Phil Thornalley, born Phillip Carden Thornalley on January 5, 1960, in Worlington, Suffolk, England, is a renowned English songwriter, musician, and producer. His career in the music industry began in 1978 when he worked as a recording engineer at RAK Studios in London, learning from esteemed producers like Mickie Most, Steve Lillywhite, and Alex Sadkin. Thornalley gained significant recognition as the producer of The Cure's 1982 album "Pornography" and subsequently joined the band as their bassist for about 18 months. He played a notable role in their single "The Love Cats," contributing a distinctive double bass performance.

In 1988, Thornalley released his solo album "Swamp" and joined the pop band Johnny Hates Jazz as their lead singer, contributing to their 1991 album "Tall Stories." However, a serious car accident prevented the band from touring, leading to his departure in 1992. Thornalley then focused primarily on songwriting and production, co-writing the hit song "Torn" with Scott Cutler and Anne Preven. Natalie Imbruglia's cover of "Torn" became an international sensation. He also achieved success with Pixie Lott, co-writing her UK number one singles "Mama Do" and "Boys and Girls."

Throughout his career, Thornalley has worked with a wide array of artists, including Bryan Adams, the Thompson Twins, Duran Duran, and Paul McCartney. He toured with Bryan Adams as a bass player in the mid-2010s and contributed songs to Adams' albums "Get Up" and "Shine a Light." His influences include Todd Rundgren, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd, and he continues to release solo music under his name and as Astral Drive. Thornalley remains a prominent figure in the music industry, known for his versatile contributions as a songwriter, producer, and musician.