Cooper's first professional band (1975–1978) was
Amazorblades together with Rob Keyloch (engineer/producer/remixer) and
Ben Mandelson. They were a punk/jazz outfit who toured extensively and recorded the single "Common Truth" in 1977 for
Chiswick Records. Between 1981 and 1982 Cooper played with the London-based band OK Jive, who signed to
CBS in 1981. In 1983, he played bass guitar and bugle with The Mighty Clouds of Dust on their single release
Flowers on the Wall / Champion (The Wonder Horse) / Mr.Custer. In 1983, Cooper joined the
World Music group
3 Mustaphas 3 where he played cello and sang under the name of Oussack Mustapha, alias
The Nightingale of Szegerely. He recorded two albums with them for Globe Style Records. They also recorded a single with
Agnes Bernelle produced by
Phil Chevron and
Elvis Costello. Cooper left the group in 1986. He performed in a reunion of six group members at the 30th Anniversary concert for fRoots magazine at the Roundhouse in London on 22 January 2010. ==Member of Oysterband==