Martin Phillipps has yet to write a song about his decade-long battle with hepatitis C, but on Saturday his band The Chills played a gig in Cathedral Sq, Christchurch, to mark World Hepatitis Day.
It has been over 10 years since Phillipps (44) contracted the disease after picking up a seemingly harmless paper bag a friend had left at his house, and pricking himself on a hypodermic needle inside.
A phone call revealed his friend had Hepatitis C and "it was nothing to worry about".
But after only a few months, the man who penned Pink Frost and Heavenly Pop Hit knew it was something to worry about, as he struggled for breath.
Unable to hold down a full-time job because of the disease, Phillipps said he was still able to write and perform the occasional gig, but was yet to write a song about hepatitis C.
"I will only do so when I am free of the disease," he said.
With an album, Silver Bullets, to be recorded later this year, his goal is to become free of the disease so he can tour his music to a new generation of fans.
Today is World Hepatitis Day. Anyone wanting advice can call the helpline on 0800 224-372.
