Phil Allen was a drummer in several Liverpool new wave bands. He is the brother of Enrico Cadillac Jr. (real name Steve Allen), the frontman of Deaf School. In May 1977, at the petition of Deaf School's Clive Langer, he founded the punk and post-punk band, Big In Japan, being the drummer; he played in some songs which later appeared on the From Y to Z and Never Again EP, but became less inspired and left in December 1977. In January 1978, he was replaced by Budgie, later of Siouxsie And The Banshees.
Later, Allen joined The Egyptians, The Moderates, The Hunters and Love Look Away (who released material on MCA), but he was more of a session musician. As of the 1990s, he played in The Hail Marys, a dance oriented group, with whom he owned the LAP record label. Allen also taught keyboards and guitar.