{"id":2031923,"date":"2026-07-07T17:34:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T14:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2031923"},"modified":"2026-07-07T17:34:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T14:34:36","slug":"joe-murphy-of-koopa-who-made-uk-chart-history-dies-aged-46","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2031923","title":{"rendered":"Joe Murphy of Koopa \u2013 who made UK chart history \u2013 dies aged 46"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/joe_murphy_rip.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Joe Murphy of Koopa \u2013 who made UK chart history \u2013 dies aged 46<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The singer and bassist disrupted the music industry in 2007 as part of the Essex pop-punk band<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Max Pilley<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-07T18:34:36+01:00\">7th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/joe_murphy_rip-696x442.jpg\" alt title=\"Studio Session, Fulham\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Joe Murphy of Koopa, Fulham, London SW6; 26th January 2007; Job:18594; Ref: EWT; Exclusive World Rights Only;    (Photo by Edd Westmacott\/Avalon\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Joe Murphy, the singer and bassist who made UK chart history with his band Koopa, has died at the age of 46.<\/p>\n<p>The news was confirmed by his younger sister Ellie on social media today (July 7), who wrote: \u201cFor those who knew him, it breaks my heart to say that my big brother, Joe Murphy has passed away. Love you big bro.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>No cause of death has been publicly confirmed.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy had previously been left critically ill in 2021 after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving and crashing his car. He spent weeks in intensive care following the incident, with his sister thanking fans at the time for the \u201clove and messages\u201d sent to the family. It has not been confirmed whether his death was linked to that\u00a0previous\u00a0health emergency.<\/p>\n<p>Koopa formed in 2000 in Essex, with Murphy on vocals and bass alongside brothers Ollie Cooper on vocals and guitar and Stuart Cooper on drums.<\/p>\n<p>Koopa made UK chart history in January 2007 when their song \u2018Blag, Steal &amp; Borrow\u2019 entered the UK Singles Chart at Number 31, making them\u00a0the first unsigned band to reach the Top 40 with a download-only single after new rules allowed songs to chart without a physical release.<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; width=&#8221;696&#8243; height=&#8221;522&#8243; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DwEEtBHd9hc?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1&#8243; frameborder=&#8221;0&#8243; allow=&#8221;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&#8221; referrerpolicy=&#8221;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&#8221; allowfullscreen=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The moment was celebrated as an early example of how digital downloads could disrupt the traditional record label system. Speaking at the time, Murphy said the band had rejected approaches from labels because they \u201ceither wanted to change us too much and manufacture us or they couldn\u2019t do anything for us that we couldn\u2019t do ourselves\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Koopa went on to score two further UK Top 40 singles in 2007, with \u2018The One-Off Song\u00a0For\u00a0The\u00a0Summer\u2019 reaching Number 21 and \u2018The Crash\u2019 peaking at Number 16.<\/p>\n<p>The band also opened the Isle\u00a0Of\u00a0Wight Festival in\u00a02007\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0later signed with Pied Piper Records and recorded the Mark Hoppus-produced album \u2018Lies Sell Stories\u2019, which was released in 2009.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly before the unexpected success of \u2018Blag, Steal\u00a0And\u00a0Borrow\u2019,\u00a0Ollie and Stuart Cooper\u2019s father Martin, who had invested \u00a320,000 of his earnings into the band,\u00a0died of a suspected heart attack. Their manager Gary Raymond said at the time: \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0the greatest week of our lives and the worst week of our lives. The boys\u2019 dad was one of the driving forces of the band.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tributes have since been paid to Murphy by figures from the Essex music scene. Local band The Broken Johnny\u2019s wrote that they were \u201cabsolutely gutted\u201d to hear of the death of a \u201clocal legend\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Essex Rocks Creative CIC also remembered Murphy, saying he and Koopa had been \u201ca massive part\u201d of their formative years as promoters in the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Mark Hoppus<\/li>\n<li>Pop-Punk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Step right up! 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class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Joe Murphy, the singer and bassist who made UK chart history with his band Koopa, has died at the age of 46.<\/p>\n<p>The news was confirmed by his younger sister Ellie on social media today (July 7), who wrote: \u201cFor those who knew him, it breaks my heart to say that my big brother, Joe Murphy has passed away. Love you big bro.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>No cause of death has been publicly confirmed.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy had previously been left critically ill in 2021 after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving and crashing his car. He spent weeks in intensive care following the incident, with his sister thanking fans at the time for the \u201clove and messages\u201d sent to the family. It has not been confirmed whether his death was linked to that\u00a0previous\u00a0health emergency.<\/p>\n<p>Koopa formed in 2000 in Essex, with Murphy on vocals and bass alongside brothers Ollie Cooper on vocals and guitar and Stuart Cooper on drums.<\/p>\n<p>Koopa made UK chart history in January 2007 when their song \u2018Blag, Steal &amp; Borrow\u2019 entered the UK Singles Chart at Number 31, making them\u00a0the first unsigned band to reach the Top 40 with a download-only single after new rules allowed songs to chart without a physical release.<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; width=&#8221;696&#8243; height=&#8221;522&#8243; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DwEEtBHd9hc?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1&#8243; frameborder=&#8221;0&#8243; allow=&#8221;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&#8221; referrerpolicy=&#8221;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&#8221; allowfullscreen=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The moment was celebrated as an early example of how digital downloads could disrupt the traditional record label system. Speaking at the time, Murphy said the band had rejected approaches from labels because they \u201ceither wanted to change us too much and manufacture us or they couldn\u2019t do anything for us that we couldn\u2019t do ourselves\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Koopa went on to score two further UK Top 40 singles in 2007, with \u2018The One-Off Song\u00a0For\u00a0The\u00a0Summer\u2019 reaching Number 21 and \u2018The Crash\u2019 peaking at Number 16.<\/p>\n<p>The band also opened the Isle\u00a0Of\u00a0Wight Festival in\u00a02007\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0later signed with Pied Piper Records and recorded the Mark Hoppus-produced album \u2018Lies Sell Stories\u2019, which was released in 2009.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly before the unexpected success of \u2018Blag, Steal\u00a0And\u00a0Borrow\u2019,\u00a0Ollie and Stuart Cooper\u2019s father Martin, who had invested \u00a320,000 of his earnings into the band,\u00a0died of a suspected heart attack. Their manager Gary Raymond said at the time: \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0the greatest week of our lives and the worst week of our lives. The boys\u2019 dad was one of the driving forces of the band.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tributes have since been paid to Murphy by figures from the Essex music scene. Local band The Broken Johnny\u2019s wrote that they were \u201cabsolutely gutted\u201d to hear of the death of a \u201clocal legend\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Essex Rocks Creative CIC also remembered Murphy, saying he and Koopa had been \u201ca massive part\u201d of their formative years as promoters in the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/joe-murphy-of-koopa-who-made-uk-chart-history-dies-aged-46-3955570&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/joe_murphy_rip.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Joe Murphy of Koopa \u2013 who made UK chart history \u2013 dies aged 46 The singer and bassist disrupted the music industry in 2007 as part of the Essex pop-punk band By Max Pilley 7th July 2026 Joe Murphy of Koopa, Fulham, London SW6; 26th January 2007; Job:18594; Ref: EWT; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2031923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2031923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2031923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2031923\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2031923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2031923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2031923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}