Martin Phillipps, founder of The Chills, has died aged 61

Martin Phillipps, founder and frontman of influential New Zealand rock band The Chills, has died aged 61.

According to a statement As posted on The Chills' social media page on Sunday, July 28, Phillipps died unexpectedly. The Otago Daily Times newspaper Phillipps was reported to have recently been admitted to Dunedin Hospital with liver problems.

The Chills, signed to Flying Nun Records, were one of the pioneers of the Dunedin genre, which combined elements of punk rock with psychedelic guitar. Bands such as REM, Pavement, Yo La Tengo and Mudhoney would cite Dunedin as an influence on their own music.

The Chills' 1990 album, Underwater bellswas number one in his native New Zealand, while his next album, Soft bombpeaked at number 3. Notable songs by the band include “Pink Frost”, “I Love My Leather Jacket”, “Heavenly Pop Hit”, which proved to be a hit in the United States, peaking at number 17 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart.

In 2019, The Chills were the focus of a documentary called Goosebumps: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillippswhich chronicled the band's history as well as Phillipps' personal struggles with hepatitis C. The film premiered at South by South West that year.