Martin Phillipps penned heavenly pop hits across a five decade long career, while overcoming some of life’s hardships.
The Chills’ front man is widely regarded as one of the country’s greatest songwriters, and name checked by the likes of Iggy Pop, Neil Finn, influential DJ, the late John Peel, and American indie royalty: REM and Pavement.
The 61-year-old died in his home in the Dunedin suburb of Tainui on Sunday afternoon.
“It is with broken hearts the family and friends of Martin Phillipps wish to advise Martin has died unexpectedly,” long-serving band manager Scott Muir said in a statement.
In a moving tribute, Neil Finn wrote of Phillipps, “He was a good friend, wonderful musician and one of NZ’s greatest songwriters”.
“A true original, fascinated by and devoted to the magic and mystery of music. His recent work was as good as anything he’s done. Martin’s songs live on with his spirit.”
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