The Chills story is as much the story of Martin Phillipps. The group was dogged by an ever changing line up, with Phillipps being the only permanent member. At times it seemed that the end of The Chills had finally arrived but Phillipps' strong motivation and ambition for success wouldn't allow this. The Chills achieved the success they deserved and were one of the top bands to emerge from New Zealand. ...show more

The Chills story is as much the story of Martin Phillipps. The group was dogged by an ever changing line up, with Phillipps being the only permanent member. At times it seemed that the end of The Chills had finally arrived but Phillipps' strong motivation and ambition for success wouldn't allow this. The Chills achieved the success they deserved and were one of the top bands to emerge from New Zealand.

It all began in late 1978 when Martin Phillipps was the crisp age of 15. Inspired by the punk movement, including local band The Enemy, he teamed up with Jeff Batts (vocals) and Craig Easton (guitar) one weekend and began to make noise. Soon after Paul Baird (drums) and Gaynor Propsting (bass) joined up and The Same was formed. Phillipps played guitar and following the departure of Batts took over as the principal songwriter and vocalist.

Their few gigs included support for Toy Love and a Telethon '79 appearance, and it was quickly becoming obvious that Phillipps possessed a rare talent with a great sense of melody. Others to pass through The Same were Alistair Dunn and Monica Hales, but in early 1980 the band dissolved, with the final line-up of Phillipps (guitar and vocals), Paul Baird (drums), Jane Dodd (bass) and Phillipps' sister Rachel (guitar). Peter Gutteridge and the Kilgour brothers had been influential on the young Phillipps, introducing him to a lot of west-coast experimental and psychedelic music. Phillipps and Gutteridge decided to have a go at playing together, and later in the year the first phase of The Chills was formed with Phillipps and Peter Gutteridge (guitar/vocals), Rachel Phillipps (keyboards), Jane Dodd (bass) and Alan Haig (drums). ...show less