The Chills’ Martin Phillipps leaves a legacy of melancholy brilliance

Phillipps, who has died aged 61, led one of New Zealand’s shining musical exports but the band was dogged by tragedy and his personal struggles

• Martin Phillipps, founder of New Zealand rock band the Chills, dies at 61

It is one of the great opening lines, by anyone: “Each evening the sun sets in five billion places, seen by 10 billion eyes, set in five billion faces.” The words are from Heavenly Pop Hit by the Chills, a band from Dunedin, New Zealand. There’s a good chance you know it, but there’s also a fair chance you don’t – in which case, stay with me.

The author was Martin Phillipps, who has died suddenly at the age of 61. It is far too young, although there are some who will think he did well to make it into a seventh decade. Others, who saw the resurrection of Phillipps’ stop-start career and his improved health, will feel the terrible curse that dogged his band has struck again.