Glen Phillips

Glen Phillips
Phillips at the Lowell Summer Music Series, August 2011
Background information
Born	(1970-12-29) December 29, 1970 (age 46) Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, rock, folk rock
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, mandolin, keyboards
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Columbia
Associated acts	Toad the Wet Sprocket, Mutual Admiration Society, Works Progress Administration, Plover
Website	GlenPhillips.com
Notable instruments
Fender Telecaster

Glen Phillips (born December 29, 1970) is an American songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Phillips was born in Santa Barbara, California, United States, and began making music at age 14. Glen grew up in a household where Reform Judaism was practiced and Eastern Religion was studied, and his spiritual curiosity has been one of the major themes of his writing.

Phillips and his ex-wife, Laurel, have three girls (Sophia, Freya, and Zola). The couple divorced in 2014.

Phillips injured his arm on October 8, 2008 at a friend's house when a glass coffee table he was sitting on collapsed. Phillips had surgery to repair a damaged ulnar nerve and muscle in his left arm. His ability to play guitar was hampered during his recovery, but he had been actively touring in spite of his injury. Sean Watkins and Jonathan Kingham have recently joined Phillips on the road to provide accompaniment.

Phillips is frequently barefoot when performing with the band.

Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986, at the age of 15. By 1988, they had signed with Columbia Records. They recorded five albums and many major tours until 1998.

During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called Flapping, Flapping.

Three years later, Phillips released his first solo album, Abulum, which was a change from the sound that Toad the Wet Sprocket was known for. 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, with Nickel Creek, released a long-awaited collaboration as 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.