Neil Cooper
Encyclopedia
Neil Cooper is best known as the current drummer
with Therapy?
, a hard rock
band from Northern Ireland
, and formerly of The Beyond
, a hard rock band from England.
Cooper uses, and is endorsed by, Mapex drums. He also uses Paiste
cymbals.
in 1988. The band signed with EMI Records
and released two albums, entitled Crawl and Chasm, the latter being recorded in New York
with Jim Thirlwell. The band toured throughout the UK, Europe and US with Therapy?, Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Soundgarden
and Living Colour
.
. The band signed to Infectious Records and Cooper appeared on their debut album Downlift the Uptrodden. He also played on both of their John Peel
sessions and toured the UK and Europe with Ash
, Girls Against Boys
, Boss Hog
and Oasis
.
. Cooper also gained his Certificate in Teaching from the Royal Schools of Music in 2001, the same year as he co-founded a Derby based record label
called Stressed Sumo Records.
. His first live performance with Therapy? took place at the Carvicais Rock Festival in Portugal
on 10 August that year. It followed one rehearsal in which he had to learn the full sixteen song set. Cooper has since played on the band's last four studio albums – High Anxiety
, Never Apologise Never Explain
, One Cure Fits All
and Crooked Timber
.
.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
with Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
, a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band from Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and formerly of The Beyond
The Beyond (band)
The Beyond were a progressive metal band from Derby, England. The band performed under this name between1988 and 1993, then under the name Gorilla from 1995 to 1998.-The Beyond :...
, a hard rock band from England.
Cooper uses, and is endorsed by, Mapex drums. He also uses Paiste
Paiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
cymbals.
The Beyond
Cooper was a founding member of The BeyondThe Beyond (band)
The Beyond were a progressive metal band from Derby, England. The band performed under this name between1988 and 1993, then under the name Gorilla from 1995 to 1998.-The Beyond :...
in 1988. The band signed with EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
and released two albums, entitled Crawl and Chasm, the latter being recorded in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with Jim Thirlwell. The band toured throughout the UK, Europe and US with Therapy?, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
and Living Colour
Living Colour
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, neo-psychedelia, hard rock, and heavy metal...
.
Cable
The Beyond disbanded in 1993, after which Cooper joined CableCable (British band)
Cable were a British alternative rock band, formed in the early 1990s by Matt Bagguley , Darius Hinks , Suza Ward , Pete Darrington and Martin Syvret , followed by Neil Cooper, formerly of The Beyond . Cooper left in 1995 to form Gorilla with other ex-members of The Beyond, and was replaced by...
. The band signed to Infectious Records and Cooper appeared on their debut album Downlift the Uptrodden. He also played on both of their John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
sessions and toured the UK and Europe with Ash
Ash (band)
Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
, Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys are an indie rock/post-hardcore band, originally forming in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and currently based in New York City.-Career:...
, Boss Hog
Boss Hog
Boss Hog is an American punk blues band including the husband and wife duo of Jon Spencer and Cristina Martinez along with Jens Jurgensen , Hollis Queens and Mark Boyce...
and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
.
Gorilla
In 1995, however, Cooper re-joined his old bandmates from The Beyond in a new group called Gorilla. In 1998, following the release of several EPs, the group disbanded.Pre-Therapy?
Cooper, by now operating freelance, had a stint with bigbeat combo Psychedeliasmith, and worked with Fatboy SlimFatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
. Cooper also gained his Certificate in Teaching from the Royal Schools of Music in 2001, the same year as he co-founded a Derby based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
called Stressed Sumo Records.
Therapy?
Cooper joined Therapy? in 2002, following the departure of Graham HopkinsGraham Hopkins
Graham Hopkins is an Irish drummer. He is the drummer in The Swell Season, The Frames, and former drummer for the hard rock/punk rock band Therapy?.- Early years :...
. His first live performance with Therapy? took place at the Carvicais Rock Festival in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
on 10 August that year. It followed one rehearsal in which he had to learn the full sixteen song set. Cooper has since played on the band's last four studio albums – High Anxiety
High Anxiety (album)
High Anxiety was the seventh full-length album by the band Therapy?, and was the first to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on 5 May 2003...
, Never Apologise Never Explain
Never Apologise Never Explain
Never Apologise Never Explain was the eight full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the second to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on September 27, 2004. The album was recorded in June 2004 at Parkgate Studios, Hastings....
, One Cure Fits All
One Cure Fits All
One Cure Fits All, was the ninth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the third and final to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on April 24, 2006. The album was recorded in January 2006 at Jacobs Studios, Surrey...
and Crooked Timber
Crooked Timber (album)
Crooked Timber, is the tenth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the first to be released on Demolition Records. It was released on March 23, 2009. The album was recorded from July to August 2008 at Blast Studios, Newcastle, with additional recording at The Beauchamp Building, London from...
.
Drum lessons
Whenever he is not touring or otherwise busy with Therapy?, Cooper provides drum lessons. He teaches at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (QEGS), Ashbourne, DerbyshireAshbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
.
The Beyond
- Manic Sound Panic (1990 EP)
- No Excuse (1990 EP)
- Crawl (1991 album)
- "One Step Too Far" (1991 single)
- "Empire" (1991 single)
- Raging (1991 EP)
- Chasm (1993 album)
Cable
- "Sale Of The Century" (1994 single)
- "Seventy" (1995 single)
- "Blindman" (1995 single)
- "Seventy" (1996 single)
- Downlift The Uptrodden (1996 album)
Gorilla
- Extended Play (1995 EP)
- Shutdown (1995 EP)
- "Who Wants To Save The World Anyway?" (1997 single)
- "Outside" (1998 single)
Therapy?
- High AnxietyHigh Anxiety (album)High Anxiety was the seventh full-length album by the band Therapy?, and was the first to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on 5 May 2003...
(2003 album) - "If It Kills Me" / "Rust" (2003 single)
- "My Voodoo Doll" (2003 single)
- ScopophobiaScopophobia (dvd)"Scopophobia" is a DVD release by Therapy? on Eagle Vision, a subsidiary of Eagle Rock Entertainment on October 27, 2003. The bulk of the DVD is a full length 19 track concert recorded live at the Mandela Hall, Belfast on June 6, 2003....
(2003 DVD) - Never Apologise Never ExplainNever Apologise Never ExplainNever Apologise Never Explain was the eight full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the second to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on September 27, 2004. The album was recorded in June 2004 at Parkgate Studios, Hastings....
(2004 album) - "Polar Bear" / "Rock You Monkeys" (2005 single)
- One Cure Fits AllOne Cure Fits AllOne Cure Fits All, was the ninth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the third and final to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on April 24, 2006. The album was recorded in January 2006 at Jacobs Studios, Surrey...
(2006 album) - Rain Hits Concrete (2006 EP)
- Webgig (2007 live studio download)
- Crooked TimberCrooked Timber (album)Crooked Timber, is the tenth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the first to be released on Demolition Records. It was released on March 23, 2009. The album was recorded from July to August 2008 at Blast Studios, Newcastle, with additional recording at The Beauchamp Building, London from...
(2009 album) - "Crooked Timber" (2009 single)
- "Exiles" (2010 single)
- We're Here To The EndWe're Here to the EndWe're Here to the End, is the first full-length live album by the band Therapy?, and the second album to be released on Blast Records, part of The Global Music Group family...
(2010 live album)
Drum Kit
Information source: Rhythm Magazine, March 2011- Mapex Orion 12" tom
- Mapex Orion 13" tom
- Mapex Orion 16" floor tom
- Mapex Orion 22" x 20" bass drum
- Pearl Brass 14" x 6.5" Free Floating snare
- Ludwig 14" x 5" Black Beauty
- Mapex Black Panther 14" x 3.5" Brass Picolo
- Paiste 14" 2002 Wild hi-hats
- Paiste 17" Signature Reflector Heavy Full crash
- Paiste 18" Signature Reflector Heavy Full crash
- Paiste 20" 2002 Power crash
- Paiste 20" 2002 Heavy ride
- Paiste 20" 2002 China
- Vic Firth Extreme 5A sticks