The Courteeners

The Courteeners are a British indie rock band formed in Manchester in 2006. The group begins with Liam Fray on guitar and vocals, Michael Campbell on drums and backing vocals, Daniel Conan Moores on guitar, and Mark Cuppello on bass. Fray starts the project while studying at the University of Salford, first performing acoustic sets around Manchester as a singer-songwriter before leaving university to form a band. He recruits Campbell, who has not played drums before joining. The early lineup performs under Fray’s name before the group adopts the name The Courteeners.

Origins and membership

All four original members come from the Middleton area of Greater Manchester and know each other from the age of ten. Mark Cuppello leaves the band in 2015 and joins the Liverpool band Lungs. Producer Joe Cross takes over bass duties and is regarded as an official member.

Early releases and debut album

The band signs to Loog Records and releases its first single, “Cavorting,” in 2007. “Acrylic” follows later that year and reaches number 44 in the UK singles chart. Stephen Street works with the band on its debut album. The first single from the album is “What Took You So Long?”, followed by “Not Nineteen Forever”. The debut album, St. Jude, is released on Polydor Records in 2008. Morrissey attends one of the band’s London concerts and later says he likes their music. His name is also mentioned in the lyrics of “What Took You So Long?”

Subsequent albums and live work

In 2009, Liam Fray confirms that the band is recording a second album and says there are discussions about its direction, including disagreement over a suggested Snow Patrol-style sound. He also says nine tracks are finished and names “Bojangles,” “Revolver,” and “Three Months” among the songs on the record. The Courteeners play their largest headline show at Manchester Central in December 2009 before a UK tour in March 2010 in support of the new album, which appears in February 2010.

Discography

The band’s albums include St. Jude (2008), Falcon (2010), Anna (2013), Concrete Love (2014), Mapping the Rendezvous (2016), More. Again. Forever. (2020), and Pink Cactus Café (2024). Additional singles mentioned include “No You Didn't, No You Don't” and “That Kiss,” the latter not appearing on the debut album.