Therapy?

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Background information
Origin	Northern Ireland
Genre(s)	Heavy Metal/Rock
Years active	1989–present
Label(s)	Spitfire
Website	Official website
Members
Andy Cairns Michael McKeegan Neil Cooper
Former members
Fyfe Ewing Martin McCarrick Graham Hopkins

Therapy? are an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist/vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Andy filling in on bass duties. To complete the line up, the band recruited bassist Michael McKeegan.

With keen pop sensibilities, a skewed sense of humour and a willingness to draw inspiration from diverse sources (notably punk rock), Therapy? came to attention in the early 1990s rise of alternative rock, but have endured for more than a decade since; Critic Johnny Loftus writes, "[a]fter a ten-plus year career that has seen them outlast competitors and outwit industry attempts at categorization ... Therapy? are still headbangers with their thinking caps screwed on tight."^[1]

Contents 1 History 1.1 The early years 1.2 The Success 1.3 Fyfe leaving the band 1.4 The Turn of the Millennium 1.5 Today 2 Trivia 3 References 4 Discography 4.1 Albums 4.2 Singles 4.3 Other Releases 5 External links

[edit] History

[edit] The early years

The band, highly influenced by artists of the indie rock movement, released its first single, called Meat Abstract, in 1990, on its own independent label, Multifuckingnational Records. Only 1000 copies have been pressed. At the summer of that year, the band made its first tour through the United Kingdom, catching the attention of influential DJ John Peel along the way. The band's early years followed the familiar pattern of hard graft on the local alternative music scene, with Cairns often putting in a full day at the Michelin tyre factory (where he worked as a quality controller), then speeding across Northern Ireland in order to make it to gigs. Therapy? quickly came to the attention of local music fans with their distinctively uncompromising style. Their use of guitar feedback as a "fourth instrument" and unconventional song structures, combined with a darkly original approach to lyrics led them to being spotted in 1991 by the hip London-based independent label Wiiija. A move helped by Leslie Rankine of Silverfish, who passed the band's first single on to Wiiija Records. The band returned the favour on their fourth album Troublegum by the guest appearance of Leslie as a backing vocalist.

The band's first album, 1991's Babyteeth, and its 1992 follow up, Pleasure Death, were successful enough to earn the band a major label deal with A&M Records, home of popular artist like Sting, among others. The two albums, although poorly engineered in places, brimmed with originality and potential, exciting the music press and winning the band a formidable "underground" fanbase. Babyteeth and Pleasure Death both went to number 1 in the UK Indie Charts. A compilation of the two albums entitled Caucasian Psychosis was prepared for the American market.

Their debut A&M record, Nurse, confirmed the band as one of the most exciting finds in British music for several years, making its way in to UK's Top 40 Album Chart. The grunge revolution was in full swing, with US outfit Nirvana leading the way. Predictably, the media began to draw comparisons with the two bands, predominantly on the grounds that they both contained three members. Fans of both groups have dismissed such comparisons out of hand, citing various differences in style and background. Nevertheless, the heavy guitars and inventive drumming that was swiftly becoming Therapy?'s trademark led them more towards the grunge camp then away from it.

[edit] The Success

If there was one true "breakthrough" year in the band's history, it would almost certainly be 1993. The release of the Shortsharpshock EP stunned many by catapulting Therapy? into the Top 40, peaking at 9, and rooting the anthemic single Screamager deep into the fabric of contemporary rock music. The single swelled the already burgeoning fanbase even further, augmented by the first of several appearances on the venerable UK music show Top Of The Pops. However, it was clear that the band's music was changing, evolving from experimental noise trips into something far more accessible.

1994 saw the release of the Troublegum album, a record that delighted Therapy? fans both new and old. A seething but sleek slice of angry rock music, interwoven by feedback breaks and more of Fyfe Ewing's extraordinary drumming, Troublegum earned the band appearances at a string of rock and indie festivals over the next couple of years, as well as a clutch of Top 40 singles. It remains for many people, the band's high point, achieving a string of nominations in end-of-year polls and success at the Kerrang! awards.

With impatience mounting for a new album, Infernal Love was released in early 1995. This time, the press reaction was lukewarm. As ambitious as ever, the band had attempted to create a "cinematic" record with Belfast DJ David Holmes employed to link each tracks with "insanity", but in the eyes of many, had produced a disjointed piece over-subscribed with ballads. It was clear that Therapy? had changed direction, and despite the singles Stories and Loose charting, much of the early momentum had gone.

[edit] Fyfe leaving the band

Fyfe Ewing left the band in early 1996, citing the pressures of a constant touring schedule. It was widely assumed that with such a key component now missing, the band would inevitably break up. Cairns, now a respected songwriter in his own right, had other ideas. The band quickly recruited Graham Hopkins to replace Ewing as well as the permanent addition of guest cellist Martin McCarrick, and work began on the Semi-Detached album. The band toured the remainder of the year to allow the new guys to settle in, and spent most of 1997 writing and rehearsing the follow-up to Infernal Love.

While the Church Of Noise single failed to succeed commercially, it clawed back some of the kudos that had been lost with Infernal Love. The Semi-Detached album transcended the trajectory of Troublegum and Infernal Love with their dark, broody atmosphere. However, promotion for the album was scant at best, due to problems at the A&M label, which culminated in the loss of their record deal with the company.

[edit] The Turn of the Millennium

The Semi-Detached album is in retrospect the band at its most radio-friendly, but despite this the bands' commercial success has waned considerably. The bands' sentiment towards newer alternative metal bands was expressed in the song Ten Year Plan from the band's uncompromising Suicide Pact - You First, an album which was packed full of vitriol, discontent and barely-repressed musical aggression. This album revealed a fuller-sound, yet was noticeably lacking in songs suitable of mainstream-radio airplay. The following year saw the release of the So Much For The Ten Year Plan-A Retrospective 1990-2000 album which (in title at least) was a self-deprecating poke at the bands' difficulties with corporate rock in recent years. After the problems resulting from the late release and touring of the follow-up record Shameless (produced by the legendary Jack Endino), Graham Hopkins quit the band to pursue a career as the frontman in his own band, Halite, and was eventually replaced by ex- The Beyond/Cable drummer Neil Cooper. This line-up lasted one album, the commercially inclined High Anxiety (the most successful album sales-wise since Semi-Detached) until Martin McCarrick left in March 2004.

Fan favourite Never Apologise Never Explain was released in late 2004 to an audience who had just become re-acquainted with the three-piece Therapy? who had unleashed an album which is reminiscient of the sound of their earlier material.

Their newest album One Cure Fits All was released in early 2006. It's considered a very good effort and proved again that they never repeat themselves and are not afraid to try something new.

Although now all but vanished from the charts and wider media attention, Therapy? continue releasing material, gaining enough attention to enable them to tour. The band continues to entertain a smaller but intensely loyal following. Even though he has reached the age of 40, Cairns has been quoted as having no plans to quit.

[edit] Today

Therapy? have recently announced tour dates for their first tour of 2007 which will see them visit South and Eastern Europe.

In September 2006, Therapy? performed an exclusive studio show of songs chosen by fans, who had voted for their three favourite tracks from a lengthy list on the band's website. These votes were counted and the twelve tracks with the most votes were then performed and recorded (both as audio and video). From Monday January 15th 2007, these tracks became available to buy from the band's official website, www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk.

In an interview in 2006 the band announced plans for a compilation album of radio sessions. It was revealed on the bands official website that on February 26 2007 Music Through A Cheap Transistor will be released as a digital download.

[edit] Trivia

Much has been made over the years of the unusual question mark suffix to the band's name. Various theories have been ventured by fans, many of them bizarre. The truth is somewhat mundane. When designing the band's first home produced single, Andy Cairns misaligned the Letraset adhesive label on the sleeve, and used the "?" icon to fill the space.

Therapy?'s album titles are often derived from the lyrics of their songs. The songs Epilepsy, Little Tongues First and new track Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenaline have all been previously referred to as Infernal Love, Suicide Pact-You First and One Cure Fits All respectively. All these songs feature the album title among their lyrics. The song Teethgrinder features the word 'babyteeth,' but it is unknown whether 'babyteeth' was an earlier title (and of course it features on a different album).

Drummer Neil can be found playing football at JJB Soccerdome in Derby on most Tuesday nights.

Therapy? collabarated with rapper Fatal on a track entitled Come And Die which featured on the OST to Judgement Night.

The song 'Accelerator' is featured on Electronic Arts, 'Road Rash 3do' video game.

Neil Cooper used to be a member of british Noise Pop band Cable ,

Former Therapy? celloist/Second Guitarist Martin Mccarick played cello on the Skunk Anansie, album 'Stoosh', he was also a member of Siouxsie And The Banshees,

[edit] References

1. ^ Loftus, Johnny High Anxiety review from Allmusic.com URL accessed Jan 17, 2007

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Babyteeth (1991)
• Pleasure Death (1992)
• Nurse (1992)
• Troublegum (1994)
• Infernal Love (1995)
• Semi-Detached (1998)
• Suicide Pact - You First (1999)
• So Much For the Ten Year Plan - A Retrospective 1990-2000 (2000)
• Shameless (2001)
• High Anxiety (2003)
• Never Apologise Never Explain (2004)
• One Cure Fits All (2006)
• Music Through A Cheap Transistor (2007)

[edit] Singles

• "Meat Abstract" (1990)
• "Teethgrinder" (1992)
• "Shortsharpshock EP" (1993)
• "Face The Strange EP" (1993)
• "Opal Mantra" (1993)
• "Nowhere" (1994)
• "Trigger Inside" (1994)
• "Die Laughing" (1994)
• "Isolation" (1994)
• "Femtex" (1994)
• "Stories" (1995)
• "Loose" (1995)
• "Diane" (1995)
• "Bad Mother" (1996)
• "Church Of Noise" (1998)
• "Lonely, Cryin’, Only" (1998)
• "Hate Kill Destroy" (2000)
• "Bad Karma Follows You Around" (2000)
• "Gimme Back My Brain" (2001)
• "I Am The Money" (2001)
• "If It Kills Me" (2003)
• "My Voodoo Doll' (2003)
• "Polar Bear/Rock You Monkeys" (2005)
• "Rain Hits Concrete EP" (2006)

[edit] Other Releases

• Caucasian Psychosis - compilation of the first two mini-albums (1992)
• Have a Merry Fucking Christmas (1992)
• Born In a Crash (1993)
• Hats Off to the Insane EP (1993)
• Live In Japan (Fan Club Edition) (1994)
• Official Fan Club (1996)
• Scopophobia DVD - a recorded gig in Belfast's Mandela Hall (2003)
• Music Through A Cheap Transistor (2007)

[edit] External links

• Official web site
• suicidepact.com - Unofficial site. Currently down.
• Halite - Graham Hopkins' old band.
• Boss Volenti - Graham's new band
• House Of McCarrick - Martin and Kimberlee McCarricks' site.
• Fabchannel.com - Free video of the 2006 Paradiso, Amsterdam concert
• Fabchannel.com - Free video of the 2003 Paradiso, Amsterdam concert