Wall of Mouths

Rhythm magazine - £4.50 and a free DVD and CD :D

Therapy?

Ten albums in and Therapy? remain as in- yer- face as ever, as drummer Neil Cooper explains…

Like an impatient child, the music industry delights in novelty for novelty’s sake. A new band is more exciting than an established name.Yet even against such odds, the best bands survive their first brush with celebrity to prosper. Just ask the perenially noisy Therapy? They’ve endure long enough to release their tenth album, Never Apologise Never explain, a collection imbued with an intensity and immediacy that shames younger bands. No wonder drummer Neil Cooper is pleased, “it’s a lot more full on than the last album, High Anxiety,” he says. “What a lot of people seem to be saying is that Therapy? have gone back to their roots. We wrote and recorded it very quickly. Listening to it now, it’s got that anxious edge we were after. It was very much a matter of a couple of weeks of rehearsals, banging it out and keeping the tunes exciting, and going straight in and recording it as quickly as we could.” Although Never Apologise is only Neil’s second album with the band, he speaks with some authority. Back in the early 1990s, he was the drummer for har rock outfit The Beyond, who toured with Therapy? “What was going on at that point was kind of similar to now in that we’re all into heavy stuff and we want to play full - on music, but there’s different things we want to bring in,” he says, “it’s not like we say we can’t play that, we can’t play a mellow tuneor we cant’ play a tune that sounds a bit like thrash metal.” Or even a tune with a beat influenced by dance music. As well as Derbyshire proto - emo rockers Cable, Neil’s CV lists time playing live with dance outfit Psycheddeliasmith, a click track - driven show that required Neil to master “really technical” patterns built up in the studio by the producer Fatboy Slim. Surprisingly, and at some risk of reinvigorating the old ‘there’s always been a dance music influence in our music’ line that jangly indie bands spouted when in their pomp, Neil relates these influences to the early days of Therapy? “My background and playing is similar to original Therapy? drummer Fyfe Ewing,” he says. “We toured together years ago, me and Fyfe got on quite well and traded cassettes. Musically, we were into the same thigns , which shows in our playing. Then Graham Hopkins took over. He’s a very good rock drummer, whereas I think myslef and Fyfe play more punk and are more influenced by techno and hip - hop - DJ Shadow and things like that.” But don’t let such remarks make you believe Copper is a big dance softy. As listed on the badn’s website, his favourite albums include offerings from Slayer, Fugazi and the awesome Public Enemy. In short he’s the perfect drummer to anchor a power trio (with frontman/ guitarist Andy Cairns and bassist Michael McKeegan) in the wake of the departure of guitarist’s Martin McCarrick’s departure from the band earlier this year. “All of a suddent here’s room to hear everything,” Neil says of the stripped - back line - up. “At the gigs and in recording, there’s space for everything. And we appreciate each other - we enjoy what the others are playing.” The sheer energy of the newly invigorated Therapy? bears him out. In the circumstances, Neil’s advice for young drummers shouldn’t be too surprising: “Play everything with conviction.”

Sorry the reference isn’t insulting its improved my playing no end too. A bassist I used to be in a band with used to take the piss out of me reading it saying all the kit pics etc was “drummer porn” hence the wankmag imagery.

Glad to be of service. I’m extremely psyched as I got my ticket thru for the Astoria show this morning and seeing the Rhythm article just made my day.

Yeah and the irony was he had more than one Fender bass guitar catalogue in his room indoors. I dunno obviously it’s uncool to be overly passionate about the instrument u play. Neway I’m off to read thru my old issues (if I can prize the pages apart).

MyFeetAreALimousine wrote:

Not sure if I’ve posted in right place but neway jus got my copy of drummer’s wankmag RHYTHM and to my surprise mr. Neil Cooper has an interview in there (only a a page mind) which makes very interesting reading (even if ur not a drummer, cos there’s no talkin’ shop from Coop). Unfortunately my scanners on the blink and I’m too lazy to write it all out (well maybe if someone asks nicely) but bascially talkin bout the band/album, touring with T? when in the Beyond and how he got on with Fyfe cos were into same stuff, how Graham was a “great rock drummer” yet himself and Fyfe are similar in style. Surprised nothing;s been officially said on the site it really took me by surprise.

are there any pictures of him?!?

3ddo-on-the-balcony wrote:

That took you a long time 4eva.

i know!!! :D I have only just found it!

tatty seaside town wrote:

does he have a girlfriend or married, children???

NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! HOPE NOT :mad: :D

rocking roxy wrote:

i think he got a girlfriend…sorry 4eva…

:mad:

really?

rocking roxy wrote:

and i think you would be too young anyway :D

guess so :( i’m gonna cry now

rocking roxy wrote:

well, then just see him as your big brother :)

it’s not the same :(

rocking roxy wrote:

well, then just see him as your big brother :)

Don’t get her into incest, please. :D

allroy wrote:

Don’t get her into incest, please. :D

Pervert! Is that the only thing you can think of :D ?

I will not comment on that :eek: