Episode 175 : Chris Pope from The Chords
On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I am joined by Chris Pope - Songwriter, Musician and one of the founding members of The Chords.
We take a journey through the bands formation at the tail end of 1978, after original singer/guitarist Billy Hassett and his bass playing cousin, Martin Mason, advertised for musicians in NME.
Chris got the job and the band were soon into live gigs and studio recordings.
Their style was a combination of punk and the 1960s influenced sound of the time.
At the end of March 1979, the band played the Wellington in Waterloo to packed crowds with Paul Weller in the audience. This helps the band secure more gigs and an important support slot to The Jam.
With the Mod Revival in full swing, what follows are two John Peel sessions, a few singles, Top of the Pops, and an album (So Far Away)....
The band also played Loch Lomond Festival in June 1980 with Bad Manners, Stiff Little Fingers, The Tourists and The Jam…
Paul Weller was a big supporter of the band and Chris in the press - once calling him “the best songwriter of his generation”...
The Chords UK
Chris Pope formed The Chords UK in 2013 to continue playing ‘classic’ Chords tunes such as Maybe Tomorrow, The British Way Of Life and So Far Away - whilst also pushing forward with new music too...
The band is made up of Chris, Kenny Cooper, Sandy Michie, and Dave Murrell, with a live setlist featuring all of the original hits along with tracks from the three LP’s that they have released so far.
They have been cited live as “an incendiary rock n roll outfit” by Louder Than War.
You can buy the music on Bandcamp, watch videos on YouTube , listen on Spotify and follow for news and live show info on Facebook
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EP44 - Neil Sheasby "Brother Sheas" - Stone Foundation - "Brother to Brother, One for another..."
EP43 - Daniel Rachel - Musican-turned-award-winning author - "Governments crack and systems fall, 'cause unity is powerful..."
EP42 - Rick Buckler - The Jam - Drummer "....the absolute luck is - love is in our hearts!"
EP41 - Martyn Goddard - Photographer - Jam Sessions - "In echoed steps you walk across an empty dream..."
EP40 - Damon Minchella - Ocean Colour Scene / Weller Band - "When we sway, we sway as one, from the floorboards up!..."
EP39 - Bill Smith - The Jam Art Director + Cover Stories... "I've climbed the highest peaks, caught the wild wind home..."
EP38 - Matt Deighton - Overshadowed - Paul Weller Band - Mother Earth - Family Silver... "We're words upon a window, written there in steam..."
EP37 - Fat Pop Special - Paul Weller Fans on the day of release... "Who's always there when you really need them? Ah, Fat Pop!"
EP36 - Alex Borg AKA The Stereo Typist - Fat Pop Album Artist + Pop Art... "Say what you want, 'cos this is a new art school"
EP35 - Mick Talbot - The Style Council Co-Founder - "Good Morning day, how do you do?"
EP34 - Polly Birkbeck - PR Guru (for Paul Weller and others!) - "I fumble for change and pull out the Queen, smiling, beguiling..."
EP33 - Paul Francis - Bassist - Paul Weller Movement 1990 - "Freedoms truth is the only truth to save the day and pave the route..."
EP32 - Chris Difford - Squeeze - Lyricist, Musician, Producer *Legend* - "Dreams, schemes and everythings..."
EP31 - Le SuperHomard AKA Christophe Vaillant - French Musician & Weller Remixer - "Oh heavenly thing, please cleanse my soul..."
EP30 - Danny Eccleston - Mojo on Paul Weller Guest Editor - "We're dashing our seconds on the rocks of a lifetime"
EP29 - Jill Webb & Steve Hinders - The Jam Scrapbook - "All around the world I've been looking for new - Youth explosion!..."
EP28 - Jeff Slate - NYC Singer / Songwriter and Journalist - "Don't break my heart about it, things I can't change"
EP27 - Steve Rapport - Rock N Roll Photographer - "The palm trees sway, as a warm breeze blew, and the sun was high"
EP26 - Neil Jones - Stone Foundation - "Moved by an action that changes the pattern of things..."
EP25 - Billy Chapman - Honorary Councillor (The Style Council) - "Take nothing less than the supreme best"
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