Neil Cooper (Derby, England, 1973) is best known as the current drummer with Therapy?, a rock band from Northern Ireland. Neil formerly drummed with The Beyond.



Neil Cooper was a founding member of The Beyond in 1988. The band signed with EMI Records and released two albums, entitled Crawl and Chasm, the latter being recorded in New York with Jim Thirlwell. The band toured throughout the UK, Europe and US with Therapy?, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden and Living Colour.



The Beyond disbanded in 1993, after which Neil Cooper joined Cable. The band signed to Infectious Records and Cooper appeared on their debut album Downlift the Uptrodden. He also played on both of their John Peel sessions and toured the UK and Europe with Ash, Girls Against Boys, Boss Hog and Oasis.



In 1995, however, Neil Cooper re-joined his old bandmates from The Beyond in a new group called Gorilla. In 1998, following the release of several EPs, the group disbanded.



Neil Cooper, by now operating freelance, had a stint with bigbeat combo Psychedeliasmith, and worked with Fatboy Slim. Cooper also gained his Certificate in Teaching from the Royal Schools of Music in 2001, the same year as he co-founded a Derby based record label called Stressed Sumo Records.



Neil Cooper joined Therapy? in 2002, following the departure of Graham Hopkins. His first live performance with Therapy? took place at the Carvicais Rock Festival in Portugal on 10 August that year. It followed one rehearsal in which he had to learn the full sixteen song set. Neil Cooper has since played on the band's studio albums.



Whenever he is not touring or otherwise busy with Therapy?, Neil Cooper provides drum lessons. He teaches at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (QEGS), Ashbourne, Derbyshire.