British rock star Joe Murphy, who made chart history, dies aged 46

Tributes are pouring in after rock star Joe Murphy, who rose to fame with the band Koopa, died at the age of 46.

The noughties star played bass in the Essex pop-punk band Koopa with brothers Stuart and Oliver ‘Ollie’ Cooper.

The trio made history by becoming the first act to hit the UK top 40 singles chart with digital downloads.

They are also remembered as the first act ever to have scored a charting single without the backing of a record label.

Koopa’s record-breaking single, Blag, Steal & Borrow, was released in 2007.

The band, hailing from the village of Sible Hedingham near Colchester, went on to bag two wins at the Glasswerk New Music Awards the same year.

Mr Murphy’s younger sister released a tribute on her social media, confirming the musician’s death: ‘For those who knew him, it breaks my heart to say that my big brother, Joe Murphy has passed away. Love you big bro.’

Tributes have also poured in from the rock community and fans.

Essex Rocks Creative CIC said: ‘We’ve left it for a few days so everyone can digest the sad information that our friend Joe Murphy has passed on.

‘Joe and his band Koopa were a massive part of our formative years as promoters in the mid 2000s and we feel privileged to have known him on a personal level and worked with him as a musician.

‘Keep playing those riffs Joe.’

One friend said: ‘This is awful news to hear! Love to you all, at this sad time. A privilege to have known Joe & played music together.’

Mr Murphy is said to have been in a serious crash in June 2021 after suffering a heart attack while driving.

He spent weeks in a critical condition in intensive care, The Sun reports.

Koopa was formed in the early 2000s when Ollie Cooper was a teenager at school.

The band toured around Essex and the UK between 2004 and 2007, and released their singles ‘No Trend’ and ‘Stand Up 4 England.’