"It's amazing to look back and think that it all started here 30 years ago," he muses.
"And not always in a good way. It brings back a huge weight of memories of both good times and troubled times. But, it's certainly been a good life."
Dunedin's most successful band played its first concert in the hall 30 years ago, on November 15, 1980.
Phillipps has reassembled the original line-up of Peter Gutteridge, Alan Haig, Jane Dodd and Rachel Devereux (nee Phillipps) for a 30th anniversary concert at the same venue today.
"I'm really looking forward to it. We did our first full rehearsal in 29 years this week. We'll be doing the same two songs we did that night, Motels and Cars and I Saw Your Silhouette."
The Chills gained international acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s with hits like Pink Frost, Heavenly Pop Hit, Submarine Bells and I Love My Leather Jacket.
