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All Music Guide:
Formed in Reading, England, in the late '90s by Ben Gautrey (vocals), Tom Bellamy (guitar, synthesizer, bass), Dan Fisher (bass, guitar), Didz (bass), Kieran Mahon (keyboards), and Jon Harper (drums), the Cooper Temple Clause bring forth an original and powerful compound of alternative rock. Riding across different styles such as post-grunge or punk, the Cooper Temple Clause present an exciting and artful kind of hard rock. Assembled out of several local bands, the squad swiftly started conquering its own fan base after their first live shows. In 2000, the group signed a deal with RCA Records, opening the road for the release of their debut record. By the end of 2001, the group offered its first disc, the EP Hardware/Warfare. Entering an extensive tour shortly afterward, the crew also started being recognized by the British alternative scene. Following the tour, the band issued yet another winning single, Film Maker/Been Training Dogs, that quickly ascended to the top spot of the major U.K. chart. In February 2002, the Cooper Temple Clause delivered its debut album, See This Through and Leave, solidly reaffirming their notability, by then not only in the U.K but also in the rest of Europe. One year later, the band earned wide international distribution with Kick Up the Fire, And Let the Flames Break Loose.
Wikipedia:
The Cooper Temple Clause were an English six-piece alternative rock band originating from Wokingham, Berkshire. Formed in 1998, the band quickly gained a following through their live concerts, and have produced three albums, the latest being Make This Your Own. The band split up on 24 April 2007, following the departure of Daniel Fisher.
Name
The band was named after the Cowper-Temple clause, the first part of the name of which is pronounced, as in the band's name, /ˈkuːpər/. The clause was inserted into the Elementary Education Act 1870, which established compulsory primary education in England and Wales. The clause, a compromise on the matter of funding for denominational schools, was named after its proposer, Liberal MP William Cowper-Temple (born William Francis Cowper, later Baron Mount Temple).
During many of their early interviews, the band would make up various stories related to the origin of their name. An example of this can be seen in a video interview by Supersweet TV.
History
After signing a record deal with the RCA label in 2000 and putting out several singles and EPs, their debut album See This Through and Leave was released in 2002 to great critical acclaim. 2003's follow-up, Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose, achieved the band international recognition on the strength of the singles "Promises, Promises" and "Blind Pilots". The Cooper Temple Clause left RCA in 2006, signing to Sanctuary Records for the release of their third album Make This Your Own.
See This Through And Leave
The band's debut album, See This Through And Leave was released on 11 February 2002. Three singles were released from the album; "Let's Kill Music", the double-A side "Film-Maker // Been Training Dogs", and "Who Needs Enemies?". The album was released on CD, limited edition double CD, international CD and a 7" boxed set, along with 2 promo CDs. The Limited edition double CD contained 3 extra songs and live versions of Panzer Attack and Let's Kill Music. It was well received by critics and reached number 27 in the UK Albums Chart. Fisher wrote the lyrics for this first album
Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose
Following only 19 months after See This Through And Leave, The Cooper Temple Clause released their second album Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose on September 8, 2003. The album, which saw the band record for the first time at their own studios Bleak House, had a different style to it and increasingly incorporated electronic sounds into tracks. Its two singles, "Promises, Promises" and "Blind Pilots" achieved the band international recognition, with "Promises, Promises" reaching number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. The album was hailed by fans and critics alike and reached number 5 in the UK Albums Chart, the highest position the band would ever achieve.
Didz Hammond's departure
In September 2005, bassist Didz Hammond left the band to join ex-Libertine Carl Barât in the band Dirty Pretty Things. The Cooper Temple Clause issued a statement on their official website confirming Didz's departure:
Dear fans and friends of The Cooper Temple Clause, it is with much regret that we must inform you all of Didz Hammond's departure from The Cooper Temple Clause. Though the news saddens us as much as we are sure it does you, we feel it is important to reassure everyone that things ended amicably and there is no bad feelings between anyone concerned. A brother has left the family home, though he shall never leave the family. We extend to him our love and wish him the best, and hope all of you can join us in lending him your support for the future.However Hammond is credited as playing bass on two of Make This Your Own's eleven tracks; "Damage" and "What Have You Gone And Done".
Make This Your Own
After many setbacks including a change in record label, and the loss of Didz Hammond, the band's third album was significantly delayed. It was finally released on 22 January 2007 and entitled Make This Your Own. It included the singles "Damage", "Homo Sapiens", "Waiting Game" and "Head". The album saw Fisher and Bellamy having a greater role in vocals, and featured fewer electronic influences than the previous album.
The Split
The band announced they had split up in late April 2007, following Fisher's decision to leave. The band had been due to headline the AKG Unsigned Heroes gig at London's KOKO in Camden later in the same week. During the week prior to the official split, the band had been scheduled to perform at Underworld and Dingwalls as part of the Camden Crawl. These two appearances were cancelled, however, with the band citing exhaustion as the reason. It is not clear whether the split was also a factor in the cancellations. The following post was made on the band's website, announcing the split:
Influences
The Cooper Temple Clause had been associated by some with the revival of prog-rock, although their influences also included the post-hardcore style of At the Drive-In, as well as the typical 1990s-era Britpop sound of bands such as Blur and Oasis. Additionally, the band had been increasingly incorporating electronic music into their sound and cited Radiohead as a major influence, and their debut album was compared favourably to Mansun's Six.
The Cooper Temple Clause used and experimented with many different instruments, forming a unique part of their sound.
