Philip Ryan (17 June 1957 – 8 October 2013), professionally known as Philip Chevron, was an Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist and record producer. He was best known as the lead guitarist for the
celtic punk band
the Pogues
The Pogues are an English Celtic punk band founded in King's Cross, London, in 1982, by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Originally named Pogue Mahone—an anglicisation of the Irish language, Irish phrase :wikt:póg mo thóin, ''p� ...
and as the frontman for the 1970s
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band
The Radiators from Space. Upon his death in 2013, Chevron was regarded as one of the most influential figures in Irish punk music.
Career
Chevron grew up in
Santry
Santry () is a suburb on the northside of Dublin, Ireland, bordering Coolock, Glasnevin, Kilmore and Ballymun. It straddles the boundary of Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council jurisdictions.
The character of the area has chang ...
, a suburb of Dublin. Beginning in the late 1970s, he was lead singer and co-founder of the
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
group
The Radiators from Space,
[ receiving some critical acclaim but little widespread popularity or financial success. Following a temporary breakup of the band in 1981, he lived in London for a while, meeting and befriending ]Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (25 December 195730 November 2023) was a British-born Irish singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of Celtic punk band the Pogues. He won acclaim for his lyrics, whic ...
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
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin.
...
player Jem Finer's paternity leave. He 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''.[
Chevron wrote the songs " Thousands Are Sailing"][ and "Lorelei" among others. He left The Pogues in 1994 following problems with drugs and alcohol. In 2003, he reformed The Radiators (Plan 9) with ex-Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan. They released the album ''Trouble Pilgrim'' in 2006.
In later years, he became The Pogues' unofficial spokesperson and frequently visited online forums, answering questions from fans. In 2004, he oversaw the remastering and re-release of The Pogues' entire back catalogue on CD.] He toured regularly with The Pogues, who reunited after a reunion tour in 2001.[
]
Personal life
Chevron was openly gay and penned the anti-homophobia song "Under Clery's Clock", which was first performed in 1987 when The Radiators reformed for one gig, an AIDS
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
benefit in Dublin, and released as a single in 1989.
Illness and death
In June 2007, The Pogues
The Pogues are an English Celtic punk band founded in King's Cross, London, in 1982, by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Originally named Pogue Mahone—an anglicisation of the Irish language, Irish phrase :wikt:póg mo thóin, ''p� ...
' website announced that Chevron had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer (American English) or oesophageal cancer (British English) is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss. Ot ...
. In early 2008, the website announced that Chevron had recovered, and that his hearing had returned to almost pre-treatment levels. He embarked on the March 2008 tour of the United States and sang " Thousands Are Sailing" at each performance. By 2009, Chevron was free of cancer.
However, in May 2013, it was announced that the cancer had returned and Chevron was terminally ill. His last public appearance was at the Olympia Theatre for a fundraiser in August of the same year. Chevron died on 8 October 2013 in Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
at age 56.
Discography
See also The Pogues
The Pogues are an English Celtic punk band founded in King's Cross, London, in 1982, by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Originally named Pogue Mahone—an anglicisation of the Irish language, Irish phrase :wikt:póg mo thóin, ''p� ...
and The Radiators From Space
Solo
* ''Songs From Bills Dance Hall'' (1981, Mosa Records, UK); 12" 45 rpm EP
* ''The Captains and The Kings'' (b/w ''Faithful Departed'') (1983, Chapel/Demon Records, UK); 7" 45 rpm
* ''Songs From Bills Dance Hall'' (2006, CD re-release, Seaisland Sound Project, Japan)
* ''The Tuner: The Life Of Jack Rooney'' (2024, CD & Digital release)
Compilations and anthologies
* ''For The Children'' (1990, Alias Records); Includes Philip Chevron on lead vocals on title song.
* ''Life in the Folk Lane'' (1992, Demon Records); Includes 1983 recording of "The Captains and The Kings"
* ''Life in the Folk Lane Vol. 2'' (1995, Demon Records); Includes 1983 recording of "Faithful Departed"
* ''Bringing It All Back Home Vol. 3'' (2000, Valley Entertainment); Includes a new recording of " Thousands Are Sailing"
References
External links
The Pogues official website
The Radiators from Space official website
from Socialist Democracy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chevron, Phil
1957 births
2013 deaths
Irish gay musicians
Irish male guitarists
Irish LGBTQ singers
Irish LGBTQ songwriters
Irish punk rock musicians
Musicians from County Dublin
The Pogues members
Irish male singer-songwriters
Irish singer-songwriters
Gay singers
Gay songwriters
Deaths from cancer in the Republic of Ireland
Deaths from esophageal cancer
The Radiators from Space members
20th-century Irish LGBTQ people
21st-century Irish LGBTQ people