born. 21 October 1957, Deri, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. Cope first attracted attention as an integral part of Liverpool's post-punk renaissance, most notably as a member of the short-lived but seminal group, the Crucial Three which also included Ian McCulloch and Pete Wylie. In 1978 Cope began writing songs with Ian McCulloch in A Shallow Madness, but the pair quickly fell out over the direction of the group. While McCulloch formed Echo And The Bunnymen, Cope founded the Teardrop Explodes whose early releases enjoyed critical acclaim. The band scored several hit singles but an introspective second album, WILDER, was heavily criticized before dissension within the ranks led to their inevitable demise. In 1984 Cope embarked on a solo career with WORLD SHUT YOUR MOUTH but misfortune dogged his progress. The singer intentionally gashed his stomach with a broken microphone stand during an appearance at London's Hammersmith Palais and his pronouncements on the benefits of mind-expanding substances exacerbated an already wayward, unconventional image. The sleeve of his second album, FRIED, featured a naked Cope cowering under a turtle shell and commentators drew parallels with rock casualties Roky Erickson and Syd Barrett, both of whom Julian admired. Another of his heroes, Scott Walker, enjoyed a upsurge in interest in his recordings when Cope constantly gave the reclusive '60s singer name-checks in interviews. A third album, SKELLINGTON, was rejected by his label, which resulted in Cope switching to Island Records. Paradoxically he then enjoyed a UK Top 20 single with a newly-recorded version of World Shut Your Mouth. SAINT JULIAN then became the artist's best-selling album to date, but a tour to promote Cope's next collection, MY NATION UNDERGROUND, was abandoned when he became too ill to continue. Over subsequent months Julian maintained a low profile, but re-emerged in 1990 at London's anti-Poll Tax demonstration dressed in the costume of a space alien, Mr Sqwubbsy. However, this unconventional behaviour was tempered by a new realism and in 1991 he scored another major hit with Beautiful Love. Commentators also noted a newfound maturity on the attendant double album PEGGY SUICIDE, which garnered considerable praise. Following being dropped by his record company, Cope issued two further albums on his own, available by mail order only. He was signed by the Def American label in June 1993.

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