Dunedin musician and The Chills lead singer Martin Phillipps has died "unexpectedly" at the age of 61.
On Sunday, a statement from the band's manager Scott Muir said it was "with broken hearts the family and friends of Martin Phillipps wish to advise Martin has died unexpectedly".
"The family ask for privacy at this time.
"Funeral arrangements will be advised in due course."
The guitarist and lead singer was part of the band since its founding in the 1980s.
Some of the band's biggest hits included Pink Frost, Heavenly Pop Hit, I Love My Leather Jacket and Kaleidoscope World.
On The Chills' official website, Phillipps is lauded as having "a single-minded determination to take quality, original NZ-sounding, melodic rock music global".
Phillipps battled with drug addiction, alcoholism and contracted hepatitis C in the 1990s.
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