Hopkins launched his music career playing keyboard in the Dublin rock band
LiR. The original lineup was David McGuiness on vocals, Robert Malone on bass, Ronan Byrne on guitar, David Hopkins on keyboards and Craig Hutchinson on drums. The group signed to What Are Records and released
Magico, Magico, which went to No. 1 on the alternative albums chart and scored a UK top 10 hit, "In A Day," penned by Hopkins. They toured the US twelve times while Hopkins was with them, including with
the Who. ==Solo career (1994–present)==