Therapy?

Therapy? are an alternative rock group with industrial and punk influences from Northern Ireland, formed in 1989 by Andy Cairns (vocals, lead guitar) Fyfe Ewing (drums) and Michael McKeegan (bass guitar) joined them soonly afterwards. They developed a strong underground following in both parts of the island, particularly around their legendary early nineties Dublin Christmas gigs in the SFX. They started to received some attention across the water in Britain in 1992 with their "Pleasure Death" mini album and then with the "Nurse" album and "Teethgrinder" single. This interest exploded with the release of the more traditionally punk rock sounding "Shortsharpshock EP" in 1993, which gave them a No. 10 hit in the UK and an appearance on Top Of The Pops. This was followed by further hits from the "Opal Mantra" and "Face the Strange" EPs. This success was consolidated with the release of the "Troublegum" album and its associated singles. Fyfe left the band in 1996, to be replaced by Graham Hopkins. Martin McKerrick (guitar/cello) alos joined the band full-time at this stage, having appeared as a guest musician on previous Therapy? releases and played with them live. Graham left Therapy? in December 2001, he was replaced by Neil Cooper in 2002. Martin left the band in 2004. ==Links To Peel== Peel played the band's first single Meat Abstract in October 1990. Between 1990 and 1993, he regularly played their material. After the band got signed to a major label in October 1992, he started slowly losing interest in the group, with the band changing musical direction to a more commercialised alternative rock sound.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1992 Festive Fifty: Teethgrinder #33

Sessions
Both sessions are available on [http://www.discogs.com/Therapy-Music-Through-A-Cheap-Transistor-The-BBC-Sessions/master/35845 Therapy? ‎– Music Through A Cheap Transistor - The BBC Sessions] (2007, Mercury, 2xCD)

1. Recorded: 1991-08-15. Broadcast: 28 September 1991. Repeated: 2. Recorded: 1992-11-29. Broadcast: 06 February 1993. Repeated: 08 May 1993*Pile Of Bricks / Bloody Blue / Totally Random Man / Autosurgery
 * Innocent X / Meat Abstract / Prisonbreaker / Perversonality

Other Shows Played
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive and is certainly incomplete. Please add further details if known.)

1990 1991 1992 1993 Others
 * 21 October 1990: 'Meat Abstract (12 inch)' (Multifuckingnational) (Peel thinks it is the double A side, 'Punishment Kiss', due to confusing labelling)
 * tbc
 * 27 September 1992 (BFBS): Human Mechanism (12" - Teethgrinder) A&M
 * 01 November 1992 (Ö3): 'Teenage Kicks (7"-Have A Merry Fucking Christmas)' (A&M)
 * 22 November 1992 (BFBS): Accelerator (LP - Nurse) A&M
 * Early March 1993 (BBC World Service): Accelerator (Shortsharpshock E.P.) A&M Records
 * Peel Out In The States (Program 02): 'Teenage Kicks (7"-Have A Merry Fucking Christmas)' (not on label) (JP: 'I still regard the Undertones' original Teenage Kicks as being the best record anybody's ever made, or perhaps the closest anybody's come to making the perfect record.')
 * Peel Out In The States (Program 05): 'Accelerator (7"-Shortsharpshock EP)' (A&M)