Phill Calvert

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Phill Calvert (b. Phillip Calvert, 1958) is an Australian rock drummer best known for his work in the influential post-punk band The Birthday Party with Nick Cave. His playing with the Birthday Party was noted for its use of tom-toms ("Zoo Music Girl", "Release The Bats").

Raised in the suburbs of Melbourne he started learning the drums at four years of age. At the private boys school Caulfield Grammar in the early 1970s he met vocalist Nick Cave and guitarist Mick Harvey and formed a rock band with other students, playing parties and school functions with a mixed repertoire of pre-punk material (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Alice Cooper).

The band picked up Cave's friend Tracy Pew on Bass and after they finished secondary school they named themselves The Boys Next Door in 1977. They swiftly became a leading band in the Melbourne Punk rock scene, playing New Wave style originals. Calvert worked at a variety of jobs including record store clerk but his heart was set on playing music. After making recordings for local independent labels Mushroom and Missing Link, and playing hundreds of live shows, the band left for London in 1980 and renamed themselves The Birthday Party. Signing first to 4AD Records and then to Mute Records.

After his split with The Birthday Party in 1982 (most sources claim he was sacked), Calvert joined the UK group The Psychedelic Furs, touring the U.S., but never recorded with them. He left before they recorded Mirror Moves in 1984. Drums for that LP were programmed by producer Keith Forsey.

He returned to Melbourne and in 1985 become a founding member of the rock group Blue Ruin. They achieved moderate success, recording at least 3 LPs with Calvert and travelling to the UK, but, like so many other promising Australian acts, failed to turn heads outside of their own country.

Calvert split with Blue Ruin in the late 80's and the band continued with some new personnel until 1995. Calvert filled the drum chair in a succession of Melbourne based acts including In Vivo and The Sunday Kind. In the latter he met guitarist Ben Ling and the two have been collaborating since under a series of names: Sugarhips, Bulletproof and currently (2006) The Enthusiasts.

He currently lives in Melbourne with his wife Julia.