Julian Cope and the Garage Rock Psychedelic UFO Scene

Julian Cope is a garage rock and psychedelic musician from the United Kingdom who is known for his UFO sightings.

Julian Cope’s musical beginnings

Julian Cope was born in England in 1957. He started out his musical career in the late 1970s as a member of the punk rock group The Teardrop Explodes. He later began a solo career and released his first album, World Shut Your Mouth, in 1986. Cope has been described as a “garage rock psychedelic UFO”.

Julian Cope’s first band, The Teardrop Explodes

Julian Cope was a member of The Teardrop Explodes from 1979 to1981. The Teardrop Explodes were a part of the so-called “garage rock” or “psychedelic UFO scene”. Other bands in this scene included Echo & the Bunnymen, The Psychedelic Furs, and The Cult.

The Teardrop Explodes released their first single,”Suffering”, in April 1980 on the Zoo label. The single received some airplay on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show and was reviewed favorably in the British press. The band’s second single, “Reward”, was released in October 1980 and reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.

The Teardrop Explodes’ debut album, Kilimanjaro (1980), reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry. The album’s first two singles, “Suffering” and “Reward”, were both top 20 hits in the UK.

The band’s second album, Wilder (1981), was less successful commercially than Kilimanjaro, but was still a top 10 hit in the UK. Wilder include the singles “Hunting for Witches” and “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio”, both of which reached the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.

Cope left The Teardrop Explodes in 1981 after disagreements with fellow band member Lol Tolhurst. Cope went on to have a successful solo career, while The Teardrop Explodes disbanded soon after his departure.

Julian Cope’s first solo album, World Shut Your Mouth

In 1984, Cope released his first solo album, World Shut Your Mouth. It was very well received by the music press[citation needed] and reached Number 31 on the UK Indie charts; it was also Cope’s first experience of working with record producer Nick Garside. Garside would go on to produce two more albums for Cope, Fried (1984) and Saint Julian (1987), as well as an album by Queen Elizabeth (1989).

Julian Cope and the garage rock psychedelic UFO scene

Julian Cope was a leading light in the garage rock psychedelic UFO scene of the late 80s and early 90s. He was the frontman of the influential band The Teardrop Explodes, and later a solo artist. His music was a mix of garage rock, psychedelia, and pop, with a heavy dose of humour and irony. He was also a prolific writer, and his autobiography, Head On, is a must-read for any fan of the garage rock scene.

Julian Cope’s second band, The Three Johns

Julian Cope’s second band, The Three Johns, were a political post-punk band who were active in the early to mid-1980s. The Three Johns were formed in 1982 by Cope, Andy Dale and John McGeoch. They released three albums on Abstract Records, before splitting up in 1987.

The Three Johns’ music was characterized by its hard-edged, guitar-driven sound, with frequent psychedelic and experimental elements. Their lyrics often dealt with political and social issues, such as nuclear war, class struggle and police brutality. The band were also known for their unconventional stage costumes and performances.

The Three Johns achieved moderate success in the UK independent music scene, with their debut album ‘Atoms’ reaching No. 3 in the UK independent charts. They also toured extensively throughout Europe and the UK, playing both headline shows and supporting slots for bigger bands such as Killing Joke and PiL.

The band split up in 1987 after John McGeoch left to join Siouxsie and the Banshees. Julian Cope went on to have a successful solo career, while Andy Dale joined the classically-influenced rock band Respectable List of Losers

Julian Cope’s third band, Thee Psychedelicatessen

Julian Cope’s third band, Thee Psychedelicatessen, was an integral part of the garage rock psychedelic UFO scene that was bubbling under in early 1980s Britain. Thee Psychedelicatessen’s sound combined garage rock with a healthy dose of psychedelia, and their live shows were legendary for their chaotic energy.

Thee Psychedelicatessen released two albums, ‘Bake My Day’ and ‘Kaleidoscopes’, before imploding in a haze of drug-fueled insanity. Julian Cope went on to greater success as a solo artist, but Thee Psychedelicatessen remain an important part of his musical legacy.

Julian Cope’s later work

Julian Cope’s later work is a continuation of his exploration of the garage rock and psychedelic UFO scenes. He has continued to experiment with these genres, and his work has been praised by critics.

Julian Cope’s solo album, Saint Julian

After The Teardrop Explodes ended in 1980, Cope immediately began work on a solo album, though he continued to support Filter with live performances and compilations. His first album, World Shut Your Mouth, was released in April 1986. The album’s success took Cope by surprise – it entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 7 and remained in the Top 40 for five weeks.

Julian Cope’s band, Thee Faction

Thee Faction is a British band led by Julian Cope, who is best known for his work with the group The Teardrop Explodes. The band formed in 2009 and has released three albums to date.

Thee Faction’s music has been described as “a unique blend of punk, psychedelic and garage rock”, and the band has been likened to “a cross between the Sex Pistols and the Stooges”. They have been praised for their high-energy live shows, which often feature Cope stage-diving and crowd-surfing.

The group has toured extensively in the UK and Europe, and have also performed in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.