Hopper (band)
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Hopper was an English indie rock group that came together in 1992.
Their first contract was with Damaged Goods, a label recognized for issuing the debut single of the Manic Street Preachers. Their initial release, "Hunter," appeared on 31 January 1994, followed by "Baby Oil Applicator," which attracted considerable notice and earned the distinction of single of the week by Steve Lamacq on Radio 1.
Subsequently, they signed with Factory Too, the follow-up to Factory Records overseen by Tony Wilson. The band’s first album, English and French (initially named Cause I Rock), was produced by Bernard Butler after his tenure with Suede and engineered by Nigel Godrich, who is renowned for his production on Radiohead's The Bends. Released at the height of Britpop, this album was often compared to peers such as Sleeper and received reviews in magazines like NME and Melody Maker.
Their singles "Bad Kid" and "Wasted" incorporated catchy pop punk influences and achieved success on UK indie charts, although they did not break into mainstream popularity. Tracks such as "Ridiculous Day" and "Oh my Heartless" reflected a softer, acoustic tone consistent with the overall mood of the album.
Lead vocalist Rachel Morris was recognized for her unique singing approach, frequently highlighting varied segments of repeated lyrics.
Following a period of eighteen months filled with touring and promotion, Hopper disbanded in 1998. Rachel Ratajski (Morris) embarked on a solo path under the name Rachel Kyriaki. It was announced on 28 February 2022 that she had passed away due to undisclosed reasons.
Albums
- English and French (1996) Factory Too
EPs
- Baby Oil Applicator (1994) Damaged Goods
Singles
- "Hunter" (1994) Damaged Goods
- "Wasted" (1995) Factory Too
- "Ridiculous Day" (1996) Factory Too
- "Bad Kid" (1996) Factory Too
- "Oh My Heartless" (1997) Factory Too