The Cooper Temple Clause
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Wokingham, Berkshire, England |
| Defunct | April 24, 2007 |
| Headquarters | Wokingham , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
The Cooper Temple Clause was an alternative rock group hailing from Wokingham, Berkshire, England, established in 1998. They produced three studio albums before disbanding on 24 April 2007, subsequent to Daniel Fisher's exit from the band.
Following their 2000 signing with RCA, and after issuing a number of singles and EPs, their first album, See This Through and Leave, debuted in 2002 to widespread critical praise. Their sophomore effort, Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose, released in 2003, brought them international acclaim, propelled by singles such as "Promises, Promises" and "Blind Pilots". After parting ways with RCA in 2006, they joined Sanctuary Records to launch their third record, Make This Your Own.
The band's name is inspired by the Cowper-Temple clause, a component of the Elementary Education Act 1870, named after the Liberal politician William Cowper-Temple. In early interviews, the group often shared fabricated anecdotes regarding the origin of their name, as demonstrated in a Supersweet TV interview.
See This Through And Leave (2002)
Their inaugural album, See This Through and Leave, was released on 11 February 2002. It included three singles: "Let's Kill Music", the double A-side "Film-Maker // Been Training Dogs", and "Who Needs Enemies?". Issued in various formats—including a limited edition double CD featuring bonus tracks and live recordings—the album reached number 27 on the UK Albums Chart. The lyrics for this release were penned by Fisher.
Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose (2003)
Nineteen months later, on 8 September 2003, The Cooper Temple Clause unveiled their second album, Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose. Recorded at their self-owned Bleak House studio, this album integrated a stronger electronic influence. Singles like "Promises, Promises" and "Blind Pilots" significantly boosted their global standing, with "Promises, Promises" peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself climbed to number 5 on the UK Albums Chart—their highest position to date.
Didz Hammond's departure and Make This Your Own (2005–2007)
In September 2005, bassist Didz Hammond departed to collaborate with former Libertine Carl Barât in his new project Dirty Pretty Things. The band officially announced his exit. Hammond is credited as a contributor on two tracks—"Damage" and "What Have You Gone And Done"—from their third album.
Following postponements caused by a label transition and Hammond’s departure, their third studio effort, Make This Your Own, was released on 22 January 2007. The album featured singles such as "Damage", "Homo Sapiens", "Waiting Game", and "Head", highlighting increased vocal performances from Fisher and Bellamy while reducing electronic elements compared to their previous record.
The split and post-split work (2007–present)
The group declared their disbandment in late April 2007 following Fisher's exit. They were originally booked to headline the AKG Unsigned Heroes event at London's KOKO and to perform at Underworld and Dingwalls as part of the Camden Crawl, but these shows were cancelled due to reported fatigue. The official breakup was announced through a statement on their website.
After the split, Tom Bellamy became a member of Losers and took on the role of live drummer for White Belt Yellow Tag. Daniel Fisher assumed leadership of Red Kite, serving as vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist; their first album, Songs For Crow, was released in November 2013. Ben Gautrey leads Type Two Error alongside Kieran Mahon, who plays bass and synthesizers; they revealed plans for their debut album in January 2023. Mahon completed his undergraduate studies at Queen Mary, University of London and is currently pursuing a master's degree in architectural history at University College London. In 2008, Jon Harper worked as a session drummer for the Brazilian band Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS) and later joined Chris Corner's project IAMX for live performances from late 2009 through mid-2010. Harper also holds a teaching position at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music.
Members
- Tom Bellamy – Guitar, bass, synthesizer, keyboard, trumpet, melodica, harmonica, percussion, vocals
- Daniel Fisher – Guitar, bass, vocals
- Ben Gautrey – Lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard
- Jon Harper – Drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Kieran Mahon – Keyboard, farfisa, guitar, bass, backing vocals
- Didz Hammond – Bass, synthesizer, vocoder, guitar, vocals
Albums
- See This Through and Leave (2002) UK Chart Position: 27
- Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose (2003) UK Chart Position: 5
- Make This Your Own (2007) UK Chart Position: 33
Singles and EPs
| Date | Title (UK Singles Chart position) |
|---|---|
| July 2000 | "Crayon Demos" |
| March 2001 | The Hardware EP |
| March 2001 | "Way Out West" |
| June 2001 | The Warfare EP |
| July 2001 | The Hardware EP + The Warfare EP |
| September 2001 | "Let's Kill Music" (#41) |
| January 2002 | "Film-Maker" / "Been Training Dogs" (#20) |
| May 2002 | "Who Needs Enemies?" (#22) |
| September 2002 | "A.I.M." |
| September 2003 | "Promises, Promises" (#19) |
| November 2003 | "Blind Pilots" (#37) |
| May 2006 | "Damage" |
| October 2006 | "Homo Sapiens" (#36) |
| January 2007 | "Waiting Game" (#41) |
| April 2007 | "Head" |