Koopa Bassist Joe Murphy Dies Aged 46

How Joe Murphy and Koopa made chart history

Koopa featured Joe Murphy on bass alongside brothers Stuart Cooper and Oliver “Ollie” Cooper. The band became known nationally in 2007 when their single Blag, Steal & Borrow entered the UK Top 40 singles chart.

That achievement carried a very specific kind of music-industry significance: Koopa became the first act to reach the UK Top 40 through digital downloads. They were also widely remembered as the first act to land a charting single without the support of a record label.

For an independent pop-punk band from Essex, that was not exactly the usual route into the charts. It was a sign of where music was heading, even if the industry was still pretending it had everything under control.

The same year, Koopa won twice at the Glasswerk New Music Awards, helping secure their place in the UK’s mid-2000s independent rock scene.

His sister confirms the musician’s death

Murphy’s younger sister confirmed his death in a tribute shared on social media.

“For those who knew him, it breaks my heart to say that my big brother, Joe Murphy has passed away. Love you big bro,” she wrote.

Her message prompted tributes from people who knew Murphy personally and from fans who remembered Koopa’s impact during their active years.

Essex Rocks Creative CIC, a community interest company connected to the local music scene, said it had waited a few days before posting so people could process the news.

“We’ve left it for a few days so everyone can digest the sad information that our friend Joe Murphy has passed on,” the group wrote.

“Joe and his band Koopa were a massive part of our formative years as promoters in the mid 2000s and we feel privileged to have known him on a personal level and worked with him as a musician.

“Keep playing those riffs Joe.”

One friend also shared: “This is awful news to hear! Love to you all, at this sad time. A privilege to have known Joe & played music together.”

What happened to Joe Murphy after Koopa’s rise

The Sun reported that Murphy was involved in a serious crash in June 2021 after suffering a heart attack while driving.

Reports at the time said he spent weeks in intensive care in critical condition after the crash.

No further details about his death have been publicly shared in the family tribute cited.

Koopa’s place in the 2000s UK pop-punk scene

Koopa formed in the early 2000s while Ollie Cooper was still at school. The band built its following by playing across Essex and the wider UK between 2004 and 2007.

Along with Blag, Steal & Borrow, Koopa released singles including No Trend and Stand Up 4 England.

Koopa’s story captures a brief but important moment in British music, when independent bands were beginning to test what the internet could do for them before the major labels had finished reading the manual.

For the people who knew Murphy, though, the tributes are less about industry firsts and more about the person behind the bassline: a brother, bandmate, friend, and musician remembered warmly by the scene he helped energise.