John Peel Session, on BBC 6Music

John Peel's 1985 session with the Chills is scheduled to broadcast on the net on the 12th of December, from Gideon Coe's show on BBC 6Music.

And in other Chilly News:

Work continues towards the new album, and fans are buzzing about this.

The Chills myspage page is continually gaining new and old friends and features video and audio rarities from the band. Currently featured are live audio performances of Night of Chill Blue and Part Past, Part Fiction.

There are now over 35 video clips of The Chills on Youtube with more coming soon. Some interesting stuff there includes old TV interviews and live versions of Night of Chills Blue and The Other, both recorded earlier this year in Queenstown, NZ.

Stand By EP

Dear Softbombers
Well, the wait is over!!!
They are finally here. We have them in our chilled little hands right now. We are sorry this has taken so long, but it literally was beyond our control. It was smiles all round at the band meeting last night, as at last we got to see the fruit of our efforts.
We trust you will get as much enjoyment out of this as we have. Just go to the stuff to buy page to order.

Martin

Juicy News McNuggets...
1: Well, you all knew that bassist Rodney Haworth left back aways to fulfill family duties etc and he is keeping his rock abilities finely honed performing often with local punk outfit, Infinite Justice...(We caught up yesterday and I'm sure he would have sent his love if we'd known I'd be doing this).

...and I'm sure that MOST of you knew that keyboardist James Dickson decided to pick up the bass vacancy as he wanted to be able to stretch his legs on the stage a little... (he was then, and still is playing bass or keyboards or whatever in bands TOO numerous to mention - I'll ask him at practice tonight if he sends his Love)...but FEW of you knew, until now, that we have found a wonderful replacement keyboardist in the delightful personage of one ERICA STICHBURY.

Spotted by James performing with her boyfriend in their local semi-covers band, Jose Jones, she was quietly assessed AND THEN SWIPED in that age-old loveable Chills' tradition! She plays excellent keys and really gutsy guitar and virtuoso violin and sings well, looks lovely and happy - and she recently threw herself into a massive bar room brawl in aid of her boyfriend! So WATCH OUT!

2: If in New Zealand you can now download the "Stand By..." E.P. at WWW.TXTTUNES.COM and we are looking into making a whole lot more of our material, including much unreleased stuff, available through this medium as soon as some copyright ownership details are cleared up.

3: There is a Martin Phillipps/Chills site on WWW.MYSPACE.COM in N.Z. which will be worked on and updated as regularly as possible as it looks like we are on the verge of acquiring a new computer technical kind of person/thing...

(I know NOTHING of all theees, uh, how-you-say?, comb-pooter?) ...but this is because, [MUSIC SOFTENS, LIGHTS DARKEN] it is my sad duty to inform you all that longtime Chills' softbomb web-site coordinator and loyal, supportive friend, Andy Holt, has decided to move on as his world has taken all sorts of interesting twists and turns since he first approached me about the possibility of a Chills' site about TEN YEARS AGO!

I know you will agree with me that without his patience and critical eye (and appreciated EAR as well!) very few of you would have known ANYTHING about the very ongoing existence of The Chills.

We wish you well Andy and Helen and we will of course keep in touch so that you will be amongst the VERY first to know when all this dedication from the small hard-core unit that The Chills family is, finally pays off!

4: OK! Right, there will shortly be announced some pre-Christmas gigs in New Zealand only - (sorry overseas folks; but we are certainly on a better footing than we've been in a long time to be seriously looking at a couple of months in Europe and the U.S. - more on that a.s.a.p.!

5: We found EXCELLENT new practice rooms! So what! SO WHAT!?! YOU bloody well try finding one!

6: Flying Nun Records' 25th anniversary is next year and we understand that various plans are underway as they settle into a snuggly new bed with Warner Brothers. Again - more on that as soon as we hear it.

7: We admit some degree of fault in the lack of wham-bam surprise with the new web site which was a rush job but, seriously, if you think you can do better then we DO want to hear from you.

Any incredibly talented person willing to do lots of amazing work for little or no financial reward except for the thrill of contributing to the success of one of your favourite bands and having your quality work seen by thousands of anxious talent-seekers, the whole world over!

[Please make contact through the site - AND some DIGITAL PERFORMER 3 expert prepared to play teacher/engineer for me for the same amazing deal!]

8: There are new forums starting on the new site immediately and all sorts of stuff happening as it is happening! Erica has brought more to the band than just her talent. She also has the missing link in the chemistry that we have been seeking and we are READY TO CONQUER!

Stay Chilled!

We LURVE you!

Martin Phillipps, The Chills,

Dunedin (beautiful sunny day today - the 24th of October, 2006) Aotearoa New Zealand.