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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOPE, Julian(b 21 Oct. '57, Bargoed, Wales) Vocalist, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader. Cope had been a member of Crucial Three with seminal Liverpool characters Pete Wylie (later leader of Wah!), Ian McCulloch (ditto Echo and the Bunnymen), then Nova Mob and A Shallow Madness; formed new wave group Teardrop Explodes '78 in Liverpool. Original lineup incl. Cope on bass, Mick Finkler, guitar; Paul Simpson, organ; Gary Dwyer, drums, took name from a Marvel comic caption. First gig at Eric's late '78 on bill with Bunnymen, like them signed to local Zoo label; first single 'Sleeping Gas'. Dave Balfe (Zoo co-founder with Bill Drummond; both from influential Big in Japan) replaced Simpson mid-'79; 'Bouncing Babies' another acclaimed single. Balfe's keyboards were an important element of the sound, which veered towards '60s US style of Love, etc. Finkler left during recording of Kilimanjaro '80, by which time they'd signed to Mercury, replaced by Alan Gill (ex-Dalek I Love You); Cope began to dominate the band, leading to departure of Gill (back to Dalek) and Balfe after non-album single 'Reward', no. 6 UK hit with fine brass arrangement. Cope switched to guitar and brought in bassist Alfie Agius (b Malta; ex-Interview), Jeff Hammer, keyboards; Troy Tate (ex-Shake), guitar: this lineup made Wilder '81, looser and more self- indulgent than first LP; reissued 'Treason' from first LP made no. 18 UK, but band failed to make impact. Cope called Balfe back for last-chance single 'You Disappear From View', disbanded '82. His solo career started brightly with typically titled World Shut Your Mouth '84, but faltered with Fried '85 (both reissued on Mercury). Recorded one-off single 'Competition' under pseudonym Rabbi Joseph Gordan for indie Bam Caruso label, returned on Island with hit 'World Shut Your Mouth' '86 (no relation to LP); album St Julian '87 sacrificed his love for the '60s. His vocal style had resembled that of his hero Scott Engel (see Walker Bros) for populist approach, with a pounding rock backing. He carried on with albums like My Nation Underground '88, Peggy Suicide '91 and Jehovakill '92 on Island; AutoGEDDON '94 on American, Interpreter '96 on Echo, remaining a cosmic joker for a lost generation. He published autobiography Head On '95 as well as Krautrocksampler, a useful guide to the German techno minimalism of the '70s whose influence will not go away whether the rest of us like it or not (see entries for Can, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream). |