Drummer Grub Cooper leaves Fab 5 band

After half a century as the drummer and musical director for the 52-year-old legendary Fab 5 band, Astley 'Grub' Cooper has parted ways with that musical institution to focus on himself as a brand.

"I really don't want to sound selfish but right now it's all about me. In my business, age is just a number because if you are a songwriter, arranger, composer, you can do that at any age. I want to write my own story. I want to be free to record some of the stuff I really want to record ... I want to leave my own legacy," said Cooper, whose credits within the field of music are endless.

It has been one month since Cooper communicated his decision to his fellow band members and he shared that "although they were disappointed, Fab 5 will continue because many bands have changed members without missing a beat".

"They are not particularly happy about it ... but I wish all the gentlemen in Fab 5 all the best. They have a lot of work doing right now. For me, musically, I want to be in different spaces, and while the band is versatile, there are still things that I want to do creatively that demand that I can set my own timetable," Cooper told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Regarding the response from fans, Cooper admitted that his separation from Fab 5 has caused shock waves.

"Right now there is a lot of emotions going on. I keep hearing 'Bwoy, ah cyaah believe it'. But I beg the fans to see it from my standpoint. Life is dynamic and changes happen. Many people abroad have done this. I am willing to take on this challenge ... and failure is not in my book," he emphasised.

He shared that the people in his tightly knit circle have tremendous faith in him and absolute trust in his ability to go solo.

"The fans will come to embrace it. They will come to my performances and hear me singing the songs that they love," Cooper said, adding that he will be putting together his personal backing band and that he will be available for bookings.

He shared that among his immediate projects is a tribute song to the Mighty Diamonds, which lost two of its three members one week apart in 2022.

"I have this nice song ... a tribute to Tabby and Bunny Diamond. They are really a great group but they did not get their props. I am not going to wait until Judge [Diamond] passes to put it out. I am also working on an album. Hopefully, by December that will be finished. And I have theatre in my head, but that project will unfold depending on when we can get theatre space and that kind of thing. But there is a lot and remember ... age is just a number," Cooper said.