David Philp was lead singer and songwriter for The Automatics, the English power punk band that headlined LondonÂ's Marquis Club in the late 1970s. His hit record of that period, When the Tanks Roll Over Poland Again, was produced by his then-roomate Steve Lillywhite and featured guitars by Johnny Thunders. It has remained a favorite of punk rock devotees and led to a recent revival of interest in the band. Five years ago, Base Records in Japan re-released the original album, as well as Automatics 2 and the 2002 Forty Virgins in the Afterlife. Philp toured Japan playing selections from these albums in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Living in Los Angeles, California since 1987, Philp most recently wrote a series of songs about the nature of being English, viewing his native land from afar and the conflicted feelings of an ex-patriot. The album, fittingly titled Britannia, was released in June, 2005 by Dork Records in the U.K. Songs such as England Expects and Old River Thames are on the charts there and found greater popularity when Philp toured England last summer.
Born in Ripon, Yorkshire, Philp attended school in Cheltenham since his father was in the military and the family was stationed abroad. He was at Keel University when he decided to move to London and form a punk rock band. The eraÂ's hippest DJ, John Peel promoted it to the top of the alternative charts. As a singer/songwriter, David Philp combined brilliant lyrics and musicianship with a relentless punk beat.
Considered one of the great songwriters of his generation, PhilpÂ's most recent album proves his original, now seasoned, talent. Britannia remains one of the most played albums on Big L London Radio.
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