Glen Phillips (born December 29, 1970) is an American songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is the lead singer and songwriter of the

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

group

Toad the Wet Sprocket Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1986. The band at the time consisted of vocalist/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss, ...

and also records and performs as a solo artist.

Biography

Early life

Phillips was born to a

Reform Jewish Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous rev ...

family in

Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...

. His father was a college professor who taught

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

. Although his family was Jewish, with Glen having a

Bar Mitzvah A ''bar mitzvah'' () or ''bat mitzvah'' () is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Halakha, Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age ...

, his family was secular and his father took him to meditation classes. Phillips attended San Marcos High School, where he was a part of

choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

and

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

. He originally envisioned becoming a teacher. He began to make music at 14 years old. Phillips took the California High School Proficiency Exam so he could graduate early.

Career

Phillips formed Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986, at the age of 15, with friends from his high school. In 1991, at age 20, Phillips wrote the song " All I Want". The band recorded five albums but broke up in 1998, after escalating tensions, shortly after Phillips' father died of

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

. During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called Flapping, Flapping, which released the album ''Montgomery Street'' in 1996. In 2001, three years after the breakup of Toad, Phillips released his first solo album, '' Abulum''. This was followed up by a self-released live album and solo touring, along with a reunion tour with his former Toad bandmates. In 2004, Phillips released a collaboration with

Nickel Creek Nickel Creek (formerly known as the Nickel Creek Band) is an American bluegrass music, bluegrass band consisting of Chris Thile (mandolin), and siblings Sara Watkins (fiddle) and Sean Watkins (guitar). Formed in 1989 in Southern California, the ...

, under the name Mutual Admiration Society. The self-titled album had been recorded in 2000 and featured songs written by both Phillips alone and as collaborative efforts, and was released on Sugar Hill Records. In 2005, Phillips returned to a major label via

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

's imprint

Lost Highway Records Lost Highway Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. Formed by Luke Lewis in 2000, Lost Highway Records operates as a country music label, based out of Nashville, but the label also issues music by alternative rock and alternativ ...

and released the critically acclaimed '' Winter Pays For Summer''. The album included the radio single "Duck and Cover," but Phillips and the label parted ways due to creative differences. A compilation of six outtakes from the album were published as an EP titled '' Unlucky 7'', the first track ("The Hole") of which was featured in the

second episode "Second Episode" is the second episode of the HBO television series ''The New Pope''. The episode was directed by series creator Paolo Sorrentino and was written by Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contrarello, and Stefano Bises. The episode takes plac ...

of the

AMC AMC may refer to: Film and television * AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain * AMC Networks, an American entertainment company ** AMC (TV channel) ** AMC+, streaming service ** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company *** ...

television series ''

Breaking Bad ''Breaking Bad'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC (TV channel), AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Breaking Bad), Walter White (Bryan Cran ...

''. Phillips released his third proper solo album, '' Mr. Lemons'' in the spring of 2006. In 2007, Phillips reunited with Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek as well as Grant-Lee Phillips and Luke Bulla to perform as part of The Various & Sundry Tour. In January 2008, Phillips released an EP ''Secrets of the New Explorers'', with music influenced by

Talk Talk Talk Talk were an English band formed in 1981 by Mark Hollis (vocals, guitar, piano), Lee Harris (drums), Paul Webb (bass), and Simon Brenner (keyboards). Initially a synth-pop group, Talk Talk's first two albums, '' The Party's Over'' (198 ...

and

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...

. In January 2008, Phillips formed the supergroup Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) featuring Phillips,

Sean Watkins Sean Charles Watkins (born February 18, 1977) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is a member of the contemporary folk band Nickel Creek, the duo Fiction Family and the supergroup Works Progress Administration. He is the brot ...

(guitar), his sister

Sara Watkins Sara Ullrika Watkins (born June 8, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1989 as the fiddler of Nickel Creek, the progressive bluegrass group she formed with her brother Sean and mandolinist Chris Thile. In addi ...

(fiddle),

Benmont Tench Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American musician and singer, and a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Early years Tench was born in Gainesville, Florida, the second child of Benjamin M ...

(piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle),

Greg Leisz Gregory Brian Leisz ( ; born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, lap steel and pedal steel guitar. Biography Leisz grew up in the garage ba ...

(various), Pete Thomas (drums), and

Davey Faragher David Allen "Davey" Faragher (born August 18, 1957) is an American bass guitarist from Redlands, California. Faragher's career took off and received critical notice as a founding member of the nineties band Cracker, and his subsequent work wit ...

(bass). The group released an album in 2009. In 2008, under the moniker Plover, Phillips recorded an album with

Neilson Hubbard Neilson Gray Hubbard (born October 27, 1972) is an American record producer, film director, film producer, singer-songwriter, and photographer. He produced Mary Gauthier's Grammy-nominated album, ''Rifles & Rosary Beads'', as well as albums for ...

and

Garrison Starr Garrison Starr (born Julia Garrison Starr; April 29, 1975) is a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter/producer. Her major label debut, "18 Over Me" was released in 1997 (Geffen). Starr's shows have been described as "marrying pop smarts a ...

. In 2009, Phillips recorded a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

' song "

I'll Follow the Sun "I'll Follow the Sun" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It is a Sentimental ballad, ballad written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released in 1964 on the ''Beatles for Sale'' album in the Un ...

" for the soundtrack of the film '' Imagine That''. In April 2018, Phillips signed with Compass Records Group. His 2016 album, '' Swallowed By the New'', was re-released on May 4, 2018, with a new bonus track "Nobody's Gonna Get Hurt".

Personal life

Phillips and his ex-wife, Laurel, whom he was married to from 1989 to 2014, have three daughters. On October 8, 2008, Phillips injured his arm while at a friend's house, where he was sitting on a glass coffee table that collapsed when he moved back. Phillips had surgery to repair a damaged

ulnar nerve The ulnar nerve is a nerve that runs near the ulna, one of the two long bones in the forearm. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest in the human body unprotected by muscle or ...

and muscle in his left arm. His ability to play guitar was hampered during his recovery, but he toured despite the injury. Phillips has suffered from depression. Phillips is known for performing barefoot.

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Abulum'' (Unami Records, 2001) * '' Winter Pays for Summer'' (Lost Highway Records, 2004) * '' Unlucky 7'' (2006, independent) * '' Mr. Lemons'' (Unami Music, 2005) * ''Secrets of the New Explorers'' (2008, independent) * ''Tornillo'' (2010, independent) – recorded in 2002 with producer David Garza but scrapped in favor of making "Winter Pays For Summer" with John Fields. * ''Coyote Sessions'' (2012, independent) – compilation of previously unreleased songs, recorded live in studio with one central microphone * ''Options – B-sides & Demos'' (2014, Umami Music) – primarily outtakes from the 2003–2004 "Winter Pays For Summer" * '' Swallowed by the New'' (Compass Records, 2015) * ''There Is So Much Here'' (Compass Records, 2022)

Other releases

* ''Live at Largo'' (Unami, 2002) * ''Connect Sets'' (2005) – recorded live in studio to support ''Winter Pays for Summer'' * ''Live at the Belly Up'' (2016, Belly Up Live)

With Toad The Wet Sprocket

* ''

Bread & Circus ''Bread & Circus'' is the debut album by American alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket, originally self-released on cassette in 1988, and re-released in 1989 by Columbia Records. In May 2009, the band announced plans to re-release ''Bre ...

'' (1989) * ''

Pale Pale may refer to: Jurisdictions * Medieval areas of English conquest: ** Pale of Calais, in France (1360–1558) ** The Pale, or the English Pale, in Ireland *Pale of Settlement, area of permitted Jewish settlement, western Russian Empire (179 ...

'' (1989) * ''

fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion that arises in response to perception, perceived dangers or threats. Fear causes physiological and psychological changes. It may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the ...

'' (1991) * ''

In Light Syrup ''In Light Syrup'' is an album of B-sides and rare tracks by American alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1986. The band at the time ...

'' (1991) * ''

Dulcinea Dulcinea del Toboso is a fictional character who is unseen in Miguel de Cervantes' novel ''Don Quixote''. Don Quixote believes he must have a lady, under his personal view that chivalry requires it. As he does not have one, he invents her, makin ...

'' (1994) * '' Coil'' (1997) * ''

New Constellation ''New Constellation'' is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket, released October 15, 2013, through Abe's Records. It is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download. Financed with more than $250,000 f ...

'' (2013) * ''

Starting Now "starting now" is the eighth episode and season finale of the third season of the American dark comedy crime drama television series '' Barry''. It is the 24th overall episode of the series and was written by series creators Alec Berg and Bill ...

'' (2021)

With flapping, Flapping

* ''Montgomery Street'' (1996)

With Lapdog

* ''Near Tonight'' (2000) * ''Mayfly'' (2002)

With Mutual Admiration Society

* '' Mutual Admiration Society'' (2004)

With Plover

* ''Plover'' (2008)

With RemoteTreeChildren

* ''Veteran of the Loudness Wars'' (2008)

With Works Progress Administration

* ''WPA'' (2009)

References

External links

David Starkey interviews Glen Phillips on The Creative Community. Taped on 4.7.10
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Glen 1970 births 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American male singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters American lyricists American male singer-songwriters American rock singers American rock songwriters Jewish American songwriters Jewish American rock musicians Jewish American singers Living people Lost Highway Records artists Musicians from Santa Barbara, California Singer-songwriters from California Toad the Wet Sprocket members Works Progress Administration (band) members Mutual Admiration Society (band) members