I first met Paul Cooper in early 1978. He, his girlfriend, Noeleen and his best friend Andy were attempting to resit "A" levels at the North East Technical College in Liverpool and I was their "teacher". In fact I was not much older than they were and still to qualify. It was at this time I heard of his ambition to "meet Macca" which had been his guiding ambition throughout his 18 years of life.
I left the North East Tech. in July of that year and headed for London to take a PGCE. Paul, I was later told, took off to the "Big Smoke" to try his luck working in a studio only returning after being urged to form a band himself. That band became post-Punk merseybeat legends Mojo Filter comprising Paul, the ever-faithful, Andy, Rick Allan and eventually Phil Melia after the departure of actor Mark McGann (who would go on to star as John Lennon himself in the film Ono approved "John & Yoko, a love story".
Mojo Filter graced all the best pub and club stages in Liverpool in those early days and Paul and Phil would also go out as the "Nurk Twins" which is when I ran into them busking the Beatles in the lounge of the Queens Hotel in New Brighton in 1980.
As his former teacher, I did not number myself amongst his favourite people so I was proud when he dedicated a song to me during his set.
Three years later, I'd left full-time teaching and was professional as a solo performer. I had also founded a Beatles tour company, Cavern City Tours which would book Mojo Filter as headline band on the first ever "Beatlefreak Ball" on the eve of the 1983 "MerseyBeatle Extravaganza" Convention held at the Adelphi Hotel. The "Ball" in 1983 was Cavern City Tours' first promotion. It was a massive success and we were able to reward Mojo Filter handsomely for their performance. As they say, £350 was a lot in those days.
Mojo Filter lasted a further four years when Paul received the call to play Paul in the world's foremost Beatles tribute band, the Bootleg Beatles. RIP Paul.
Gerry Murphy
20/12/2024
