Phil Chevron
Encyclopedia
Philip Ryan professionally known as Philip Chevron, is an Irish
singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the guitarist for The Pogues
.
outfit, The Radiators From Space
, receiving some critical acclaim, albeit little widespread popularity or financial success. Following the breakup of the band, he lived in London for a time, meeting and befriending Shane MacGowan
through time spent working together at a record shop.
Following the release of the Pogues' 1984 debut album Red Roses For Me
, he was invited to join the band on a short-term basis as cover for banjo
player Jem Finer
's paternity leave. He then took over as guitarist following MacGowan's decision to concentrate on singing—thereby becoming a full-time member of the band in time for the recording of its second album, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.
Although living somewhat in the shadow of MacGowan during his time with The Pogues, and lacking the former's pitch-black sense of humour and distinctive vocal style, Chevron proved himself as a singer-songwriter
in his own right, creating the popular ballad
s "Thousands Are Sailing
" and "Lorelei" amongst others.
Although primarily known as a guitarist, he is also a skilled player of the banjo and mandolin
, as first demonstrated on The Pogues' third album, If I Should Fall from Grace with God
. Chevron left The Pogues in 1994 following much-publicised problems with drugs and alcohol.
In 2003, he reformed The Radiators (Plan 9) along with ex-Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan
. They released the critically acclaimed Trouble Pilgrim in 2006. It topped the independent record charts but did not make any inroads into the mainstream. The album included a tribute to Chevron's friend, Joe Strummer
.
In recent years, he has become, in effect, The Pogues' unofficial spokesperson and resident expert on the reclusive Shane MacGowan—frequently visiting online forums and directly answering questions from fans. In 2004, he personally oversaw the remastering
and re-release of The Pogues' entire back catalogue on CD. He now tours regularly with The Pogues, who reunited after a successful reunion tour in 2001.
In June 2007 it was announced on The Pogues' website that Chevron had been diagnosed with a case of "locally advanced" throat cancer
. In early 2008 it was announced via The Pogues official website that Chevron had recovered, and to his surprise and joy his hearing had returned to almost pre-treatment levels. He embarked on the March 2008 tour of the United States and managed to sing "Thousands Are Sailing
" in each of the performances.
When not touring with The Pogues much of his time is spent seeing plays, musicals and operas primarily in London, Dublin and New York. Occasionally, he is involved professionally with productions and his reviews are regularly published on The Pogues official forum under 'Speaker's Corner.'
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the guitarist for The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
.
Career
In the late 1970s, Chevron was the lead singer and a founding member of short-lived punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
outfit, The Radiators From Space
The Radiators From Space
The Radiators From Space are an Irish punk rock band. The band formed in 1975 in Dublin, originally under the name Greta Garbage and the Trashcans, and consisted of Philip Chevron , Pete Holidai, Steve Rapid, Jimmy Crashe and Mark Megaray. They were one of the earliest punk rock bands...
, receiving some critical acclaim, albeit little widespread popularity or financial success. Following the breakup of the band, he lived in London for a time, meeting and befriending Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
through time spent working together at a record shop.
Following the release of the Pogues' 1984 debut album Red Roses For Me
Red Roses for Me
Red Roses for Me was the first full length album by the London-based band The Pogues and was released in 1984. It is filled with traditional Irish music performed with punk influences. Traditional songs and ballads mixed with Shane MacGowan's "gutter hymns" about drinking, fighting and sex was...
, he was invited to join the band on a short-term basis as cover for banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
player Jem Finer
Jem Finer
Jem Finer is an English musician, artist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Pogues.-Life and career:...
's paternity leave. He then took over as guitarist following MacGowan's decision to concentrate on singing—thereby becoming a full-time member of the band in time for the recording of its second album, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.
Although living somewhat in the shadow of MacGowan during his time with The Pogues, and lacking the former's pitch-black sense of humour and distinctive vocal style, Chevron proved himself as a singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
in his own right, creating the popular ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s "Thousands Are Sailing
Thousands Are Sailing
"Thousands Are Sailing" is a song by Anglo-Irish folk rock group The Pogues, released in 1988.The song is an Irish folk style ballad, written by Phil Chevron, and featured on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God.-Lyrics:...
" and "Lorelei" amongst others.
Although primarily known as a guitarist, he is also a skilled player of the banjo and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, as first demonstrated on The Pogues' third album, If I Should Fall from Grace with God
If I Should Fall from Grace with God
If I Should Fall from Grace with God was well-received by critics. Mark Deming of Allmusic awarded the album four and a half out of five stars, calling it "the best album the Pogues would ever make." Robert Christgau gave the album a B+ and said that "neither pop nor rock nor disco crossover stays...
. Chevron left The Pogues in 1994 following much-publicised problems with drugs and alcohol.
In 2003, he reformed The Radiators (Plan 9) along with ex-Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan
Cait O'Riordan
Caitlín O'Riordan is a British musician. She played bass guitar for the British-Irish punk/folk band The Pogues from 1983 to 1986. She later played with Elvis Costello, her husband from 1986 to 2002, as well as several other projects....
. They released the critically acclaimed Trouble Pilgrim in 2006. It topped the independent record charts but did not make any inroads into the mainstream. The album included a tribute to Chevron's friend, Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
.
In recent years, he has become, in effect, The Pogues' unofficial spokesperson and resident expert on the reclusive Shane MacGowan—frequently visiting online forums and directly answering questions from fans. In 2004, he personally oversaw the remastering
Audio mastering
Mastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
and re-release of The Pogues' entire back catalogue on CD. He now tours regularly with The Pogues, who reunited after a successful reunion tour in 2001.
In June 2007 it was announced on The Pogues' website that Chevron had been diagnosed with a case of "locally advanced" throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
. In early 2008 it was announced via The Pogues official website that Chevron had recovered, and to his surprise and joy his hearing had returned to almost pre-treatment levels. He embarked on the March 2008 tour of the United States and managed to sing "Thousands Are Sailing
Thousands Are Sailing
"Thousands Are Sailing" is a song by Anglo-Irish folk rock group The Pogues, released in 1988.The song is an Irish folk style ballad, written by Phil Chevron, and featured on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God.-Lyrics:...
" in each of the performances.
When not touring with The Pogues much of his time is spent seeing plays, musicals and operas primarily in London, Dublin and New York. Occasionally, he is involved professionally with productions and his reviews are regularly published on The Pogues official forum under 'Speaker's Corner.'