Martyn Bull on drums. Rachel Phillipps temporarily returned after Batts departed, prior to a tour of the North Island with the Clean, though she did not stay for the whole tour. For the remaining dates they performed as a trio; which recorded two singles, "Rolling Moon" (1982) and "Pink Frost" (1984). Andrew Schmidt of AudioCulture described their debut single as "sunny, summery, upbeat".[3] Their performances were paused when Bull was diagnosed with leukemia;[2] the band worked whenever Bull's health allowed from October 1982 to early 1984.[3] Peter Allison had joined on keyboards. In the meantime, Phillipps rehearsed with David Kilgour (of the Clean) in a group, Time Flies, though they never performed live. By June 1983, Haig re-joined the Chills on drums after Bull's leukemia became more severe; Martyn Stuart Bull died on 18 July 1983.[2][3] The band went into hiatus again, although Phillipps played solo gigs until the end of 1983.[4]

Reformation and international success (1983–1992)

By December 1983, they re-emerged under a new moniker, A Wrinkle in Time, with a line-up consisting of Allison, Haig, Phillipps and Martin Kean on bass guitar.[2][6] The name change was temporary, reverting to the Chills by early the next year.[2] They undertook a Flying Nun-sponsored Looney Tour alongside label mates Children's Hour, the Expendables and the DoubleHappys.[3] Public perception developed that the Chills were a backing band for Phillipps – he was the sole mainstay throughout their line-up changes. "Pink Frost" (June 1984) reached the top 20 on New Zealand's singles chart.[7] It was followed by another single, "Template:Not a typo" (1984) and their six-track The Lost EP (1985). The former peaked at number 12, while the latter reached number four in New Zealand.[7] The Lost EP peaked at number 31 on the UK Independent ChartScript error: No such module "Unsubst".. They played shows in London late in 1985.[2] A compilation album, Kaleidoscope World, appeared in March 1986, comprising their early recordings, which reached number three on the UK Independent Albums ChartScript error: No such module "Unsubst".. By October 1986, the line-up shifted to Phillipps, Caroline Easther (the Verlaines) on drums, Justin Harwood (ex-Coconut Rough) on bass guitar and Andrew Todd (ex-Smart Russians) on keyboard.[8]

Their next single, "I Love My Leather Jacket" (1986), reached number 25 on the UK Independent Singles ChartScript error: No such module "Unsubst". and number four in New Zealand.[7] Spurred on by UK chart success, they relocated to London in February 1987, prior to a five-week tour across Europe. In London, they worked with Mayo Thompson (of Red Krayola) on their debut studio album, Brave Words (1987), which reached the top 30 in New Zealand.[7][8] The band spent February through mid-December of that year promoting it by touring Europe, interspersed with four July dates in New York and Boston. A full North American tour occurred during 1988. In 1990, the band were signed to a worldwide record deal with Warner Brothers' imprint Slash Records in North America. Their second studio album Submarine Bells (1990) reached number one in New Zealand and provided their highest charting international single, "Heavenly Pop Hit".[7] It reached number 17 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart;[9] it remains their only American chart appearance. Phillipps was joined by a new lineup of Mauro Ruby on drums, Lisa Mednick on keyboards and Steven Schayer on guitar and backing vocal for the group's third studio album, Soft Bomb (1992). It peaked at number three in New Zealand; while its lead single, "The Male Monster from the Id", reached the top ten.[7]

Second reformation (1995–2024)

File:ChillsDn2013-01.jpg
The Chills performing at a free concert in Dunedin Botanic Gardens, January 2013

Phillipps announced the disbandment of the Chills after the Soft Bomb Tour and joined Kilgour in a loosely organised 1960s covers band, the Pop Art Toasters, which released a self-titled EP in 1994. Shortly thereafter, that group broke up and Phillipps put together another the Chills lineup. The turnover of personnel is cited as a reason for the band's lack of consistent "saleability" and is referred to by local music press as "the Curse of the Chills".[10] A documentary of the same name regarding the history of Phillipps and the Chills was broadcast in 2016.[11]

The curse struck again with the recording of their fourth studio album Sunburnt in England, during August to September 1995. Two band members were refused entry into the UK, so Phillips recruited session musicians, Dave Mattacks (of Fairport Convention) and Dave Gregory (of XTC), who provided drum and bass guitar respectively. Guest keyboards were played by producer Craig Leon. It was issued in early 1996 under the name Martin Phillipps and the Chills.

The Chills split again with Phillipps joining another of Kilgour's bands, the Heavy Eights. Phillipps then recruited new the Chills members for live shows, which performed each year from 1997 on. During the late 1990s, Phillipps was incapacitated by hepatitis C infections, a side-effect of his drug addiction.[12] He released a solo album of home demos, Sketch Book: Volume One, in 1999; it had been recorded from 1988 to 1995. In 2000, Secret Box, a triple-CD box-set of the Chills' live tracks, demos, radio sessions and rarities was released.

An eight-track the Chills EP, Stand By was issued in 2004, the first all-new material in nine years. Phillipps's liner notes promised: "I am preparing to take the band in quite a new direction on the next album. And on that we will begin work shortly." Despite that assurance, no new album appeared for over a decade. In May 2010 the Chills played two shows in Australia, their first outside New Zealand since 1996. Three years later, after another hiatus from recording, a lone the Chills track, "Molten Gold", was issued. It appeared on Phillipps' 50th birthday (2 July 2013) as a non-album single with a re-recording of "Pink Frost 13" as its B-side.[13]

In October 2015 the Chills issued Silver Bullets, their first studio album in 19 years. In February 2017 they released a cover version of David Bowie's 1970 song "Conversation Piece".[14] On 14 September 2018 they followed with their sixth studio album, Snow Bound.[15] Scatterbrain, their seventh studio album, was issued in May 2021.[16]

Phillipps died on 28 July 2024.[1] A new album called Springboard: Early Unrecorded Songs was in progress at the time of his death.[17] It was released on 28 February 2025.

The Chills on film

The Chills have been the subject of documentaries, predominantly produced for New Zealand TV. In March 2019, The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, explored the history of the band and Phillipps' contemporary struggle with hepatitis C.[18] The film was directed by Julia Parnell and Rob Curry, and premiered at SXSW[19] before being released theatrically in New Zealand and Australia. It was subsequently broadcast in New Zealand on Prime TV.

Members

Current

  • Todd Knudson – drums (1999–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Erica Scally – keyboards (2006–2010)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., violin (2010–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Oli Wilson – keyboards (2010–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Callum Hampton – bass guitar (2019–present)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Former

  • Martin Phillipps – lead vocals, guitar (1980–1983, 1984–1992, 1994–1996, 1999–2024, died 2024)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jane Dodd – bass guitar (1980–1981)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Peter Gutteridge – guitar (1980, died 2014)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Alan Haig – drums (1980–1982, 1983, 1984–1986)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Rachel Phillipps – keyboards (1980–1981, 1982)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Fraser Batts – keyboards (1981–1982)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Terry Moore – bass guitar (1981–1983, 1984–1986, 1990–1992)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Martyn Bull – drums (1982, died 1983)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Peter Allison – keyboards (1983–1986)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • David Kilgour – guitar (1983)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Martin Kean – bass guitar (1983–1984)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Justin Harwood – bass guitar (1986–1990)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Caroline Easther – drums (1986–1988)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • James Stephenson – drums (1988–1991)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Steven Schayer – guitar (1992)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • James Dickson – keyboards (1999–2006)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., bass guitar (2006–2019)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:850 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:0 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/10/1980 till:20/04/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = 

id:guit value:green legend:Guitar
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:violin value:drabgreen legend:Violin
id:lines value:black legend:Studio albums and EPs

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1981 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1981

BarData = 

bar:Martin text:"Martin Phillipps"
bar:PeterG text:"Peter Gutteridge"
bar:DavidK text:"David Kilgour"
bar:Steven text:"Steven Schayer"
bar:Rachel text:"Rachel Phillipps"
bar:Fraser text:"Fraser Batts"
bar:PeterA text:"Peter Allison"
bar:Andrew text:"Andrew Todd"
bar:Jillian text:"Jillian Dempster"
bar:Lisa text:"Lisa Mednick"
bar:Dominic text:"Dominic Blaazer"
bar:SteveS text:"Steve Small"
bar:AndrewT text:"Andrew Taylor"
bar:TomM text:"Tom Miskin"
bar:JamesD text:"James Dickson"
bar:Erica text:"Erica Stitchbury"
bar:Oli text:"Oli Wilson"
bar:Jane text:"Jane Dodd"
bar:Terry text:"Terry Moore"
bar:MartinK text:"Martin Kean"
bar:Justin text:"Justin Harwood"
bar:SteveW text:"Steven Shaw"
bar:PhilK text:"Phil Kusabs"
bar:Rodney text:"Rodney Haworth"
bar:Callum text:"Callum Hampton"
bar:Alan text:"Alan Haig"
bar:Martyn text:"Martyn Bull"
bar:Caroline text:"Caroline Easther"
bar:JamesS text:"James Stephenson"
bar:Earl text:"Earl Robertson"
bar:Craig text:"Craig Mason"
bar:JonA text:"Jonathan Armstrong"
bar:Todd text:"Todd Knudson"

PlotData= 

width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Martin from:01/10/1980 till:end color:guit
bar:PeterG from:01/10/1980 till:01/12/1980 color:guit
bar:Rachel from:01/10/1980 till:01/05/1981 color:keys
bar:Rachel from:01/05/1982 till:01/06/1982 color:keys
bar:Jane from:01/10/1980 till:01/05/1981 color:bass
bar:Alan from:01/10/1980 till:01/04/1982 color:drums
bar:Alan from:01/07/1983 till:01/02/1986 color:drums
bar:Terry from:01/09/1981 till:01/07/1983 color:bass
bar:Terry from:01/11/1984 till:01/02/1986 color:bass
bar:Terry from:01/12/1990 till:01/10/1992 color:bass
bar:Fraser from:01/09/1981 till:01/04/1982 color:keys
bar:Martyn from:01/05/1982 till:01/08/1982 color:drums
bar:PeterA from:01/04/1983 till:01/02/1986 color:keys
bar:DavidK from:01/04/1983 till:01/07/1983 color:guit
bar:MartinK from:01/11/1983 till:01/10/1984 color:bass
bar:Andrew from:01/09/1986 till:01/07/1990 color:keys
bar:Justin from:01/09/1986 till:01/07/1990 color:bass
bar:Caroline from:01/11/1986 till:01/06/1988 color:drums
bar:JamesS from:01/07/1988 till:01/12/1991 color:drums
bar:Jillian from:01/11/1990 till:01/02/1991 color:keys
bar:Steven from:01/01/1992 till:01/11/1992 color:guit
bar:Lisa from:01/01/1992 till:01/11/1992 color:keys
bar:Earl from:01/06/1992 till:01/09/1992 color:drums
bar:Craig from:01/09/1992 till:01/11/1992 color:drums
bar:JonA from:01/06/1995 till:01/04/1997 color:drums
bar:SteveW from:01/06/1995 till:01/06/1996 color:bass
bar:Dominic from:01/06/1995 till:01/02/1996 color:keys
bar:SteveS from:01/12/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:keys
bar:AndrewT from:01/03/1996 till:01/07/1996 color:keys
bar:PhilK from:01/08/1996 till:01/04/1997 color:bass
bar:TomM from:01/08/1996 till:01/04/1997 color:keys
bar:Todd from:01/08/1999 till:end color:drums
bar:Rodney from:01/08/1999 till:01/01/2006 color:bass
bar:JamesD from:01/09/1999 till:01/01/2006 color:keys
bar:JamesD from:01/01/2006 till:01/04/2019 color:bass
bar:Erica from:01/01/2006 till:01/02/2010 color:keys
bar:Erica from:01/02/2010 till:end color:violin
bar:Oli from:01/02/2010 till:end color:keys
bar:Callum from:01/04/2019 till:end color:bass

LineData = 

at:07/11/1982 color:black layer:back
at:07/01/1985 color:black layer:back
at:07/03/1986 color:black layer:back
at:07/01/1987 color:black layer:back
at:01/03/1990 color:black layer:back
at:19/03/1992 color:black layer:back
at:07/06/1994 color:black layer:back
at:12/06/1996 color:black layer:back
at:28/06/2004 color:black layer:back
at:28/03/2013 color:black layer:back
at:23/10/2015 color:black layer:back
at:14/09/2018 color:black layer:back
at:14/05/2021 color:black layer:back

</timeline>

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ[7] AUS[20]
Brave Words
  • Released: 7 January 1987
  • Label: Flying Nun (FN090)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 24 —
Submarine Bells
  • Released: 1 March 1990
  • Label: Slash/Liberation (L30342)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 1 90
Soft Bomb
  • Released: 19 March 1992
  • Label: Slash/Liberation (L30782)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 3 99
Sunburnt
(by Martin Phillipps and the Chills)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Released: 12 June 1996
  • Label: Flying Nun (FN303)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 25 —
Silver Bullets
  • Released: 23 October 2015
  • Label: Fire (FIRECD382)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 12 —
Snow Bound
  • Released: 14 September 2018
  • Label: Fire (FIRECD530)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 9
[21] 		—
Scatterbrain
  • Released: 14 May 2021
  • Label: Fire (FIRECD581)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 4
[22] 		—
Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs
  • Released: 28 February 2025
  • Label: Fire (FIRECD767)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 7
[23] 		—

Live albums

List of live albums with selected details
Title Details
Somewhere Beautiful
  • Released: 28 March 2013
  • Label: Fire (FIRECD298)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details and selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ[7] AUS[24]
Kaleidoscope World
  • Released: 7 March 1986
  • Label: Flying Nun (FN005)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 19 —
Heavenly Pop Hits – The Best of The Chills
  • Released: 7 June 1994
  • Label: Flying Nun (FN306)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 24 122
Secret Box – The Chills' Rarities, 1980–2000
(Limited private release only)
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Definitive Music (DM001)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 — —
The BBC Sessions
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Fire Records (FIRECD385)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details and selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ[7]
Dunedin Double
(by the Chills, Sneaky Feelings, the Stones, the Verlaines)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Released: 7 November 1982
  • Label: Flying Nun (FNDUN01)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 —
The Lost EP
  • Released: 7 January 1985
  • Label: Flying Nun (FNCOLD004)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 4
Stand By
(expanded to full album 2014)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Released: 28 June 2004
  • Label: Flying Nun (MPM001)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 —
Pyramid/When the Poor Can Reach the Moon
  • Released: 2016
  • Labels: Fire Records, Far South Records (FIRE436EP)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ[7] AU[20][25][24] UK[26] US Alt
"Rolling Moon" 1982 26 — — — Kaleidoscope World
"Pink Frost" 1984 17 — — —
"Template:Not a typo" 12 — — —
"I'll Only See You Alone Again" 1986 — — — — Template:Non-album single
"I Love My Leather Jacket" 4 — — — Kaleidoscope World
"House with a Hundred Rooms" 1987 — — — — Brave Words
"Wet Blanket" 1988 — — — —
"Heavenly Pop Hit" 1990 2 118 97 17 Submarine Bells
"Part Past Part Fiction" — — — —
"The Oncoming Day" — — — —
"Male Monster from the Id" 1992 8 163 — — Soft Bomb
"Double Summer" — 180 — —
"Come Home" 1995 33 — — — Sunburnt
"Surrounded" 1996 — — — —
"Dreams Are Free" — — — —
"Molten Gold" 2013 — — — — Template:Non-album single
"America Says Hello" 2015 — — — — Silver Bullets
"Warm Waveform" — — — —
"When the Poor Can Reach the Moon" — — — —
"Rocket Science"/"Lost in Space" 2016 — — — — Template:Non-album single
"Conversation Piece" 2017 — — — — Template:Non-album single
"Complex" 2018 — — — — Snow Bound
"Lord of All I Survey" — — — —
"Scarred" — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

Citations

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Thompson 2000, p. 259
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Thompson 2000, pp. 259–260
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Thompson 2000, p. 260
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ "Kaleidoscope World", Primavera Sound, 29 November 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. ↑ Malt, A., "New documentary explores The Curse of the Chills", completemusicupdate.com, 6 July 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
    • Top 100 peaks between January 1990 and December 2010: Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    • "Heavenly Pop Hit": Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Sources

<templatestyles src="Refbegin/styles.css" />

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Further reading

  • Davey, T. & Puschmann, H. (1996) Kiwi Rock. Dunedin: Kiwi Rock Publications. Template:ISBN
  • Dix, J. (1988) Stranded in paradise: New Zealand Rock'n'Roll 1955–1988. Wellington: Paradise Publications. Template:ISBN
  • Eggleton, D. (2003) Ready to Fly: The Story of New Zealand Rock Music. Nelson, NZ: Craig Potton Publishing. Template:ISBN
  • Shepherd, R. (2016) In Love with These Times. Auckland: Harper Collins New Zealand. Template:ISBN

External links

Template:The Chills Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=The_Chills&oldid=1280775"