Telefon Tel Aviv

Joshua sent in this letter to hopefully clear some things up. Read it below...

Continue reading "a letter from Telefon Tel Aviv's Joshua Eustis regarding the details surrounding the death of Charlie Cooper"

In January, the passing of Charlie Cooper, one half of the electronic duo Telefon Tel Aviv, put the musical future of that group in question. In February, their third record, Immolate Yourself, came out as planned on Bpitch Control. Antigravity Magazine spoke with Joshua Eustis, the band's other half, about Charlie's death, which was ruled an overdose, and the band's future...

ANTIGRAVITY: Even for someone who knew you, the level of friendship you communicated to the world after Charlie died was intense. Can you flesh that out a little bit to help people understand exactly what kind of relationship that was?

Joshua Eustis: It's kind of hard to put into words, really, but we depended on each other for everything. Aside from being best friends, we worked together, we lived together for many years, we made three records together, did remixes together and basically never argued about music in the studio...

AG: Are you mad at Charlie at all?

Joshua: Sure. I like to tell myself, to give myself comfort in a very selfish way, that it's a natural response to something like this. But I can't really be mad at him because the Medical Examiner, for instance--I'll tell you this, since everybody is wondering--ruled inconclusively. They couldn't rule that it was a suicide, because there wasn't enough evidence to indicate that it actually was. It very well could've been an accident and that's what the Medical Examiner thinks at this time. We get the toxicology report in a week and it's going to stay between me and his family. If it wasn't intentional, then I'm a lot sadder, but I'll take comfort in knowing he wasn't trying to take an easy way out of life's problems. But, if it was intentional (which I don't think it was), then yeah I'm pissed off because it's a bullshit way of dealing with life's problems--problems that everybody has: girl problems, money problems. Fuck, everybody has those problems. To despair when you have problems is the height of folly, because despair is only for people who know the end beyond any doubt. If you know for a fact that it's going to end badly, then you can despair, but nobody ever knows that everything is going to completely fall apart and your life is going to end. For that reason I would be pissed off if the Medical Examiner comes back and rules it a suicide.

...
AG: Are you looking forward to promoting [the new record]?

Joshua:I am trying to look forward to that; I'm a little lost on how I'm going to do it. I don't know how it's going to go down exactly but there's definitely going to be a massive tour later this year, basically July through October, ideally. The world, U.S., everywhere else that I can get a show. I don't know who's going to be involved or how it's going to go down: I'm not there yet. If the band's going to continue...I don't know. We'll see.

Later in March, Joshua announced his plans for that tour. He said, "I've decided to play shows (I know, I know, it's not exactly a big deal, but hey...). Fredo [Nogueira] is going to come with me and play keyboards and sing backups. Some of you may know who he is already, but if not, he has co-written some things with TTA and basically been our best friend for a million years. He's always around when we're making a record. We'll be playing mostly stuff from the new LP, and some even newer stuff, so please come out and help us move things forward!"

The pair played Europe in late spring, and now they're coming to North America, with a month of shows starting in September. They'll play NYC shows on Friday, September 11th at the Bell House with The Race and on September 12th at the Mercury Lounge. Tickets for the Mercury Lounge show are on AmEx presale now. General sale starts at noon.

A trailer for the new record and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Telefon Tel Aviv touring w/ a new member - 2009 dates"

Hello, Everyone.

It breaks my heart to inform you all that Charlie Cooper, my better half in Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22nd.

We have been friends since high school, and began making records together a decade ago. We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another's expense.

Aside from Charlie's singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere. His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world - his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those whom he loved. In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.

He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter. As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters.

Yours in Music,

Joshua Eustis

Tripwire adds, "According to CBS, Cooper was last seen a little before midnight on January 21, when he left the home of a friend in the Wicker Park area of Chicago after arguing with his girlfriend. He had no contact with family or friends after that point until his body was found. CBS reports that Cooper has had a history of threatening suicide, but did not make any suicide claims last week. Medical examiners hope that an autopsy, scheduled to take place today, will help determine the cause of death."

Charles Wesley Cooper, III, RIP

video below...

Continue reading "Charlie Cooper, RIP (Telefon Tel Aviv)"