"I felt like we were on to something special," he says.
"I could feel it in myself, and I could see it in the eyes of a couple of the other people involved."
A number of those other people have continued to play and write music with success, but Phillipps is probably the one who has stayed truest to form.
His distinctive guitar and keyboard riffs are immediately recognisable in songs on the long-awaited Silver Bullets album, released in 2015.
"The Chills still have a unique sound on an international scale, and I am proud of that," says Phillipps.
Now back in Dunedin after living in cities like London and Los Angeles, Phillipps says he is looking forward to the national tour, which kicks off in Wellington on April 26.
The Chills' line-up changes over the past three decades have not been as frequent as people perceive, he says.
Although there have been almost 30 Chills members since the band formed in 1980, the current line-up of Phillips, drummer Todd Knudson, keyboard players Erica Scally and Oli Wilson with bass player James Dickson, has been together for a while.
"Todd has been in the Chills for about 17 years and Oli, who is the newest member, has been in the band since 2009," says Phillipps.
■ The Chills will play at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on April 29 along with support acts Anthonie Tonner and Whanganui's own new band The People.