Mark Hoppus & Koopa Join Forces

• 18th Feb 2008

Pied Piper Records announced today that UK band KOOPA will join forces with ex Blink 182 and current +44 front man Mark Hoppus to produce their debut album. The band recently joined the label’s roster, signing a four-album deal.

Glasswerk 'New Music Awards' winners KOOPA have made music history by becoming the first ever unsigned band to make it in to the UK Top 40. In total they had three unsigned singles chart in the Top 40, the most recent “The Crash” reaching number 16 in November 2007. They also became the first ever unsigned band to enter the Hit40 UK chart. The three-piece band combines the talent of brothers Ollie Cooper (guitar and vocals) and Stu Cooper (drums) along with Joe Murphy (bass and vocals). Koopa, who originally formed in 2002, has taken the UK by storm and created a buzz seldom seen by an unsigned band. Their eclectic mixture of punk, pop and rock has seen them develop into the most exciting act in the UK music scene today.

With Blink 182 being a major influence on Koopa, the band are excited to have the opportunity to work with Mark Hoppus on the album. Mark is well-known from his days with Blink 182, more recently he has also produced albums for the likes of Simple Plan, New Found Glory and Motion City Soundtrack.

In the studio Mark will be joined by Chris Holmes in the engineer’s chair. As well as Blink-182 and +44, Chris has worked with many of the music industry’s top artists. Since the early 90’s Chris has engineered and mixed some of the biggest selling and most critically acclaimed records to be released including; Stadium Arcadium, Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Craig Cumming, President of Pied Piper Records, has anxiously awaited the addition of the group to the label. “Koopa is one of the most exciting bands in the world right now. Their success so far as an independent, unsigned group is admirable. We are proud to be their label and look forward to bringing the world their music for years to come” said Cumming.

KOOPA will be recording at the studio owned by Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker in Los Angeles, with sessions for the new album commencing in early April. KOOPA will be leaving for Nashville to work on new material in early March and will be playing a few warm up gigs before they head off to the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas where they will be showcasing on the 15th March at The Wave.