EP175 - Chris Pope - The Chords UK - Songwriter, Singer, Musician

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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PaulWellerFanPodcast.com


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