Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale 

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Chris Copping

29 August 1945, Middleton, Lancashire, UK




Chris Copping, BSc, did his chemistry degree at Leicester University; he moved to Southend when he was about 18 months old

Main instruments: Bass, Organ: has also helped out with piano, banjo, guitar and vocal on stage 

Albums:
Home
Broken Barricades
Live with Edmonton Symphony
Grand Hotel
Exotic Birds and Fruit
Procol's Ninth
Something Magic

DVD: I'm Coming Home: The Paramounts' Reunion, 2005: click here to order

Chris on Alan Cartwright

Chris's response to the death of Gary Brooker

Frans Steensma writes:
Chris played bass with The Paramounts from October 1960 until Christmas 1962 (when Diz Derrick took over).

The first time Chris played with Procol Harum live was during the Rolling Stones Christmas Show at the London Lyceum, 21 December 1969 (two shows). His first public appearance with the band as a four-piece was on German TV (15 December 1969) when the Bob Rooyens directed Dusty Springfield Show was shown.

His last public appearance with Procol (as was his first) was on TV: 12 March 1977 Procol Harum recorded the Sight & Sound In Concert at the Golders Green Hippodrome in London. March 18 it was broadcast on radio and TV simultaneously. This was Copping's final gig with Procol.

One month later I saw him with Frankie Miller's band (managed by Keith Reid) in Paradiso, Amsterdam. Chris played keyboards then (Chris Stewart was on bass). When Frankie went on an American tour in June 1977, Copping joined in too. I have a Cashbox concert review of July 9, 1977 which mentions Chris. More at BtP from Frans here
 

Chris visits Bristol (right) on Walpurgisnacht 2001, to spend some time at BtP's UK HQ

'Chris Copping and Dave Ball were the first two Procolers I ever saw play (writes Roland): they were the only two who made it to a gig in Cambridge, early 1972, following the failure of the Procol van. (more here)

'They gamely jammed for the whole evening with members of Supertramp, with whom PH were to have shared the bill; as far as I remember both CC and DB played piano, organ, drums, guitar, and bass in turn. One of the Supertramps played some woodwinds and rang a small electric bell repeatedly. 

'Halcyon daze.'

Online movie of Chris Copping playing Homburg on piano and organ

Other works:

ALBUMS

SHORT FILMS

OTHER SHORTS

OTHER


Chris Copping's own website

Tunes Music Network on Chris Copping

Interview with Chris by Antonio Costa Barbι for this website

Chris's first-ever appearance with Procol Harum, now released on DVD


More Procol personnel


PH on stage | PH on record | PH in print | BtP features | What's new | Interact with BtP | For sale | Site search | Home