Joe Murphy, the bassist for the noughties pop-punk band Koopa who made chart history, has died at the age of 46. His younger sister confirmed the news in a social media tribute, writing: 'For those who knew him, it breaks my heart to say that my big brother, Joe Murphy has passed away. Love you big bro.'
Chart history with Koopa
Murphy played bass in the Essex band Koopa alongside brothers Stuart and Oliver 'Ollie' Cooper. The trio made history in 2007 by becoming the first act to hit the UK top 40 singles chart with digital downloads, and the first act ever to chart a single without a record label. Their record-breaking single, Blag, Steal & Borrow, was released that year. The band, from the village of Sible Hedingham near Colchester, also won two awards at the Glasswerk New Music Awards in 2007.
Tributes from the rock community
Essex Rocks Creative CIC paid tribute: 'We've left it for a few days so everyone can digest the sad information that our friend Joe Murphy has passed on. Joe and his band Koopa were a massive part of our formative years as promoters in the mid 2000s and we feel privileged to have known him on a personal level and worked with him as a musician. Keep playing those riffs Joe.' One friend said: 'This is awful news to hear! Love to you all, at this sad time. A privilege to have known Joe & played music together.'
Earlier crash and health
According to The Sun, Murphy was involved in a serious car crash in June 2021 after suffering a heart attack while driving, and spent weeks in critical condition in intensive care. Koopa formed in the early 2000s when Ollie Cooper was a teenager, and the band toured Essex and the UK between 2004 and 2007, releasing singles 'No Trend' and 'Stand Up 4 England.'
