As punk declined in popularity, Philp went into business for himself in Los Angeles, but continued to write, record songs and play small clubs as the Automatics. He was surprised in 2000 when a punk rock record promoter in Tokyo contacted him about releasing his first album and going on tour in Japan. Toshio Iijima of Base Records had Philp play sold-out clubs in Tokyo and Kyoto being backed by Japanese punk musicians who had memorized both the music and lyrics of his first record. The success of that tour led Iijima to bring Philp back to Japan in 2002 and 2004. He also released two more albums: 2 in 2002 and Forty Virgins in the Afterlife in 2004.
releasing his first album
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