He was the tape manipulator and sound engineer for the Boston-based postpunk band Mission of Burma[1] from 1979–1983, when they split up due to lead vocalist/guitarist Roger Miller's problem with the hearing disorder tinnitus.
These techniques were inspired by composers like John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen who earlier led Miller (also a pianist) to write compositions for piano and tape loops.
[2] Swope would then re-introduce the manipulated tape effects into the public address system, essentially as fourth instrument.
Drummer Peter Prescott was quoted as saying it was difficult to predict how Swope's tape effects would sound in live performances, "and that [random factor] got to be the really fun thing.
"[3] Journalist Michael Azerrad later wrote: "A lot of people never knew about Swope's contribution and were mystified by how the musicians onstage could wring such amazing phantom sounds from their instruments.