Peter Koppes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Koppes
|
|
|---|---|
Koppes in 2015
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | 21 November 1955 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Associated acts | Precious Little, Limazine, The Church, The Wigmen, Peter Koppes and the Well, The Refo:mation |
Peter Koppes (born 21 November 1955) is an Australian guitarist. He is famous for being a founding member of the rock band The Church. Peter is a talented musician who plays many instruments. These include the guitar, mandolin, drums, piano, and harmonica. He has also released his own music as a solo artist and with his band, The Well. Peter lives on the Central Coast in New South Wales, Australia. He also spends time on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. There, he helps other musicians make albums. He has also taught guitar, bass, drums, and songwriting.
Peter's family background is a mix of European cultures. His father's family has Dutch, French, and Portuguese roots. His mother's family is from northern Germany and Denmark. Peter feels he has a "Gypsy spirit," which means he loves freedom and adventure.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Peter Koppes grew up in Canberra, Australia, during the 1970s. He found Canberra to be a very interesting place. He met many unique people there. Peter remembers it as a quiet city with a hidden side. He felt it gave him a fresh start for his creative work.
Peter came from a musical family. He was first drawn to the sound of the Hammond organ. He started playing drums at age 12 in a school rock band called Bacchus Marsh. He was inspired by drummers like Mitch Mitchell from Jimi Hendrix's band. He also loved the guitar playing of Santana. Peter says Pink Floyd was a big influence on his idea of a band.
After playing drums, Peter learned guitar from his bandmates. Later, he played guitar in another band called Timelord. They practiced in a church hall. Steve Kilbey, who would later be in The Church with Peter, also had a band called Beyond Beavers that practiced there. In 1974, Peter was asked to join Steve's band as a drummer.
Peter joined the band, which then became Precious Little. Steve Kilbey became the singer. Later, the band changed again to Baby Grande. Peter played guitar, and they made some recordings. Peter then left the band to study electronics and engineering. After a year, he decided to travel to England and Europe. He spent time in cities like Stockholm, Berlin, and London. He even worked on a tugboat in Holland. His travels, including two weeks in Morocco, may have influenced the Eastern sounds in his later music.
Music Career
Forming The Church
When Peter returned to Sydney in 1980, he formed a band called Limazine. Soon after, he reconnected with Steve Kilbey, who had also moved to Sydney. They decided to form a new band, which they named The Church. The name was chosen because it was available. It also hinted at spiritual interests, and some say it came from a line in a David Bowie song.
Marty Willson-Piper, a guitarist from England, joined the band. He was asked to join because he could play guitar and fit the band's style. At first, only Peter was a very skilled musician. Steve was learning bass, and Marty was still finding his guitar style. Nick Ward, a drummer from Limazine, also joined. They worked together to arrange Steve's song ideas. They made a demo tape, which is a recording to show their music.
A music publisher named Chris Gilbey became interested in the band. He signed them, giving them money to rehearse and record an album. This led to The Church releasing music with EMI.
The Church quickly became popular in Australia. Songs like 'The Unguarded Moment' and 'Almost With You' were hits. The band became known for its unique guitar sound. Peter Koppes helped create this sound, which often featured jangling, layered guitars.
Solo Work and Time Away
After recording their second album, The Blurred Crusade, Peter felt like leaving the band. He was convinced to stay for a tour in Australia and a trip to the US. He continued to tour and record with The Church for several more albums. However, he also started writing and recording his own songs. Some of his early solo demos were released as an EP called When Reason Forbids - A Requiem and an album called Manchild And Myth.
In 1988, The Church had huge success with the song 'Under The Milky Way' and the album Starfish (album). This album included Peter's song 'A New Season'. Peter also wrote songs for Steve Kilbey's solo album. The Church then recorded Gold Afternoon Fix, which featured Peter's song "Transient." This song became a favorite among fans.
Peter left The Church for a few years, from 1992 to 1996. He felt frustrated with how much he could contribute creatively. He also felt the band wasn't earning enough money. During this time, Peter focused on his solo band, The Well. This band included former Church drummer Richard Ploog. The Well played live and released an EP called Iridescence and an album called Water Rites.
Peter also worked with other artists. He played guitar on albums for Australian singers Margot Smith and Stephen Cummings. He also worked with Canadian artist Mae Moore. Peter collaborated with Margot Smith on songwriting and played in her live band.
Returning to The Church
Peter Koppes returned to The Church in 1996 as a guest musician for the album Magician Among the Spirits. In 1997, Peter, Steve Kilbey, and new drummer Tim Powles formed a new version of the band called The Refo:mation. They recorded an album together.
This reunion led to The Church officially reforming for a tour and to record more music. They released Hologram of Baal in 1998, marking Peter's full return to the band. During this time, Peter also started his own record label, Immersion Music. He used it to release his past solo music and new albums.
The Church continued to release many popular albums. Peter sang on several songs, including 'Reward' on Parallel Universe and 'Never Before' on Uninvited, Like the Clouds.
In 2002, Peter released his fifth solo album, Simple Intent. He also worked with other musicians, playing guitar for artists like David Lane and Hip Hop artist Figg Kidd. After moving to Queensland in 2004, Peter started writing songs with Michelle Bradford-Jones. They created music for a documentary that helped raise money for cancer research.
Recent Work
Peter Koppes left The Church again in mid-2019. Since then, he has been busy producing and playing music with new artists. He worked with young singer-songwriter Mayah on her debut single 'Endless Mistakes' in 2019. He also played on Emma Tomlinson's EP in 2020, using special guitar techniques.
In September 2020, Peter's band Syncretism released the album Lone Drifters?. This band includes guitarist Dave Scotland, who Peter played with in Baby Grande many years ago. Dave Scotland is known for his unique way of playing guitar left-handed on a right-handed instrument. The album features their combined songs, with Peter writing the lyrics.
In August 2022, Peter released an album of 56 short piano songs. This album explores new ideas about music theory, especially related to chords and scales.
Discography
- 1987 When Reason Forbids: A Requiem (EP)
- 1988 Manchild and Myth (Album)
- 1989 From the Well (Album)
- 1991 Iridescence (EP, credited to Peter Koppes and The Well)
- 1995 Water Rites (Album, credited to Peter Koppes and The Well)
- 1998 Love Era/Irony (Album)
- 2002 Simple Intent (Album)
- 2007 Misty Heights and Cloudy Memories 1987-2002 (2 CD compilation)
- 2020 Lone Drifters? (Digital album, credited to Syncretism)
- 2022 Music Evolution Therapy (Album)
