April 25, 2007 15:51

Didz reacts to Cooper Temple Clause split

Dirty Pretty Thing tells NME.COM it's sad to see his old band go

Ex-Cooper Temple Clause star Didz Hammond (pictured with current band Dirty Pretty Things on the left) has spoken to NME.COM about the demise of his old band.

Hammond was in the group from its inception until 2005, when he joined Dirty Pretty Things play bass.

As previously reported, his old band confirmed their split today (April 25), and the bassist told NME.COM he was upset about the end.

“It’s a very sad day really,” he said. “I do think, with a band trying to be sonically ambitious like the Coopers were, it’s sad when they stop.”

However he was confident the group’s legacy would continue.

“For a young band to be putting a lot of electro elements into their songs, and being ambitious in that way, we kind of inspired quite a lot of bands as to what was possible,” Hammond said.

“There wouldn’t be a lot of bands that are doing similar stuff now if we hadn’t done that as a young band I don’t think," he added. “I’m a bit gutted about it, but I just think it’s more of a time for celebration. There’s a lot of good bands around now that have taken up the gauntlet that we had initially anyway, so all is not lost, bands come and go, and hopefully some of them, like the Coopers, will inspire a lot of people and hopefully change peoples’ lives. So you know, I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

Hammond, who has remained friends with his former bandmates, said he expected them to continue to make an impact despite the group splitting.

“I heard the news on Monday (April 23), and then I just spoke to Keiran (Mahon) just now, I haven’t spoken to any of the other boys, but I think the general mood is now, to get onto the next thing. I know Tom (Bellamy) wants to do a lot with music, I think Jon (Harper)’s gonna carry on drumming, maybe in America, (Daniel) Fischer is going to some writing - it seems everyone’s got something to do.”

The Cooper Temple Clause released three albums, starting with their 2002 debut ’See This Through And Leave’, and were initially noted for blending rock influences like Oasis with more dance-infused sounds that referenced the likes of Portishead.