The alterna-pop band
Chopper One consists of the husband-and-wife team of Jason (guitar/vocals) and
Amy Cropper (bass/vocals), with
Tyrone Rio rounding out the trio on drums. Diehard
Weezer fans may already have heard of Jason; he was a founding member of the band who split right when recording sessions for their debut album commenced (and received a co-writing credit for the track "My Name Is Jonas"). The reason for the defection wasn't musical, but personal -- then-girlfriend
Amy was expecting their first child. Knowing that
Weezer would be touring heavily to promote their album, Jason decided to bow out and concentrate on fatherhood. The couple eventually married, with Jason teaching
Amy how to play bass in the interim. They soon formed the band
Braxton Hicks, which eventually ended when drummer
Darren left to join the alterna-ska band Goldfinger. When they found replacement
Tyrone Rio in the autumn of 1995, they changed their name to
Chopper One and signed with Restless Records, who released their debut album,
Now Playing (produced by
Don Fleming), in the summer of 1997. Jason has also produced an album for the group Crumbox and, along with
Amy, appeared on an album by
22 Jacks. ~ Greg Prato