| Neil Cooper | |
| Birth Place: | Derby, England |
| Genre: | Alternative metal, alternative rock |
| Occupation: | Drummer |
| Years Active: | 1988–present |
| Current Member Of: | Therapy? |
| Past Member Of: | The Beyond, Cable, Gorilla |
Neil Cooper is an English musician who is the drummer for Therapy?,[1] a rock band from Northern Ireland, and formerly of The Beyond, a rock band from England.
Cooper was a founding member of The Beyond in 1988.
The Beyond disbanded in 1993, after which Cooper joined Cable. 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.
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.[2]
Cooper, by now operating freelance, had a stint with bigbeat combo Psychedeliasmith, and worked with Fatboy Slim. 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.[3]
Cooper joined Therapy? in 2002, following the departure of Graham Hopkins. 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 eight studio albums – High Anxiety, Never Apologise Never Explain, One Cure Fits All, Crooked Timber, A Brief Crack of Light, Disquiet, Cleave, and “Hard Cold Fire”.
Whenever he is not touring or otherwise busy with Therapy?, Cooper provides drum lessons. He teaches at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (QEGS), Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Cooper uses, and is endorsed by, Mapex drums.[4] He also uses Paiste cymbals.
See main article: Therapy? discography.