This biography may need cleanup.(May 2017) |
James "Jimmy" Copley | |
---|---|
Born | 29 December 1953
[1]
London, England |
Died | 13 May 2017
Bristol, England | (aged 63)
Other names | Jim Copley |
Occupation | Musician |
Spouse | Sachi Caroline Taylor (m. 1984–2014) |
Children | Jack Copley (son) Johnny Copley (son) Jerome Alexandre (son) |
James Frank Copley (29 December 1953 – 13 May 2017) was an English rock drummer.
Copley was largely a session musician [2] and worked with Jeff Beck, [3] Graham Parker, Upp, Paul Young, Magnum, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Go West, Killing Joke, Tears for Fears, Seal, Tony Iommi and Paul Rodgers. [2] He was the drummer with Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 2007.
He was a master of the open-handed drumming technique. This method dispenses with crossing the hands when playing the hi-hat and snare drum simultaneously, as opposed to the more traditional way of playing drums which features crossed hands as the basic playing position.
Copley was a long-term Tama Drums endorser. He used Superstar, Granstar, Artstar II and Starclassic drums throughout the years. [4] Another long time association was with Zildjian Cymbals. He also used Vic Firth drumsticks. [5]
According to University Hospital Bristol, Copley had been diagnosed with leukemia in 2015 and relapsed following a bone marrow transplant. He opted to discontinue chemotherapy. In Copley's final days, his hospital room was transformed into a temporary recording studio so that he and friends could record an EP to benefit the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre and Royal United Hospital in Bath. [6]