# John Cooke (musician)

John Cooke (born 4 June) is an English musician, best known as touring guitarist for Napalm Death. Before joining Napalm Death, he was a member of Corrupt Moral Altar, Venomous Concept, and Malevolent Creation. He is also known for his solo project, Lair of the White Worm.

## Biography

Cooke grew up in Walsall, West Midlands, England.$^{:6:16}$ His first gig with an early band shared the bill with Ian Hill's (of Judas Priest) son's band, with an audience including Hill and K. K. Downing (also of Judas Priest).$^{:6:58}$
Cooke first got into playing guitar by Listening to hard rock and metal acts like Guns 'N' Roses, AC/DC, and Iron Maiden.$^{:5:38}$ He later got into punk bands like Minor Threat and The Exploited,$^{:5:42}$ and then death metal bands Obituary and Deicide,$^{:5:48}$ as well as Napalm Death.$^{:6:01}$ He is also influenced by Industrial bands like Killing Joke and Godflesh, as well as My Bloody Valentine.$^{:9:02}$
Cooke first joined Napalm Death in 2006,$^{:4:34}$ as a merch seller and later as tour manager. Before than he had worked at a recording studio in Birmingham, and he would help transport members Danny Herrera and Shane Embury for their recording sessions.$^{:3:12}$ He first performed with them in 2010, when singer Barney Greenway was ill, singing on 5 or 6 songs,$^{:4:59}$ and later in 2012, when bassist Shane Embury was ill, learning their set in 24 hours, before flying to Germany.$^{:4:49}$
When Mitch Harris was forced to sit out touring in 2014, due to a family illness, Cooke re-joined as touring guitarist, playing with them on most tours since, except for North American shows in 2015. Harris never returned to touring, opting to spend his time with family instead. Although Harris has continued to play with the band in the studio. Cooke has also contributed in the studio, although only minimally.
Outside of Napalm Death, Cooke is a regular collaborator with Shane Embury, joining him in countless projects.$^{:9:54}$ Including War of the Second Dragon,$^{:10:27}$ Blood from the Soul$^{:10:31}$ and Venomous Concept.
He briefly joined Malevolent Creation as bassist, playing with them on a European tour in early 2012.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooke pursued his solo project, Lair of the White Worm, influenced by Godflesh, Ministry and Scorn. He recorded an eponymous six-track EP alongside Tom Dring (drums) and Chris Reese (vocals), also of Corrupt Moral Altar.

## Personal life

Cooke used to live with Danny Herrera of Napalm Death in Walsall, before their house got flooded$^{:3:50}$ in 2018.

## Discography

| Year | Band | Title | Notes |
| 2013 | War Of The Second Dragon | War Of The Second Dragon / Captain Cleanoff | Split album with Captain Cleanoff |
| 2014 | Corrupt Moral Altar | Mechanical Tides | |
| 2015 | Napalm Death | Apex Predator – Easy Meat | Guitar solo on one track |
| 2016 | Venomous Concept | Kick Me Silly VCIII | |
| 2017 | Corrupt Moral Altar | Eunoia | |
| 2020 | Venomous Concept | Politics Versus The Erection | |
| 2020 | Napalm Death | Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism | Guitars on two tracks |
| 2020 | Venomous Concept | Vote Clown Party | |
| 2020 | Visceral Collapse | Knowle Road | |
| 2020 | Corrupt Moral Altar | You Smell Expensive | |
| 2021 | Blood from the Soul | DSM-5 | |
| 2021 | Venomous Concept | Deep Thinking In Deep Times | |
| 2022 | Napalm Death | Resentment is Always Seismic – A Final Throw of Throes | |
| 2023 | Venomous Concept | The Good Ship Lollipop | |