James Frank Copley (29 December 1953 – 13 May 2017) was an English rock drummer.
Copley was largely a
session musician
A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a reco ...
and worked with
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English musician. He rose to prominence as the guitarist of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, ...
,
Graham Parker
Graham Thomas Parker (born 18 November 1950) is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.
Life and career Early career (1960s–1976)
Parker was born in Hackney, East L ...
,
Upp,
Paul Young
Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. H ...
,
Magnum,
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover (born 30 November 1945) is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as a member of the hard rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. As a member of Deep Purple, Glover was inducted into the Rock and Roll ...
,
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice.
Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan ...
and
Glenn Hughes of
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...
,
Go West,
Killing Joke
Killing Joke were an English rock music, rock band formed in Notting Hill, London, in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass).
Their first album, ''Killing Joke ...
,
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the synth-pop bands o ...
,
Seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, also called "true seal"
** Fur seal
** Eared seal
* Seal ( ...
,
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (born 19 February 1948) is an English musician. He co-founded the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and was the band's guitarist, leader, primary composer, and sole continuous member for over ...
and
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers (born 17 December 1949) is an English-Canadian singer. He was the lead vocalist of numerous successful rock bands, including Free (band), Free, Bad Company, The Firm (rock band), the Firm and The Law (English band), the L ...
.
He was the drummer with
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band are an English rock band formed by South African musician Manfred Mann (musician), Manfred Mann. Their hits include covers of Bruce Springsteen's "For You (Bruce Springsteen song), For You", "Blinded by the Light" an ...
from 2007.
He was a master of the
open-handed drumming
Open-handed drumming is a method of playing a drum kit.
Method
The method involves not crossing the hands when playing the hi-hat (or ride-cymbal) and snare drum simultaneously as opposed to the more traditional way of playing drums which featur ...
technique. This method dispenses with crossing the hands when playing the hi-hat and snare drum simultaneously, as opposed to the more traditional way of playing drums which features crossed hands as the basic playing position.
Copley was a long-term
Tama Drums
Tama Drums (from Japanese: (Kanji); (Kana)) is a brand of drums and hardware manufactured and marketed by Hoshino Gakki.
The research and development of its products, along with production of its professional drum lines, is done in Seto, ...
endorser. He used Superstar, Granstar, Artstar II and Starclassic drums throughout the years. Another long time association was with
Zildjian
The Avedis Zildjian Company, simply known as Zildjian (), is a musical instrument manufacturer specializing in cymbals and other percussion instruments. Founded by the ethnic Armenian Zildjian family in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire, the com ...
Cymbals
A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sou ...
. He also used
Vic Firth
Everett Joseph "Vic" Firth (June 2, 1930 – July 26, 2015) was an American musician and the founder of Vic Firth Company (formerly Vic Firth, Inc.), a company that makes percussion sticks and mallets. He was also known for his association ...
drumsticks.
Death
According to University Hospital Bristol, Copley had been diagnosed with leukemia in 2015 and relapsed following a bone marrow transplant. He opted to discontinue chemotherapy. In Copley's final days, his hospital room was transformed into a temporary recording studio so that he and friends could record an EP to benefit the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre and Royal United Hospital in Bristol.
Selected discography
Upp
* ''Upp'' (1975)
* ''This Way Upp'' (1976)
Killing Joke
Killing Joke were an English rock music, rock band formed in Notting Hill, London, in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (musician), Youth (bass).
Their first album, ''Killing Joke ...
* ''
Outside the Gate'' (1988)
Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the synth-pop bands o ...
* ''Tears for Fears: Live at Knebworth '90 (Change, Badman's Song, Everybody Wants to Rule the World)'' (1990)
* ''
Going To California (Live from Santa Barbara)'' (1990)
Psychedelix
* ''Move On/Green Light'' (1992)
* ''Psychedelix'' (1992)
* ''no one's wastin' time'' (live album, 1992)
* ''Rowdy Boys'' (1993)
* ''Psychedelix II'' (1994)
* ''Livin' In Osaka'' (1994)
* ''Merry-Go-Round'' (1995)
* ''Stand'' (1995)
* ''Stand e.p.'' (1995)
* ''Smoky'' (1996)
* ''On-Gaeshi 1'' (live album, 1999)
* ''On-Gaeshi 2'' (live album, 1999)
* ''Edoya Collection 1992-1996'' (1999)
* ''20th March 1994'' (live DVD, 2000)
* ''Move On Tour Stage 1'' (live DVD, 2005)
* ''New Classics'' (2008)
Stone Free -
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
Tribute
* ''Stone Free - Jimi Hendrix Tribute'' (1993)
Curt Smith
Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist, bassist, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland ...
* ''
Soul on Board
The soul is the purported immaterial aspect or essence of a living being. It is typically believed to be immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that describe the relationship between the soul and the body ...
'' (1993)
Martin Page
Martin George Page (born 23 September 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and bassist. Page has collaborated with artists such as Paul Young, Starship, Robbie Robertson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Heart (band), Heart, Robbie Williams and Go West (b ...
* ''
In the House of Stone and Light'' (1994)
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are a British rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (ba ...
* ''
Last of the Independents
''Last of the Independents'' is the sixth studio album by English American rock group the Pretenders, released in 1994. For this album, the band is officially credited as being Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar), Adam Seymour (guitar), Andy Hobso ...
'' (1994)
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers (born 17 December 1949) is an English-Canadian singer. He was the lead vocalist of numerous successful rock bands, including Free (band), Free, Bad Company, The Firm (rock band), the Firm and The Law (English band), the L ...
*''
Live: The Loreley Tapes'' (live album, 1996)
*''
Now
Now most commonly refers
to the present time.
Now, NOW, or The Now may also refer to:
Organizations
* Natal Organisation of Women, a South African women's organization
* National Organization for Women, an American feminist organization
* Na ...
'' (1997)
*''
Now and Live'' (2-CD compilation, 1997)
*''
Electric
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwel ...
'' (2000)
Char
* ''Days Went By 1988-1993'' (1993)
* ''20th Anniversary "Electric Guitar Concert"'' (live album, 1997)
* ''Today'' (1998)
* ''Let It Blow'' (1998)
* ''Touch My Love Again'' (1999)
* ''I’m Gonna Take This Chance'' (1999)
* ''Char Edoya Collection 1988-1997'' (1999)
* ''Char Plays Ballad'' (1999)
* ''20th Anniversary "Electric Guitar Concert"'' (live DVD, 1999)
* ''Share The Wonder'' (2000)
* ''Char Played With And Without'' (live album, 2000)
* ''Bamboo Joints'' (2001)
* ''Char Psyche 1988'' (live album, 2002)
* ''Live In Nippon Budokan 2001 "Bamboo Joints"'' (live DVD, 2002)
* ''Sacred Hills'' (2002)
* ''Mr.70’s You Set Me Free'' (2003)
* ''Singles 1976-2005'' (2006)
* ''Tradrock "Jeff" by Char'' (2011)
Mayfield
* ''
Mayfield'' (1998)
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (born 19 February 1948) is an English musician. He co-founded the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and was the band's guitarist, leader, primary composer, and sole continuous member for over ...
*''
Iommi'' (2000)
*''
The 1996 DEP Sessions
''The 1996 DEP Sessions'' is a collaborative studio album by English musicians Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes, released through Sanctuary and Mayan Records in 2004.
Material for ''The 1996 DEP Sessions'' was originally recorded in 1996, and was cir ...
'' (2004)
Go West
*''The Best Of Go West - The Runaway Train Tour'' (1987)
Magnum
* ''Livin' The Dream'' (2005 live DVD)
* ''
Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow
''Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow'' is the 14th studio album by the English rock band Magnum. The album was released by SPV in Germany on 23 March 2007, in the rest of Europe on 26 March 2007 and in the USA on 3 April 2007. The album titl ...
'' (2007)
Jimmy Copley
* ''Slap My Hand'' (2008)
Jimmy Copley & Char
* ''Slap My Hand Special Session'' (live DVD, 2009)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Copley, Jimmy
1953 births
2017 deaths
English rock drummers
Manfred Mann's Earth Band members
Musicians from London
English heavy metal drummers
English session musicians
Deaths from leukemia in England
Magnum (band) members
The Company of Snakes members