KOOPA is a force to be reckoned with. They're here to rock. Feeding on punk pop rock rebellion, they deliver an unstoppable energy in tunes about not losing yourself or selling out in a world that demands defiance…
You know what, dump all that journalistic jargon
Forget video games. Forget kingdoms of evil hammer-tossing turtles. KOOPA is simply three Brits who write and perform music together. Ollie Cooper (vocals, guitar) and Stu Cooper (drums) are brothers. For those with non-Brit accents, say "Cooper" with an Essex twang and you'll get where the band name came from. But KOOPA would not be complete without Joe Murphy (vocals/bass). It all began in 2002, in a single room - a bedroom used primarily to write, rehearse and record. They won a local battle of the bands, played relentlessly for years, built a rambunctious fan base and used the internet to their advantage. Basically, Ollie is a rebel with a cause, Joe was born to be wild and Stu is the quiet one (but when he does speak, it's usually wise or hilarious); and their birthdates are top-secret classified information. If we told you, we'd have to kill you!
Why should you keep and eye on KOOPA and beware of their every move? Because the world is.
In 2007, they catapulted to notoriety as the first-ever unsigned band to break into the UK Top 40 charts. Here's the history lesson. When the UK Charts changed their rules to include downloaded singles without a physical album available in stores, KOOPA sprang on an opportunity and fittingly released "Blag, Steal and Borrow". Two more singles followed with "One Off Song For The Summer" entering at number 21 and "The Crash" climbing to number 16.
2008 has brought about a record deal with Nashville-based indie label Pied Piper Records, performances at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, and at L.A.'s infamous Whiskey-a-Go-Go, and the opportunity of a lifetime; working with Mark Hoppus and Chris Holmes on their debut album. Hoppus of Blink 182 and +44 fame helmed as producer; while Holmes engineered, having previously worked with The Red Hot Chili Peppers amongst others.
The highly anticipated new album is currently in post-production and the first single will be released in the UK on 17 November with a US release shortly thereafter. The band will be playing shows in support of the new record, first in the UK and then around the world in through 2009.
All credit for their past and continued success goes to their fiercely loyal fans. As the boys have stated before: "We wanna say how much we love our fans! …you are by far the sexiest people on earth… without you we'd be nothing…"
"You all rock the planet!"
