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Therapy? News
Therapy? are currently working on their next album, and have just signed a new record deal with Demolition Records
The Webgig is ready to roll and has finally been given a release date of the 15th Jaunuary, checkout the promo video here
Tracklist :-
1 - Screamager (391 votes)
2 - A Moment Of Clarity (389 votes)
3 - Straight Life (315 votes)
4 - Knives (312 votes)
5 - Teethgrinder (292 votes)
6 - Lonely, Cryin’, Only (291 votes)
7 - Die Laughing (290 votes)
8 - Nowhere (254 votes)
9 - Dancin’ With Manson (240 votes)
10 - Evil Elvis (226 votes)
11 - If It Kills Me (223 votes)
12 - Suing God (219 votes)
Tracks will be available to buy individually, or as a full set. They can be downloaded as
audio and video. People buying the full set will receive an exclusive CD/DVD sleeve by
post, signed by the band. This is a sleeve only, you’ll have to burn your own
downloaded files onto a disc.
Rain Hits Concrete, will be released from the forth coming album 'One Cure
Fits All', as a download single on 10th April, containing 3 non album tracks.
1 - Rain Hits Concrete
2 - Crazy Cocaine Eyes
3 - Hard Work Hope
4 - Play On
The new album 'One Cure Fits All' is due to hit the shops on 24th April 2006, final mastering is currently taking place, the cover is said by the band to be a cross between Nurse, Andy warhol portrature and thefist King Crimson album sleeve.
Tracks will include:-
1 - Sprung
2 - Deluded Son
3 - Into The Light
4 - Lose It All
5 - Dopamine Sertonin Adrenaline
6 - Unconsoled
7 - Our White Noise
8 - Private Nobody
9 - Rain Hits Concrete
10 - Fear Of God
11 - Heart Beat Hits
12 - Walk Through Darkness
As of Monday 13th June there will be a new download only single available. It's a 'double a side', if such a thing exists in the digital world, with "Rock You Monkey's" and "Polar Bear" from "Never Apologise Never Explain". An additional track comes in the form of a live version of "Die Laughing" recorded in concert, Belgium 2004.
Therapy? are to feature on the forthcoming U.S. compilation 'A Fistful Of Rock 'n' Roll Volume 13'. The track will be Rock You Monkeys.
Kerrang! have also given the date of September 27th for the release of the new album, recorded in two weeks at the Parkgate Studios in Battle. They've also mentioned that a tour will take place around the release and finish of 2004 to promote the album.
Kerrang! Magazine are holding a competition in conjunction with the 'Brighton Institute Of Modern Music' , that will allow the winner to go on a four day intensive tuition course for Guitar, Bass and Drums. The course will be taugh by a host of musicians including Therapy?, amongst other. See mag for further details issue 1016.
Well here it is the track listing for the new album..
1.Rise Up
2.Die Like A Motherfucker
3.Perish The Thought
4.Here Be Monsters
5.So Called Life
6.Panic!
7.Polar Bear
8.Rock You Monkeys
9.Dead
10.Long Distance
11.This Ship Is Sinking
12.Save The Sermon
13.Last One To Heaven’s A Loser
The album is still curently set for a release date of late September/early October.
'Never Apologise Never Explain'
thats the title of the new album.
14 songs have been recorded, the album should include 12 or 13 of the following (in no
particular order)
1.Rise Up
2.Here Be Monsters
3.Polar Bear
4.Die Like A Motherfucker
5.So Called Life
6.This Ship Is Sinking
7.Plebians
8.Panic!
9.Long Distance
10.Save The Sermon
11.Last One To Heaven's A Loser
12.Rock You Monkeys
13.Dead
14.Perish The Thought
The new album 'production rehearsals' start with our producer Mr Pete Bartlett (live sound engineer and producer of "High Anxiety") and then we'll start recording proper in the first week of June. If all goes to plan the album should be finished by early July with a view to a release in late September on Spitfire. Here's a few new song titles...."The Third Face, This Ship Is Sinking, Long Distance, I Won't Let You Die Alone, Perish The Thought" and "Walked Through Darkness".
Shocking News.... As of 16th March 2004, Martin McCarrick (guitar/cello) is no longer a member of THERAPY? and all future recordings and live work will be performed as a trio. The reasons for this decision is purely professional rather than personal. Martin has been an important part of the band for nine years but the band feel that this is the best way to ensure a positive future for THERAPY?.
Rough demos of 12-15 new songs have been completed, and the plan is to get
these whipped into shape at our forthcoming live shows and rehearsal room before deciding
on a recording date.
Roomer's are they're heavy and melodic with lots to dance and sing
along to...song titles include..."Polar Bear", "Long Distance",
"Here Be Monsters" and "Panic!".
Therapy? have started work on some new material with a view to recording a
new album. They've got the nod from Spitfire Records so everyone has been beavering away
in home studios getting some killer tunes together and hopefully we'll be getting these
rehearsed and finished up in the near future.
They kick off a 2004 tour with two shows in Turkey and then do a run in
the UK in April/May with the Wildhearts.
The DVD entitled Scopophobia! It'll be released on October 13th on the
Eagle Vision label. It's got the full 19 song live set from Belfast on there plus the
following promo videos...
Teethgrinder
Nausea
Screamager
Nowhere
Die Laughing
Trigger Inside
Isolation (Banned version)
Diane (Uncensored version)
Loose
Lonely Cryin’ Only
If It Kills Me
There also is a tour documentary and a quickfire Q&A-style interview. The DVD
also has a few nice little hidden features...?
The live concert sound was mixed by the band and sound engineer/producer Pete Bartlett and
sounds totally ripping so it should sound killer even through the tiniest of TV speakers.
There also is a full 5:1 surround mix option and tons of subtitle options.
The booklet will have sleeve notes written by none other than Henry Rollins and a few
choice quotes from musicians we have toured with in the past.
Therapy?'s record company in Belgium are planning to promote the band by taking the track
'My Voodoo Doll', from new album High Anxiety, to radio. There will be a limited edition
promotional CD made, with no current plans to release it as a single commercially. The
artwork for the CD features a 'voodoo gemil', with pins in it. Andy says "I'm sure
the fans would like to know that it's out there as these things have a way of making
themselves into second hand record shops and collectors fairs.
Therapy? have been confirmed for the Rock Werchter Rolling Stones show in
Belgium on September 7th, 2003. There are a few other bands on and of course The Rolling
Stones will headline.
Some people have expressed 'concern' about us playing this kind of show. To be honest as
Therapy? are a rock and roll band and The Rolling Stones pretty much helped invent the
genre, it makes perfect sense to us. Therapy? are non-exclusive with their audience and we
relish the challenge of playing in front of an audience who might never have heard us
before. After all what could be more boring than preaching to the converted. We love the
Stones... Fred and Barney, that is...
Just wanted to clear up some of the issues surrounding the poll and why we
didn't play the 3 'top songs'. To be totally honest the band were surprised by the choices
as they were songs that we had played quite a lot before and we'd hoped everyone would
maybe chose some more obsure or unusual songs. That's cool though 'cos that's what a vote
is all about.
Then when we went to rehearse for the tour, it became pretty obvious that we wouldn't have
time to rehearse all the songs to a suitable standard. This is due to a combinaton of a
very busy press schedule right up to the start of the rehearsals and the fact that we had
only 2 days rehearsal scheduled. Add to this a new backline crew and lots of equipment
repairs/upgrading, our rehearsal time was eaten into. We did add "Straight Life"
to a later part of the tour and are working on "Teethgrinder" for the Irish
shows.
I hope you can all understand that we wanted to put on the best show possible and we all
feel the tour was one of the best we've done in years. Neil is doing a superb job and we
have had nothing but positive and warm reactions everywhere we've been. For that we thank
you all.
I have spoken to Rene and we now propose that we should do a similar poll to select a few
songs for the Autumn/Winter tour. This time the band will select a short list of more
'obsure' songs and people can vote to choose their favourites.
Exciting news, Therapy? have just got the 'green light' for the
first ever Therapy? DVD release. They will be working with the good people at
Eagle/Spitfire to bring what we hope to be the definitive Therapy? visual collection.
The project is still in the planning stage, the plan is to feature a full live performance
recorded on the forthcoming tour plus plenty of extras like promo videos (a few never or
rarely seen before), some live performances from the past 13 years plus plenty of
'private' footage of the band on and off stage.
They will be filming the Belfast show on Friday June 6th, they purposely chose Belfast as
it's there hometown and to there knowledge no-one has released a commercial 'in
concert' video from here.
Next week Therapy? will be recording sessions for XFM in London and BBC N.I. Across The Line shows, broadcast dates to follow. This will mark the return of the wonderful Neil Cooper back to his drum throne. For all Belgian fans, Studio Brussel live set is broadcast on 8th May so be sure to check that out..
Opening up on the UK shows will be 3 Stages Of Pain (ex-Groopdogdrill) followed by Miss Black America. The Oxford Zodiac show on the 17th May is now confirmed plus there are a few new festivals.
Neil Cooper has been advised to rest his broken arm for a little while longer so we welcome back Mr. Keith Baxter of 3 Colours Red fame to the drum stool. He will be playing with us at our Studio Brussel radio show on April 19th!
If It Kills Me - The first single from the forth coming High Anxiety Album
will be released in the UK on 21st April 2003
Tracks - If It Kills Me
Rust
Mama You
Can Call The Ambulance Now
If It Kills
Me (Video)
A limited 7" version will also be available
If It Kills
Me
Rust
This site is also linked to from the 'Office Sites Links' Page...
The Official Therapy? Site has been revamped and it rocks,,. check it out
Here are the provisional dates for the first part of the Therapy? High
Anxiety Tour. Some venues/dates might change here and there but this is pretty much
complete. Neils' arm will be fully healed by then.
THERAPY? UK & EUROPE 2003
May 13th - Hop & Grape - Manchester, England
May 14th - Academy 2 - Birmingham, England
May 15th - LA2 - London, England
May 16th - The Garage - Glasgow, Scotland
May 19th - Divan Du Monde - Paris, France
May 20th - Melkweg - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
May 21st - Orangerie - Brussels, Belgium
May 23rd - Transilvannia - Milan, Italy
May 24th - Velvet - Rimini, Italy
May 25th - Abart - Zurich, Switzerland
May 26th - Rockhouse - Salzburg, Austria
May 27th - Szene - Vienna, Austria
May 29th - Prime Club - Cologne, Germany
May 30th - Feverwerk - Munich, Germany
May 31st - Schlaihthof - Hamburg, Germany
The new album, called "High Anxiety" and will be released
on Monday May 5th, 2003. To check out the artwork/tracklisting and hear a track go to
Spitfire Records
Shot a promo video for the song "If It Kills Me" and that was a lot of fun. It's
the first video with our new drummer Neil Cooper and the first 'proper' performance video
since we played in a garage in Utah for the "Trigger Inside" clip.
Everyone rocked out in fine style but special mention must go to Neil who performed with a
BROKEN ARM. Yes, that's right...the 'Spinal Tap' curse has struck again! He broke it
playing football but thankfully it wasn't a serious break (though it's in his shoulder and
he may have to get it pinned) and he should be back to full power in about 6 weeks.
Anyway, with the help of some cunning camera work (and a load of painkillers) he did us
proud.
We have a couple of 'performances' confirmed for April. On April 6th we will play at the
Hard Rock Magazine awards ceremony in Paris. Michael's brother Charlie will fill in on
drums for that. He has filled in before at festivals in Portugal and Switzerland. Also
confirmed is an exclusive concert at Studio Brussels in Belgium on April 19th. This will
be a short live set which will be recorded for future broadcast. There will be a small
audience (we believe Studio Brussels will be running a competition to win tickets, more
info as we get it) and also appearing will be Belgium's finest punk rockers Janez Detd.
Should be a fun Saturday!
Michael has reiterated his belief that there will be a double A-side promo
single featuring If It Kills Me and Rust. If the reaction to it is good, the tracks would
then be released as a proper single with Mama You Can Call The Ambulance as a B-side. The
band also plan to shoot a video for If It Kills Me.
High Anxiety’ also sees Neil Cooper on the stool behind the drum kit for the very first time. Paying his dues over the years with bands like The Beyond and Gorilla to name a few, Neil has gained a reputation as one of the best drummers on the scene and has further strengthen that reputation with his work on the album.‘High Anxiety’ is a high octaine slab of pure Rock. Twelve brilliantly crafted songs with the punk rock edge that we have come to expect from the band over the years. With the buzz of anticipation high for the release of the album, Therapy? Are poised once again to be a governing force in the world of rock.
It has been announced that the forthcoming album is indeed titled High Anxiety. Current intelligence suggests a release date of either May 5 or May 12 in countries that usually release on a Monday (such as the UK), and the corresponding day after for Tuesday countries (such as the US). A single (with a video) should precede the album, but more on that in due course. In related news, the band's official website is scheduled for relaunch with a new look on Tuesday, April 1.
Looking back to the change of album title from Ice Cream Headache to Semi-Detached a few years back, and thus with due caution, it looks like the new Therapy? album will be called "High Anxiety". Maybe. It is scheduled for release in some countries on May 6, but there is no reason to believe at the moment that European releases will not be on April 21. Possibilities for tracks on the album include "If It Kills Me", "Hey Satan, You Rock", "My Voodoo Doll", "Stand In Line", and "Mammy, You Can Call The Ambulance Now".
Aside from working on the new Therapy? album, Andy has recently spent time producing the new album by Belgian punk rock band Janez Detd. Further, he also co-wrote and sang on Throat's track Gleason. The track is apparently a "tender tribute" to Jackie Gleason of Smokey and the Bandit fame. Throat themselves share the same home-town as Andy, and formed as a school band in 1995 covering Therapy? and Helmet songs before writing their own stuff. After the usual New Year excesses we're back in the studio finishing off the new album.
We have also done a few pieces of press so there should be a new item in Kerrang magazine in the next couple of weeks.. look out for it.
Therapy? have signed new worldwide recording deal
THERAPY? have just signed a new recording deal with Eagle Rock Records, it is a worldwide
deal and they have just started recording with a view to an album coming out in the first
half of 2003.
We recently spent two weeks in Real World Studios near Bath rehearsing our new material
and working on some of the stuff we had demoed during the summer. It was really cool to be
back in the same studio where we recorded 'Infernal Love' and the relaxed atmosphere plus
the musical chemistry between the band members was very productive.
We're currently in Parkgate Studios near Hastings and have started recording the rythmn
tracks for the album. Neil Cooper (ex-Beyond/Cable) is playing drums and doing a
phenomenal job. Even at this early stage things are sounding awesome, the songs have some
quite diverse elements whilst retaining the THERAPY? dark edge. Main elements are...
unusual rhythmns, big riffs, melodic vocal hooks plus tons of frenetic energy. Producing
the record is Pete Bartlett who some of you may know as our 'live sound' engineer. He has
an excellent ear for music and has managed to get some great performances out of us.
Not sure what will turn up on the album but here's a few songtitles for you... 'If It
Kills Me' (played live at the summer festivals, now reworked), 'My Voodoo Doll', 'Hey
Satan You Rock' (again played at summer festivals), 'Stand In Line'.
We've been busy with the business side of therapy? and as a result of
which we will be signing a new recording contract shortly with a label we are excited to
be with. More news about that later.
Right now we are in the studio writing and reheasing new material and should begin
recording by mid december. We have drummer Neil Cooper playing with us - He is an amazing
player and is adding real power to the new material. We're hoping for a new release
early next year, followed by touring and festivals over the summer.
Graham Hopkins, ex-drummer has signed a worldwide deal with Warner Music
for his new band Halite.
I'd never really thought about the band securing a record deal, "Now I'm looking
forward to making the album I've always wanted to make - an album full of big, melodic
tunes."
Halite are currently recording their début record in Ireland and France, their first
single will be released in May and is due to be followed by an album in June.
Last week 24/10/02 THERAPY? attended the Big Buzz Magazine awards ceremony
in Northern Ireland and won the award for Best Irish Rock Band. Despite the number of
'boybands' and 'pop idols' present, the band enjoyed themselves nonetheless and found
fellow drinking companions in the likes of The Hives, Throat and Faithless. As the award
was decided by a public vote (no industry puppetmasters in action).
Therapy? have parted company with record label Ark21. The record label did
not promote the band very well (similar to A&M?) and so their next release will be
with someone else. If events following Therapy?'s split with Ark21 are similar to those
following the split with A&M, then the band will have to record some demos tracks to
get themselves a new deal. Although not officially announced, it has been mentioned on the
Wall of Mouths messageboard that this is indeed the case.
A week or so ago we went into a studio in London and recorded 4 brand new songs which are
totally brilliant and bode well for our new record. No idea when/if these songs will come
out as we're sorting out some record company stuff that needs to be dealt with. Hopefully
we will have some new music out near the end of 2002!
As regards drummers, no-one permanent has been appointed, we're just using friends at the
minute...Keith Baxter(3 Colors Red) is doing the summer festivals and after that...who
knows!!!!
We also played the Irish OZZFEST which was great fun despite OZZY not playing. 'Twas a
pity but all the other bands rocked hard to make it a brilliant day(especially SLAYER)!!
Thanks to all our Northern and Southern Irish fans who went for it during our set.
All festivals previously announced are still on...let me recap..
06/07/02 - MINISTRY OF ROCK,Switzerland.
13/07/02 - BOSPOP FESTIVAL, Boshoven, Holland.
20/07/02 - TAUBERTAL FESTIVAL, Germany.
08/08/02 - LOKERSE FEESTEN, Lokeren, Belgium.
15/08/02 - MARKTROCK FESTIVAL, Leuven, Belgium.
On Scandinavian tour on drums we have Keith Baxter (3 Colors Red)
- ESSENTIAL Festival (UK) on May 5th
- DAUWPOP Festival (NL) on May 9th
- Irish OZZFEST on May 26th
Sad but true... Graham Hopkins has left rock and roll killing machine THERAPY?. The split
was entirely amicable and Andy, Michael and Martin wish Graham every success in his future
endeavours.
THERAPY? themselves plan to bring you all a bigger, better musical experience in 2002.
"Diane" used in 1st Christmas Special for 'Trigger Happy TV' on (21/12/2001 repeated on 22/12/2001)
Having got some straight answers out of people here are the worldwide release dates for the "I Am The Money" single and the "SHAMELESS" album...
UK- I AM THE MONEY(17th Sept)/ SHAMELESS(1st Oct)
EUROPE- I AM THE MONEY(around 10th Sept)/ SHAMELESS(24th Sept)
US- I AM THE MONEY(tbc)/ SHAMELESS(18th Sept)
JAPAN- I AM THE MONEY(tbc)/ SHAMELESS(3rd Sept)
Here's the first batch of European tour dates!
Oct 17th-Colisseum, Coventry, UK
Oct 18th-University, Newcastle, UK
Oct 19th-The Garage, Glasgow, UK
Oct 21st-Hop And Grape, Manchester, UK
Oct 22nd-Concorde 2, Brighton, UK
Oct 23rd-Zodiac, Oxford, UK
Oct 24th-Waterfront, Norwich, UK
Support act on all shows will be Canada's THE BLACK HALOS.
Track Listing - Shameless
ARK 21 Records, September 2001
Gimme Back My Brain
Dance
This One's For You
I Am The Money
Wicked Man
Theme From DeLorean
Joey
Endless Psychology
Bonkified
Body Bag Girl
Tango Romeo
Stalk & Slash
OK, this is DEFINITE....the UK release of the "Gimme Back My
Brain" Ep will now be on August 6th 2001.
Therapy? can now be contacted at <churchofnoise@hotmail.com.
THERAPY? set to TATTOO THE PLANET
We've been added to the bill for the LONDON "TATTOO THE PLANET" show. We join
PANTERA,SLAYER,CRADLE OF FILTH,STATIC X,BIOHAZARD VISION OF DISORDER and RAGING SPEEDHORN
at Wembley Arena on Saturday 15th September.
Should be a great show and it will coincide with the UK release of
"SHAMELESS"!!!
Ticket info from either www.gigsandtours.com or try the 24hr Tattoo the Planet hotline on
01159 129 162.
The Album Is DONE!! 12/03/2001
Looks like we got of Seattle just in time. All the mixing got done right on schedule and
the b-sides/cover songs got finished up as well. At the minute we're just taking stock and
deciding on running order, possible singles and, what you all want to know, when it's to
be released. We have an album title but we'll reveal that nearer the time!!!
For those who worried "Wicked Man" WAS recorded, it sounds brilliant, and will
be among the 12 album tracks.
Last week Andy played a solo acoustic set at the Uaneen Fitzsimmons tribute concert in
Dublin. He played "Screamager" and "Lonely Cryin Only" at what was a
very emotional night.
Other stuff: apparently the TURBONEGRO tribute record comes out at the end of May. It's
called "Alpha Motherfuckers-A Tribute To Turbonegro" and will be a double
vinyl/cd. It's on Bitzcore Records (www.BITZCORE.COM) and the catalogue # is BC 1723.
Order it now to hear our version of "Denim Demon"....feel the darkness.
Graham has been given the all clear on his broken finger and he's now back to do what he
does best-kicking the hell out of his drums. We're all very excited about playing the new
stuff live 'tho gigs depend on when the new album comes out. As always, soon as we know
we'll let you know....'til next time,
Michael T? 2001
OTHER STUFF: We've recorded 16 new tracks so far and are just about to
start the mixing. It sounds awesome. We're very pleased. The new album will have about 12
songs on it (all original-no covers) and the rest are for tribute albums/b-sides.
3/fifth's of The Black Halos came down on Sunday. Rich Halo played some guitar and Rob and
Jay clapped their hands, sang backing vocals and did a bit of percussion. Great players
and sweet guys to boot. We'll be doing a split single with them for the SubPop label which
should be out this year. It'll have a Therapy? original along with our cover of the Halos
"Bloodsucking Freak" and they'll return the favour with one of their own and a
T? cover. No idea what yet but it should be cool.
THE NEW YEAR-04/01/01
Having all survived the festive period the band are just finishing up the rehearsals for
the NEW record. We start in Seattle on January 15th and should be all finished up around
mid-February...Can't wait! Along with a load of rockin' T? originals we plan to record a
TURBONEGRO (ass-kickin' Norwegian band) cover for their tribute album due out on BITZCORE
records and an exclusive song for a split single with THE BLACK HALOS (ass-kickin'
Canadian band) on SUB POP records.All this material should be released sometime in 2001...
Mr. Jack Endino will be aiding and abetting us with what we hope to be the most exciting
T? record to date.
JAPANESE TV LIVE SET 21/11/2000
Last week the T? boys hit a TV studio in central London to film a live set for Fuiji TV.
The band played (not MIMED as other groups did!) the following-'Bad Karma','Little Tongues
1st','Screamager','Church Of Noise'and 'Die Laughing'. Despite there being no audience(
well, not counting the cameramen!!) and the icy conditions,one onlooker described the
session as "VICIOUS". Cool.
The plan is for this to be shown in Japan as part of the 'London Calling' series before
the end of 2000.
Album 2001
Therapy? are currently in Studio writing before going on Tour. Our plans are to record the
next Album in Seattle in January 2001 with Jack Endino as Producer. We hope to have this
album in the shops May 2001
New Therapy?Album now is available in shops, from 02/10/2000
titled 'So Much For The Ten Year Plan'
THERAPY? UK DATES AUTUMN 2000
29th Oct: Cambridge, Junction
30th Oct: Northampton, Road Menders
31st Oct: Stoke, The Stage
2nd Nov: London, The Underworld
3rd Nov: London, The Underworld
4th Nov: London, The Underworld
6th Nov: Whitehaven, The Civic
7th Nov: Glasgow, The Cat House
8th Nov: Birmingham, The Sanctuary
9th Nov: Portsmouth, Pyramids
11th Nov: Sheffield, The Leadmill
WE HAVE JUST CONFIRMED A LIVE "IN STORE" APPEARANCE
IN VIRGIN MEGASTORE, OXFORD STREET, LONDON FOR 17.30 ON MONDAY OCTOBER 2ND. THE BAND WILL
PLAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES.
THERAPY? BIOG 2000 - BY STUART BAILIE
Andy Cairns and some mates recently got talking about the 90's and how rock and roll had conducted itself during that strange decade. Sure, some of the music had been fine, but there was one aspect of the business that they couldn't really get a handle on. It was the syndrome of the career bands who had drawn up a ten year plan early on.
Andy and his fellow band members thought this was hilarious. Especially when you measured it against the Therapy? flight path. After all, they had made the most contrary swerves and changes, challenging their audiences when they might have taken a more predictable route. They could have bummed a ride on any number of lucrative youth movements, but the band tended to duck out of the way when the going became profitable.
Often, their fans would admire Therapy? for their broad-minded musical tastes, for their Anti-Midas tendencies. Not so the record company chiefs, who would frequently despair. But here's the punch line. After ten intense years, Therapy? are making some of their best ever music. Morale is high, the live shows are magnificent and the band has transcended the world of buzz bands and happening scenes. Their instinctive method has prevailed. Here then, is a guide to their Retrospective Album, "So Much for the Ten Year Plan", with comments from Therapy? guitarist and frontman Andy.
MEAT ABSTRACT (MFN, 1990)
Released on the band's own Multi Fuckin National Label, this marked the beginning of the Therapy? odyssey. Recorded at Homestead Studios in Northern Ireland in a frantic, alcohol-fuelled spree, the trio of Andy Cairns, Michael McKeegan and Fyfe Ewing (from the hinterlands of Ballyclare and Larne) were already putting together a monstrous sound.
Andy: "Originally it was me and Fyfe. We put together Meat Abstract, which was quite dark. We needed a bass player, and Fyfe said there was someone at his school who liked really extreme heavy metal. I had visions of someone with really long hair and a studded wristband. And then Michael turned up. He was the most unassuming guy in the world. We gave him the demo tape and then he turned up and played it better than us.
"We pressed up a thousand copies. We sent them to radio and the press. John Peel played it in about a week. Later, Silverfish were playing with the Revolting Cocks in Scotland. We took the ferry over and stayed in a mates house. Me and Michael met Gary Walker from Wiija Records. The next night we gave the single to Lesley from Silverfish. And the next Thursday it was Gary from Wiija on the phone, wanting to know if we'd do an album. It was the most amazing thing in the world".
BABY TEETH (WIIJA 1991)
The UK media quickly warmed to the band, aided by a bunch of rabid live shows that often culminated with Michael waving his naked arse at the crowd whilst the other chaps howled sundry abuse. Baby Teeth comprised of Meat Abstract, Punishment Kiss, plus five new tracks, recorded over a long weekend, again at Homestead. Baby Teeth reached the top of the NME Indie Charts.
Andy: "All I remember about that session was being more in control, it was a long weekend. We'd learned what we were doing right. We were doing it late when we were in the mood and making it exciting."
PLEASURE DEATH (WIIJA 1991)
Another mini album, this time recorded at Southern Studios in London. The album birthed "Potato Junkie", an intensely great statement about the burden of Ireland's literary heritage. To this day, gig-goers delight in singing along with the chorus line. "James Joyce is fucking my sister".
Andy: "Pleasure Death was a pretty heavy album, with massive guitar chords and shoutey, screaming vocals. Wiija didn't have a lot of money at the time, but they wanted to do another album. So by the time Pleasure Death was ready, Southern Studios were more involved. Because Southern were connected to Touch and Go in the States, which were our gods of a label, we were delighted."
NURSE (A&M 1992)
The major label debut. The band's profile was high, grunge was breaking, but Therapy? went elsewhere.
Andy: "When we signed to A&M in 1992, everyone expected us to become a grunge band. But we were so beliggerent. So I cut off my hair and then we came out with stuff like Teethgrinder which had a lot more in common with post-punk bands like Gang of Four than grunge.
"For producers A&M suggested some big-name grunge guys but we chose to use our own sound guy, who hadn't done very much records before. It did sound a bit thin but when I look back on it, if we had made a big loud rock album in a grunge styel, we'd have been pushed under the carpet whenever grunge died. So it kinda worked for us. But that's when I said, fuck it, I wanna make a punk album. That's when Troublegum came along".
TROUBLEGUM (A&M 1994)
Amusing, sinister and madly hummable, this was the band's chance to threaten the mainstream. Produced by Chris Sheldon and leading with Screamager on the Shortsharpshock EP (1993) the band hit Top of the Pops, following up with Turn (on Face The Strange EP) and unleashing series of fine singles such as Nowhere. It was time to make international waves and to tour with Ozzy.
Andy: "They were great pop songs, you couldn't go wrong with them. There are songs like Knives on that album with the lyrics "I'm gonna get drunk, come around and fuck you up". It wasn't a song about Mansonesque maniac, it was the hilarity of a loser in a room. But we looked insane at that time. So it probably helped to fuel the fire".
"The option was taken up for the next album. I thought it was fantastic to play all over the world, to actually got to France and play for 2000 people. We could always see through what it was. It was the honeymoon period. But being the chancers that we are, we just thought, fuck it, we'll take it for all we can."
INFERNAL LOVE (A&M 1995)
Straight into the follow up. However, a public primed for happy-to-handle punk anthems was in for a challenge. This time there were cellos and peculiar ballads. Belfast DJ David Holmes had linked the songs together to make it sound other-worldly. This wasn't what the capitalist textbook demanded.
Andy: "We released Screamager in '93 and by '94 the Green Day had totally broken the States. I remember delivery Infernal Love to A&M in LA. The look in their faces was pure horror. It was mental time. We came back from touring Troublegum and had two weeks off for Christmas 1994. And of course we had no songs written. We had six weeks at Real World to start from scrath. Right up until the last two days, I was coming up with vocal melodies and lyrics."
"It was one of those kind of albums, loads of nonsense and mischief. One minute we were on stage doing the pogo-friendly kinda angst-ridden, pop-punk that was Troublegum. Then the whole boat stopped rocking and all of a sudden we were all dressed in red, with teddy boy haircuts playing this gothic stuff with cellos. What the fuck happened there?"
SEMI DETACHED (A&M 1998)
Fyfe left the band in January 1996. Rather than reconfigure as a trio, they decided to bring in long time guest Martin McCarrick on guitar and cello, plus new drummer Graham Hopkins. They spent the summer of '96 touring America and Canada, bonding as a band. Meantime A&M was an ailing company, finally dissolving into the Seagram Empire. "Church of Noise" was another spikey comment on the Northern Ireland situation.
Andy: "In 1997 we started Semi Detached. I was getting married, and then I went through a period when I wasn't well. We didn't really know what we wanted to do. We kept putting it off because we weren't happy. People at the Record Company were panicking. So the album was done in dribs and drabs. We finally nailed it in one four week sitting.
"It wasn't a fully realised album. There's some bit I like, but it's not really focussed enough. A&M came apart and we found ourselves without a deal. To be honest, that was the best thing that could have happened to us. We were getting lazy and uninspired and few people were helping us. It was really horrible and we were caught up in the middle of that".
SUICIDE PACT - YOU FIRST (ARK 21 1999)
A classic affirmation. No flim flam, no compromise. Accompanied by a fierce tour, and signed to a new record label, this was the sound of a band who were dearly in love with rock and roll once more.
Andy: "When we did Suicide Pact, we shut ourselves away in Putney. Graham started off by breaking his arm. 1999 was a horrible year. We had no label, no deal, and we just hid ourselves away and rehearsed. We'd got out of that Corporate rock trait, when you're thiking, "is this as good as such and such?" We just thought, if the four people in this room like it, then that's all that matters.
"In the early days, we looked like geeks, like kids next door. But we had this air of confidence. We knew we could play, we knew we were in a good band and we knew that no-one else in the fucking world sounded like us. When we worked on Suicide Pact, that feeling came back naturally. We actually reclaimed control."
BAD KARMA, FAT CAMP (ARK 21, LP TRACKS 2000)
Two new tracks to accompany this ten year compilation.
Andy: "With Bad Karma, I wanted to do a really dumb rock song with loads of energy. I've been listening to a lot of old New York Dolls stuff. I wanted this track to be like the Sonic Rendezvous Band meets MC5, with bits of the New York Doll's Jet Boy and bits of AC/DC. I knocked it out in my bedroom on a four track. Fat Camp was written the way that we'd worked with Baby Teeth. It srarted off with a riff like The Stooges, and then it goes into this mad Guns N' Roses meets Miles Davis bit in the middle. And then it goes back to the Stooges again.
"We've really got into it once more. I've probably bought more records, CD's and tapes in the last two years than I had done between 1992 and 1996. I've completely fallin in love with music again".
Manchild release REHAB single on 26th June 2000 featuring Andy Cairns of Therapy?, check out video/song here.
26th July 2000
We are out of the Studio and have finished our recording. The Retrospective will have the
following tracks on it:
1. Screamager
2. Bad Karma Follows You Around(NEW SONG)
3. Die Laughing
4. Meat Abstract
5. Straight Life
6. Teethgrinder
7. Fat Camp (NEW SONG)
8. Stories
9. Nausea
10. Six Mile Water
11. Church of Noise
12. He's Not That Kind of Girl
13. Diane
14. Nowhere
15. Potato Junkie
16. Ten Year Plan
The provisional release date is now September 25th 2000. The plan is for a limited edition double CD to be issued at the beginning, and this CD will contain the following:
1. Evil Elvis
2. Bloody Blue (demo)
3. Summer of Hate
4. Isolation (Consolidated remix)
5. Where Eagles Dare
6. Lunacy Booth (string version)
The Bloody Blue demo is in fact the very first demo that we ever did and only ever appeared on a Words Of Warning compilation Album. This track actually only features Andy and Fyfe, but does have Michael's bass guitar used on it which Andy borrowed from him! It was recorded in January 1990.
The Misfits track "Where Eagles Dare" was recorded by us for a Tribute Album which was released in 1996 on Caroline Records in America. The two tracks "Isolation Consolidated Remix" and "Lunacy Booth String Version" only ever appeared on the German Release of the single "Isolation".
"Summer of Hate" was from our very first single "Teethgrinder" and "Evil Elvis" appeared on the "Die Laughing" single.
GERMAN CD.
Motor Music in Germany have released a limited edition single featuring: Hate Kill Destroy and live versions of Six Mile Water and Sister. We are currently trying to get hold of some copies and when we succeed we will be able to offer some for sale, we will post details of price etc., on the site as soon as possible.
FESTIVALS FOR 2000
Confirmed Festivals for us are:
June 22nd Nummirrock, Finland
June 24th Hurricane, Germany
June 25th Southside, Germany
June 30th Rome
July 1st Rheinkultur, Koln, Germany
July 2nd The Lost Weekend, London, UK
July 9th Forest Glade Festival, Austria
July 30th Swansea, Wales
August 4th The Sziget Festival, Budapest
August 6th Witness Festival, Dublin, Ireland
August 8th Munich, Extreme Sports Event
August 10th The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, UK
August 11th Bulldog Bash, UK
August 12th Poland, Jarocin
August 20th Bizarre Festival, Germany
August 25th Lowlands, Holland
August 26th Pukkelpop, Belgium.
Sept 19th Andy and Martin will be playing at The
Botanique Festival, in Brussels. This will be pretty much an acoustic gig.
THERAPY'S TOP TEN
ALBUMS OF 1999
ANDY CAIRNS
1. Atari Teenage Riot - 60 Second Wipeout
2. Alec Empire - Miss Black America
3. Hanin Elias - In Flames
4. Iggy Pop - Avenue B
5. Godspeedyoublackemperor - Kanada EP
6. Today is the Day - In The Eyes of God
7. The American Flag - Champagne
8. Bonnie Prince Billie - I see a Darkness
9. Neurosis - Times of Grace
10.Turbo Negro - Darkness Forever
MICHAEL MC KEEGAN
1. Clutch - The Elephant Riders
2. Karma to Burn - Wild Wonderful Purgatory
3. Billie Mahonie - The Big Dig
4. Atari Teenage Riot - 60 Second Wipeout
5. Fireball Ministry - Ou'est le Rock
6. Mr Bungle - California
7. Fight Club - Original Soundtrack
8. The Melvins - The Boot Licker
9. Mogwai - EP
10.The Melvins - The Maggot
Martin's 10 Ten
1. Atari Teenage Riot: 60 Second Wipe Out
2. Breakbeat Era: Ultra Obscene
3. Fu Manchu: Kings of the Road
4. Godsppedyoublackemperor: Slow Riot for New Zero
5. Johnny Thunders: Born to Lose (Best of)
6. Macy Gray: On How Life Is
7. Rico: Sanctuary Medicine
8. Royal Trux: Veterans of Disorder
9. Therapy: SPYF
10. Transam: Future World
Graham's Top 10
1. Deus: The Ideal Crash
2. Folk Implosion: One Part Alibi
3. Bonnie Prince Billie: I See A Darkness
4. Sebadoh: The Sebadoh
5. Macy Gray: On How Life Is
6. Smog: Knock Knock
7. Wilco: Summerteeth
8. Pavement: Terror Twilight
9. Fu Manchu: Kings of the Road
10. Tom Waits: Mule Variations
New Album out 18th October 1999 - "Suicide Pact - You First"
This album is no Troublegum, but that shit has passed, don't get me wrong I love that album, but the band has moved on and so should you. This record is highly recommended and if you've every heard of anything else from Therapy? that is not on Troublegum you will dig it as well. It's bad, it's raw and it's in your fu**ing face. Tracks that stand out 'Wall of Mouths' + Jam Jar Jail' = 'Ten Year Plan' & 'Sister'
Copyright © 1999 - 2008, Darren White
