Frock’n’roll vicar Philip Chew prays for punk chart hit with band Revisit
HE MAKES an unlikely punk rocker, but vicar Philip Chew is swapping his cassock for a red mohican hairstyle as he bids for chart success.
The rocking reverend and his band Revisit are to release a single, We’re Under Attack, in the next six weeks and they hope to get played on national radio.
But Philip says he won’t be singing about sex, drugs and violence like the original 1970s punk rockers.
As the band’s songwriter, he wants to use the music to promote good morals and encourage understanding between communities.
He said: “I think it is a misconception that a vicar should just be spending his time in church.
"In Christianity a priest is supposed to be in the world and that’s what I am doing.”
I think it is a misconception that a vicar should just be spending his time in church
Philip, who is vicar of St Stephen’s in Burnley, Lancs, said he had been told his music was similar in sound to The Smiths and U2.
He is joined in the band by bassist Mark Hurlbut, drummer John Mayor and lead guitarist, Graham Chapelhow.
Mark and John were in punk band The Stiffs, who were signed to the EMI label 35 years ago.
Revisit recently played their “first proper gig” in years.
Philip said: “We decided to play for the kids to see what they thought and we wanted to give something back to the young people as they do not often see live music in Burnley and going to gigs is expensive.
"The concert went really well.”
