I got a flurry of messages this morning about Telefon Tel Aviv member Charlie Cooper, a well known member of the music and fine dining communities in Chicago (and the subject of a recent article in our Clubs section). According to a post from his TTA partner Joshua Eustis on the band’s Myspace page, Charlie Cooper passed away on January 22 (numerous fans and friends are leaving comments on the band’s page).
I could hardly believe this when I heard about it as I had just seen Charlie at his band’s low-key DJ night at Spring on Jan 20. I keep hoping someone will tell me this is a big joke—the synth-rock act’s new album came out January 20—but so far, I have no details and no reason to believe it is not true.
Charlie, a New Orleans native, was a vivacious character who loved to talk about music, new records, old records, his hometown, food and wine. He and his friends were known for throwing daylong New Orleans-style BBQs in the warmer months. Like me, he had come out of the late ’80s hardcore punk scene and Charlie seemed to have an uncanny ability to guess what bands and genres I had been into growing up in the D.C. area. Hanging out at Wicker Park’s MOD (now the Violet Hour) in 2001 and 2002—both of us new to Chicago—we instantly hit it off, and I was always picking his brain about electronic production techniques. I’ll miss seeing him around, and miss his music.
UPDATE: CBS2 is reporting that Cooper had been missing since last week, after a fight with his girlfriend.
Via email Josh Eustis tells me that per the family’s wishes and his, they won’t be disclosing any details of Cooper’s passing at this time.
Deeply saddened… I always felt that TTA was way ahead of its time and so inspirational to me as an artist. I got the pleasure of meeting TTA numerous times through various friends and wicker park dives. Frequently, these guys were out and about and its always a pleasure to say hello to them. Very down to earth and friendly guys and damn if I don’t love their music. Just makes me want to go home and express my self through reaktor synthesis, ableton live producing and a good listen to of ‘Map of what is effortless’…
Maybe I will just listen to ‘At the edge of the world you will still float’ on repeat… I’m now at a loss for words….
So tragic. Such a warm hearted, endlessly funny… and I hardly need to mention incredibly talented guy. We’ll all miss you, Charlie…
he was a gifted young man, good soul, and one of the nicest people you could ever meet, and he was a friend, one who will be missed,
It just breaks my heart. I started listening to TTA less than a year ago, and there’s just no one like them. I mean they put that chill back in my spine that you get when music has really moved you. Their music is beautiful, nostalgic, inspiring, trippy, and any other adjective you could use to describe the epitome of unadulterated, non-commercialized, honest incredible music. Not to mention the many eclectic elements that they captured in their music.
As a fan, you always have this hope of meeting your fave band or seeing them in concert, or at least expecting to hear albums from them for years to come, so I must say that a dream of mine is shattered as I had not had a chance to meet what I imagine to be an incredibly, beautifully-spirited person. Hearing everyone’s account of him is somewhat comforting. The description of him that I’ve heard from people who have met him is exactly what I would expect of someone who made the type of music that he did.
My heart goes out to the people that were really close to him, who knew him not as just a fan, but who really knew him. Please know, that you’re not mourning alone.
…we met only once but u told me how much u loved my snaresound. so i now try to play it as loud as i can everytim i hit it so u can hear it, whereever u are now…