Therapy? Q&A August 2007

Folks, here are the answers to 87 questions posted on the message boards for Therapy?’s first Q&A session.

caffeinebomb: Are the rumours true? Have Therapy? split up? IF not, when are you playing in Blackpool?

Andy: Hi Caffeinebomb, not true at all. If that dark day ever came Rene and Sarah would be among the first to know. Regarding Blackpool, Steve, our guitar tech, also works with The Wildhearts and was singing the praises of a club (riffs, is it?) so we’ll be sure to keep it in mind. Had a couple of holidays in Blackpool when I was young and have very good memories of it. It was there I bought my vinyl copy of ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ by the Sex Pistols. It was the import copy with the green cover, too. I was twelve or thirteen and played it all summer when I got home. The Membranes are from Blackpool too, I believe. We did a cover of their ‘Tatty Seaside Town’. That’s two reasons we should go.

ctrlaltdelete: What’s the one thing that is your favourite memory from being in the band?

Andy: Hi Chris, seeing our 7″ single in a shop, on the shelves for the first time and hearing it in a club a week later.

Neil: My fave moment? That’s a tough one… there’s so many!! A single one that will stick with me for a while was when we supported the Rolling Stones. That was special; it’s one of those gigs that even impresses the old geezers down the pub back home.

Michael: Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too many to mention. Everyday has something good round the corner.

gentz: How great was it to be so far up the bill at Donnington ’95 supporting Metallica? How great was it to stand in for Korn at Ozzfest ’98, as I personally hate Korn and love therapy? I spent most of the day smiling!

Michael: Very cool day and great memories.

chr1s: I read somewhere that Glasgow Barrowland is Henry Rollins’ favourite venue in the world. What is your favourite venue and why?

Andy: Rollins has a point, Barrowlands is great. Ulster Hall, Dublin Olympia, Helsinki Tavastia, Zurich Abart, Hamburg Markthalle, Amsterdam Milkweg, Leeds Cockpit, Newport TJ’s, Brussels AB and many, many more

kossu: Do you guys have a special venue on the globe where you always love to (want to) play on tours, a place which feels like ‘home’?

Andy: Hi Kossu! See above, the list is endless really…

Michael: Come on, that’s a tricky one!…the reason being that you can have a killer gig in a ‘shitty’ venue and an extremely shitty gig in a ‘killer’ venue. So in this answer I’m going to mention the venues that treat us like friends, have a good atmosphere, proper lights/sound gear, tasty catering and regularly clean their toilets, nothing to do with audience or band performance.(For the record I mention venues we’ve played a few times so I know their excellence wasn’t a one-off). In no particular order…Astoria-London, Rock City-Nottingham, TJ’s-Newport, Olympia-Dublin, Garage-Glasgow, Markthalle-Hamburg, SO36-Berlin, AB-Brussels, Werchter Festival-Belgium, Mandela Hall-Belfast, 013-Tilburg, Paard Van Troje-Hague, Tivoli-Utrecht, Paradiso-Amsterdam, Melkweg-Amsterdam, Tavastia-Helsinki, Slim’s-San Francisco…

Neil: If you look forward to a gig because of a previous time you were there they always end up being a disappointment! I love doin different gigs for different reasons. Sometimes the gig you expect to be shit can be the best of the tour.

Tubthumper: Do you prefer intimate gigs or open festivals?

Andy: indoors for the full T? experience. We play longer and it’s for people who have bought a ticket specifically to see you, they are a lot closer and it’s more intense and rewarding. festivals are a laugh really. You turn up in a field and try to have a good time with whatever meagre stage time you’ve been allocated. The layout at most festival sites these days is very similar so they’re all pretty much the same for the band. Bit like Starbucks or McDonalds, everything is in the usual place from catering to backstage cabins. designated gigs have more personality and charm… unless it’s in an industrial estate in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do between soundcheck and gig. Ask any musician or tech the sense of dread they feel when seeing the sign ‘zone industriale’ when approaching a venue.

Dermot: Why didn’t you play Belfast on the Semi-Detached tour?

Andy: Not sure. We did an Irish tour and played Derry. Maybe the band/ management/agent was still huffing over the fact that the second Ulster Hall show we had booked to play on New Year’s Eve ’95 had to be cancelled as we’d only sold 300 tickets. The first night was sold out but the second night I think the Prodigy were also in town so everybody was going to that. It’s a shit business etc.

Colin?: when r u coming Belfast?

Andy: Hi Colin. No plans yet, hopefully when we release our next album. Are you the same Colin from Norn Irn that was in Alternative Ulster magazine recently in the ‘what’s on your ipod’ feature? if so, much respect for the shout out.

realityfuck: When are you playing Dublin again?

Andy: I’d like to think we’ll be there for the next album.

Kill_Hill: why wouldn’t you accept my offer of tasty cash to play Cork? Why no headline gigs in Ireland?

Neil: Why wouldn’t I accept?? Erm, I’m not sure. The last time we played Cork it was great. A one off, totally barmy!

mfgeorge: Although I’m sure you appreciate the fans you have in North America, overall do you guys consider North America a write-off as far as future albums & tours go? Further to that, It is my belief that the record company’s decision to delay the release of Infernal Love by more than 1 year in North America really hurt your fan base, as Therapy? were basically forgotten by the time it was released and your toured over here. Do you think there is any 1 or 2 things that contribute to the overall lack of interest in your music in North America?

Michael: The main reason is that all you guys in North America like Creed and don’t give decent UK artists like Robbie Williams a chance over there. Seriously there are a million reasons why a band like us from the UK does or doesn’t ‘work’ in the USA…I’m kind’ve done with worrying why or why not. I think anytime we’ve played North America we’ve met a ton of dedicated loyal fans who love what we’re up to. Of course a few more tours would be nice and lack of proper domestic releases is always embarrassing.

vagabond: Why don’t you release your albums in the USA on some indie-label or something like that? I can’t believe that no label would release it and I also think some bands (maybe clutch etc.) would take you out on tour there if you’d ask

Neil: If it was down to us three we would!!

KJC Dublin: Michael, you used to be jumping and bouncing around like a madman on stage, you don’t anymore, why not?

Michael: I got the correct medication so the madness has subsided for the time being.

kossu: you don’t do the bass “shooting” on audience like Lemmy does always, anymore? I’ve seen you doing it years back and it was nice I got a shot myself

Michael: I would never steal one of Lemmy’s move to make my own stage performance seem more metal. Having said that…

kossu: have you brought your son with you or with your wife to see you live in front of an audience, and if, what did he think about it/your playing, singing? I guess your son has been to your rehearsals, with plugs in his ears?

Andy: Hi Kossu, my son has seen me play a few times, he enjoys the whole event rather than the fact it’s his Dad, I think. He loved Download when we played it.

kossu: What is the hardest/shittiest thing on long tours, being apart from your families, relatives, pets etc?

Neil: Being away from family & friends is the main down side. Another thing that can get to you is the amount of hanging around you do! It’s often rush, rush, rush to simply sit and wait for four hours before you do the gig.

Mina: What would make you NOT come back to a specific country for a live performance, even if you may have enjoyed it in the past? And what are your impressions/ thoughts/ comments from, twice-visited (or more????) Greece?

Neil: Fortunately, I’ve never played in a country that I’ve decided never to go back to (I have a couple of UK venues though!!!). We’ve played in countries before were the people have been brilliant, I mean truly welcoming and warm, yet the authorities have been far from welcoming. That pisses me off, but if we made the decision not to go back the authorities wouldn’t care less where as the people at the shows would. So, it’s a tough one. Greece is brilliant. Although, we were disappointed with the reaction of the venue security at the 2005 show (they had nothing to do with us yet they jumped over the stage barrier and began kicking hell out of a couple of fans. We, obviously, stopped the gig and told them to leave it out) The outdoor show earlier this year (may 07) was great. The show went so well and everyone we met was really friendly. We also ate like kings that weekend. I seem to remember coming home and I’d actually eaten so much I ached!!!

caffeinebomb: What is your all time favourite Therapy? song?

Andy: Still to write it I think. I like the ones that feel good to play. ‘Rain Hits Concrete’ from the last record is like that.

Neil: That’s a tough one. From the batch I didn’t play on originally I always enjoy playing Knives, but to be honest favourite tunes can change gig to gig. From the albums since I joined TPY? I can’t pick one song - I’ve got a soft spot for the whole of NANE though. Sorry to be so vague.

Michael: Jaysus, that is a tricky one…I’ll be cheesy and say some of the next batch of new songs because I have a good feeling about the album. As regards ‘old stuff’ I pretty much enjoy all of it…a lot of the “SPYF” album and “Infernal Love” sessions are particular favourites. Having said that, I heard “Never Apologise…” last week and there’s TONS of good stuff on there.

Dennis: Why do you make music? What drives you to write songs and make albums?

Andy: Love of doing it Dennis, honestly.

KJC Dublin: Do you have a ritual that inspires you to write lyrics? Something that takes you to that dark place that we love your music for?

Andy: Hi KJC, No I don’t, I carry a notebook and pen with me and scribble things down, after a while I sit down and start to whittle it into some shape or form. I like to write alone, usually very late at night or very early in the morning. Depending on my mood it’s either caffeine or red wine when I’m feeling like I need stimulus.

Dermot: Could Andy please write the “stories behind the songs” for another album? Nurse or Infernal Love would be excellent!

Andy: Hi Dermot. At some point I’d like to do it. it’s quite time consuming but the worst part is revisiting some of the less savoury memories that I thought years of abuse had blocked out. Funny you should pick Nurse and Infernal Love as those two albums were quite troublesome times. Once I get this new album out of my system I might venture back (and cringe).

Dermot: Andy - Do you think drug use helps or hinders the creative process?

Andy: Hard to answer this fully but it’s down to where one’s head’s at to start with. If confident and optimistic they can add a little excitement and verve. If stressed they don’t help. I stay away from them in the studio for years now. Way too debilitating. When I was younger, fitter and single with no responsibilities and the world was at my feet, amphetamine and coke were great for staying up and writing. After a while when mild psychosis sets in it’s a useful tool to see situations through a twisted and sharp filter. When it gets to the point when you’ve filled a couple of journals with thoughts and lyrics and ended up using only a couple of , forgive the pun, lines, then it’s time to apply the brakes. I’m afraid I’m not the most articulate at conveying the drugs- creativity argument, William Burroughs is yer man for that. Call me a hypocrite but I wouldn’t recommend doing drugs to anybody. You end up doing a lot of shit you regret.

stevelknevil: What is the meaning behind the song Heart Beat Hits? I think it has something to do with a date and murder, please tell me am I right or wrong?

Andy: Hi Steve, Heart Beat Hits was written on New Year’s Day after watching the David Lynch movie Mulholland Drive. The lyrics are a mix of memories of some of my own experience of the Hollywood Hills and traces of the fever-dream images from the film.

Menasor: Since you began making great music all those years ago, what new bands and artists have you discovered along the way that have influenced you?

Andy: Hi Menasor, too many to mention really but lightning bolt had a big influence on NANE. At the minute I’m loving Clipse, Burial and Trans Am.

Neil: I still love listening to my old influences Rush, Slayer, Public enemy, Dead Kennedys etc. Bands I’ve seen along the way who made me sit up and think wow that’s mega and I consider them an influence were…erm? - Helmet, Pavement, Cop Shoot Cop, Daft Punk and DJ Shadow.

Michael: That’s a lot of bands and probably as we first heard them a while ago they maybe ain’t so ‘new’ now(Bear in mind when we started the band Nirvana were a ‘new’ group)…ok, here’s my mostly non-definitive list…DJ Shadow, Nasum, Mogwai, Murder City Devils, Helmet, Aphex Twin, Queens Of The Stone Age, Mastodon, The Bronx, Baroness, Muse, Turbonegro, Bloc Party…man, it’s a huge list and some of the bands have influenced me in just the very tiniest way be it a bit of an attitude or an aesthetic.

malik_muhammed: Who you would most like to work with?

Neil: I’d like DJ shadow to work his magic on a couple of TPY mixes or give him some beats and see what he does with them. Obviously, it’d be great to play along with your old school heroes - it blew my mind when we got the chance to play an encore with Bruce Dickinson.

ctrlaltdelete: Would you ever consider doing anymore collaborations?/Why haven’t you guys ever collaborated with Henry Rollins, I think that would be amazing.

Andy: Hi Chris, Rollins might be good, maybe a female vocalist could add another angle. Nina Nastasia?

Splattermania: Any chance of a Therapy/Wildhearts supergroup forming? I think that’d be ace.

Neil: Nice idea. I don’t think it’ll happen though, soz.

yauckt.be: Are Therapy? fans of “The God Machine” or “Sophia” ?

Neil: The God Machine…?

yauckt.be: How comes the idea of the U2’s “with or without you” terrible cover?

Michael: Really? I think it’s a great cover done with due respect and consideration. I think if we’d done a ‘straight’ cover it would have cheapened the original.

Divers: I’m personally a big fan of your darker and more noisy albums Like Babyteeth, NANE and Suicide pact. I’ve heard Andy in particular say that SPYF is one of the albums he is most proud of… Is there any reason why songs from this are left out of the setlist more than other albums… is not having the second guitar player or cello player a factor in this? I know playing the hits is sort of expected, but with such a strong catalogue to choose from it’s a shame that some songs from all the albums miss getting an airing once in a while. Cheers for your time.

Michael: We have a bit of a joke in the band that writing a setlist is a ‘thankless’ task in that unfortunately someone in the audience will be bummed(dude) that we don’t play their favourite song(and usually articulate it during and après show!). Do we focus on the one pissed off person or on the other 499/999/9999/49999 people having a great time? It’s a tough one to answer and I feel in recent years we have addressed this pretty well. It’s more about the vibe of a show and usually we have a ‘recent’ album we are proud of and want to play. Mix that up with the ‘hits’ and before you know it that’s the 1 hr 15 mins(or much less at a festival) gone. To address the 2nd guitar/cello thing, personally I feel having started as and now back to a 3 piece the band has never sounded clearer, more focused or more powerful.

Alan: SP-YF is superb, Andy has repeatedly said so too, so why so few songs off it live? Even in the days when Martin was still in the band, the album was rarely played so going back to a 3 piece can’t really be used as an answer. I’d love to hear those songs again (even in stripped down 3-piece form!), so answers please lads!!

Michael: Ermmm…see Divers question/answer for a bit of the reason. Otherwise I can say that it’s our special treat we only jam in rehearsal(along with all of Babyteeth)…hehehe

Viirkokka: Has Therapy? ever backmasked a song? I.E - play it backwards and it has a message in it. I’ve wondered this for a long time but never tested it.

Andy: Hi Viirkokka, we’ve never directly back masked a ‘message’ as such. On ‘Hate Kill Destroy’ from SPYF we recorded the words hate kill destroy, played them backwards and learned how to say them, recorded that and then played that backwards. It’s a trick we learned from David Lynch.

grant: What are your views on universal records recent interest in you, with the DVD and BBC sessions? and also does this mean there might be a chance of more rarities being officially released? and whatever happened to the Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenaline music video?

Andy: Hi Grant, I’m pleased to see the recent Universal DVD and CD surface, can’t do the band any harm but I think I’d have preferred to see them go with a c.d. from the off as opposed to the download only malarkey. Having said that, the download must have sparked enough interest for them to follow with the disc. I’ve had quite a few people tell me that they love it. Listening to it after all these years I must say I was surprised by how fresh it sounded. I don’t know if this will lead to further releases from the, ahem, vaults. can be a bit of a shock for some musicians though. I remember seeing an Almighty ‘best off’ on Universal a few years ago (not the recent collection) in HMV Cambridge. Ricky Warwick, the frontman, is a very good friend of mine and when I chatted to him later that day he said “What best of?” as he’d no idea it had been released. Regarding the ‘Dopamine…’ video: the German lads who did a fantastic job on the ‘Rock You Monkeys’ vid. kindly offered to do one for the track but as they were all very busy at college they couldn’t find the time to fit it in. We were fortunate that they were generous enough to make us a video for RYM in the first place so we had no complaints.

Auto_Surgery: I’ve noticed that Scuzz on Sky Digital gives Therapy? videos a lot of air play, or at least it has done - yet there were no videos to accompany OCFA. Will there be any videos to accompany the next album? If not, what are your reasons for not shooting videos anymore?

Neil: There’s no reason for us not doing a video. An animation video for “Dopamine…” was being put together but unfortunately it fell apart at the last minute - a great shame.

sfinks: Why Does the Infernal Love album sound like Bon Jovi? Seriously though, I used to collect all the Therapy Singles with B-sides, and there were some really amazing songs that never got to see the light of day. Why have you not release a B-sides Compilation yet? I’d drop some $$$ for a nice remastered set of discs of all the B-sides/remixes. Regardless, keep up the good work.

Michael: No idea. Would that be a good concept in this day and age? There has been a bit of talk about some old stuff being re-released/mastered and I feel ALL of our albums need a sonic update/expanded booklet/added b-sides and remixes. Since we recently have been shown some love by our ex-label(Universal) something may come of this all.

Splattermania: Why was Opal Mantra not on the ‘So much for the ten year plan’ compilation?

Michael: Errrr…we felt the record would be better as an ‘overview’ of our first 10 years as opposed to sticking all the ‘singles’ on a CD. “Opal Mantra” was one of those that fell by the wayside…poor bugger!

buffalo-boy: Whatever happened to The Speedo Menace? Will it ever get released?

Michael: Let’s just say that I haven’t got the tapes. I would love to see it released though…

realityfuck: Will there ever a ‘Troublegum’ edition of Eagle’s classic album DVD series?

Andy: if enough people badgered them I suppose they may consider it. They’d probably rather promote the T? material that came out on their own label. I’m all up for it, though. I’d love to do one, even if just to see if the producer could manage to track down Fyfe, Eileen Rose, Martin McCarrick, Page Hamilton and Leslie Rankine!

gentz: Any chance of anybody putting together a live footage DVD from 92-95 era shows?

Michael: No plans as such. Though this was mooted for the original “Scopophobia” DVD concept it never worked out due to various licensing nightmares etcetc…

MarkoJii: What happened to the fruitful cooperation with Pete Bartlett?

Michael: The mighty PB? He’s currently busy touring/sound engineering and after doing 2 records with him we felt(mutually) it might be good to change it up a bit. Never say never as all of us consider Pete to be a good friend and talented producer.

Idlevice2: What do you REALLY think about OCFA’s production versus rawer sounds?

Michael: Curiously worded question…by your emphasis on the word “REALLY” I think you might be trying to imply that I (or the band) have perhaps fibbed in the past regarding our appreciation of the “OCFA” production. I realise it may be your opinion and I think you may want me to say I don’t like it and it’s more polished that our rawer releases. You’re halfway right…I think it is more polished than some of our rawer sounding albums but I REALLY like the sound on the album. Top tunes as well.

caffeinebomb: Any ideas floating for “So Much for the 20 year plan?

Andy: I think I’d prefer a live album rather than a retrospective. Spent a weekend a month ago listening to Cheap trick at Budokan, Ramones- it’s alive, Big Black- Pigpile, James Brown at the Apollo and thought it would be a good thing for us to do. Especially a yummy vinyl release in a gatefold sleeve.

fatboy: If T? started out now, would they last in ten albums time?

Michael: hehehe…perhaps not. I think the music ‘biz’ is a much different beast now as to what it was when we started…plus I think a lot of the newer bands have a slightly different attitude. When I started to make music I always wanted to make tunes that I liked, using all my favourite influences and the limited talents I had at the time. Therapy? was the first ‘real’ band I was ever in and bizarrely all our different ideas and playing styles complemented(even though ‘on paper’ they didn’t). Nowadays I think a lot of musicians see bands as ‘career options’, not necessarily a bad approach but for me I see what we do as being ‘art’. Pretentious? Of course!…but I’d rather see it as that than something else or try and ride on another band’s coat-tails etc.

buffalo-boy: What do you think about the fact that rock has been surpassed in popularity in Britain by indie (Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks etc) and do you like any of the bands that are currently popular? (I ask cos you guys straddle the line between both genres on occasion)

Neil: I think the Arctic Monkeys are great. It’s the middle of the road bands who do my head in, from The Kooks to Embrace etc. I don’t understand them I’m afraid. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a ‘Metal til death’ type guy but it’s the ‘neither here nor there - middle of the road’ tunes that so many UK bands find easy to churn out. Years ago we had bands who had something to say and were excited about saying it. Now we’ve got a lot of young bands who sound like they’re trying to please OAPs!! The Arctic Monkeys are a definite breath of fresh air in that respect.

realityfuck: You’ve been around for a while (and thank you for that), but this stage of your career, what’s Therapy?’s ten year plan?

Neil: I don’t think we’re that calculated. Obviously, you need a plan as you go into each album recording/touring etc but I don’t think any of us are thinking 2 or 3 albums down the line.

realityfuck: When’s the next album coming out?

Andy: next album will be out when it’s finally written and recorded. We’re working on the writing at the moment and hope to be starting full band rehearsals in September. I think I can safely say it won’t see the light of day in 2007. We’ll keep you guys posted though and hopefully when we get into the studio we can keep a web diary to keep you up to speed.

Idlevice2: Any interest in bringing back the trace-y elements from the earlier work?

Andy: Hi Idlevice. I hope so. We hope to make the new album from the T? school of Innocent X/Teethgrinder/If it Kills Me and less Voodoo Doll.

Tubthumper: If an alien landed on Earth and had never heard of you before, how would you describe your music to them?

Andy: Noisy Rock not as obvious as some of it may sound on first listen.

FNYANKEZ: Have there been any other styles of music that Andy has dabbled into writing that may not make it on a T? because it’s so different?

Andy: Hi FNYANKEZ. The Casey Jones Reaction material I did with Martin McCarrick was very unlike T? I have a tape of it somewhere I might send it to Rene or Sarah to see if they want to stick it up on the site. Organs, Tremolo Guitar

FNYANKEZ: Do any of you currently have any side projects?

Andy: No, don’t have the time to be honest.

Neil: I’m currently trying to get my label sorted. ‘Stressed Sumo’ will hopefully be back on track in 2008. It’s been on hold due to TPY? commitments but now I’ve got some help with it - hooray! I’m still involved in Cut Hustlers with Pete Darrington (ex-Cable) we had a 12″ doing the rounds earlier this year. It’s a very slow moving beast, we get together once in a million years.

Michael: Certainly, many are lurking in the wings.

carl-idle-will-kill: If therapy were to have a tribute album, who would you want covering which song and why?

Neil: “Live like a fucker…” - Keith Harris and Orville… I could go on but it’s going to get silly isn’t it?

Michael: Girls Aloud-Church Of Noise, Neil Young-Six Mile Water, Fantomas-Loser Cop, Abruptum-Lonely Cryin’ Only, Aphex Twin-Sprung, Napalm Death-DLAMF. That’d be good to start with.

Dennis: What are your Guilty Pleasures, musically speaking? (And I want an answer off all three of you!)

Andy: Viva Forever-Spice Girls, brings tears to my eyes.

Neil: Doris Day…Whip crack away, whip crack away, whip crack awaaaaaaaay

Michael: To be honest I feel anything that I like is a ‘pleasure’, guilty or otherwise…I suppose a few things that people wouldn’t associate with me ‘digging’ musicwise are…old German thrash-Deathrow/Assassin/Exhumer/Paradox etc…The ‘Flaunt’ channel on Sky…Girls Aloud(note: musically!)…turgid Black Metal demos…Dire Straits-Brothers In Arms…oh dear, I think I’m off to listen to Jean Michel Jarre…

Mina: What do you mostly hate in being THERAPY?

Neil: Hate’s a very strong word, my dear. Nothing to be honest

fatboy: Has there been at some point you’d wish that you didn’t arse around with the Semi Detached album. Good album, but at the same time, it was a cold period for us fans.

Andy: Hi Fatboy, in a nutshell, yes. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and things happen for a reason etc but we spent too much time with the new line-up ‘getting to know each other’ everybody had their whims pandered to and it lost a lot of focus for the band (and cost us a lot of fans into the bargain).

andys gibson sg: Has there ever been a time in your careers where you have actually thought to yourselves: ‘we’ve got to call this a day’ or ‘I can’t do this anymore’?

Andy: Hi Andy’s Gibson SG. Never crossed our minds. We made a pact years ago that if either of us (myself, Michael, Neil) ever turned up to a gig, rehearsal or studio and thought “I really can’t be arsed with this” then we’d jack it in. Fortunately this hasn’t happened yet. We still feel very lucky to still be able to be creative for a living. No small thanks to you guys.

Tubthumper: If T? was to ever stop, what would you do for work? I know Neil has his own label, so would you all continue to be musical and look at that route of promoting and distributing?

Andy: Hiya Tubthumper. Personally, if this was all to stop tomorrow, I’d take 6 months to a year out and clear my head and consider a next move. I’d probably study something new for a while. My son starts piano lessons in September and I’ve decided to take them too for moral support. I’m also keen to expand my French vocabulary as I like so many French movies. If in a few years time you see someone in the East Anglia region playing Serge Gainsbourg covers I a wine bar, it could be me. A cross between Glen Ponda and Les Dawson.

Misanthropologist: Knowing what you know now and with the benefit of hindsight, what, if anything, would you do differently? (specifically about the band, but if any of you want to share guilty personal regrets, that’s fine, too.)

Michael: Not many regrets to be honest, maybe a few cases (and this will sound really mean) where myself and Andy should’ve not been so ‘nice’ and put our foot down about certain things. Having said that what we learnt from some people’s attitudes has informed our current strong, intelligent, honest take on inter-band personal relations. So you certainly can take some positive from every bad experience. On a personal level there are a few fashion treats that should’ve remained in the back of a wardrobe entitled “Village People Castoffs”

Beefgrinder: Which would you consider to be the best and worst of Andy’s “looks” over the years - the trucker beard? The frilly suits? The quiff?

Michael: “Best”? “Worst”? They all work for me on many different levels.

ctrlaltdelete: Are there ever times when you look back and can’t believe what you’ve achieved?

Michael: Most definitely! I can honestly say that no-one in this band takes any Therapy? moment for granted.

realityfuck: Where’s Fyfe?

Andy: Hi Realityfuck. No Idea. Hope he’s fit and well wherever he is though and it would be a great shame if he wasn’t making music. As with Graham it was Fyfe’s decision to leave the band so whether they remain in contact or not is up to them. When someone leaves a working group it seems disrespectful to pester them afterwards, I’d rather leave it up to them to get back in contact if they so wish. The downside of all this means that the remaining members are left to try and explain what happened. This can be a pain in the arse (no disrespect intended, Realityfuck) but I fully understand it’s part and parcel of being into a band. T? has these conversations all the time. Where’s Greg Norton of Husker Du? the rest of the guys from Big Black? etc.

trigger: how has the departure of Fyfe and martin changed Therapy? (musicwise)

Michael: I’m probably a bit too close to it all to make a comment. All I know is that I’m enjoying jamming with Neil and Andy more than I ever can remember.

realityfuck: If Andy and Michael ever decided to call it a day, would ever consider doing a ‘Thin Lizzy’ and start touring under the name of Therapy? with Martin and Graham?

Neil: Erm?…no.

Viirkokka: Are there any plans in the pipeline for a Therapy? Fanclub?

Neil: Not at the minute, no.

buffalo-boy: Are you going to do another webgig?

Neil: I’d like to do another, yes. The response to the last webgig was really cool. It was great seeing the song votes coming in. I don’t think we’ll do the exact same thing again (you guys choose the songs and we play em) but I think we could do something similar with an added twist!

Tubthumper: Were you happy with the Webgig results or would you have preferred to do more of the golden oldies?

Michael: I thought the webgig results were great, perhaps a few newer songs? Hey, that’s the power of democracy in these situations.

chr1s: When did you first pick up a bass and what interested you in it?

Michael: First got into it when I was about 11 or 12…my elder brother wanted to play guitar, my younger the drums so guess who got to play bass?

Colin?: What advice can you give to young drummers who are teaching themselves how to play?

Neil: Listen to as much music and as many of your fave drummers as possible. If you can, play along and copy, then change it to make it your own. If you’re a beginner keep it really, really simple. Get the basics right first! Everyone wants to play at 100 mph immediately. I know it’s frustrating but be patient and PRACTICE. To be honest I’d say that to any musician not just beginners. I can’t over emphasise how important it is to get a good teacher though. The amount of people who come to me for lessons who’ve been teaching themselves for a while and have been practicing stuff which is either irrelevant or just a waste of energy - you’d be surprised.

chr1s: Neil, were you a fan of Therapy? before you joined?

Neil: I was. I knew the lads from back in the day. We toured together in 1990. The band I was with at the time, The Beyond, were given the lads’ demo tape. Both bands were coming from similar musical angles (big tunes with full on techno beats etc) hence touring together. We played the demo cassette to death on that tour, we loved what they were doing.

KJC Dublin: What was the key point that made you want to join Therapy?

Neil: Joining the band actually happened by chance!! I was at a gig at the Garage in London and bumped into Andy. I’d had a couple too many and was literally saying hello when Andy mentioned that TPY? were without a drummer and would I be up for a blast. Two months later, to see how we worked together, we played the Carvicais Rock festival in Portugal which went really well. Before we knew it, we were writing and rehearsing tunes that would become High Anxiety. It’s weird how it all fell into place.

kossu: Were you scared how old fans would react when you did hit the stage with Andy, Michael and Martin for the 1st time? What’s your memories from the 1st gig in T??

Neil: Naively, no. I didn’t have time to get nervous. I had 16 songs to learn in ONE run through - yes, ONE run through.

Beefgrinder: What are the things that you still would like to achieve before hanging up your proverbial hats?

Andy: THE definitive T? album, one where it all falls into place and the one that we’ll be remembered by regardless of sales.

Neil: There are a couple of countries I’d love to play in. It’s a strange one cos when I started playing I would’ve loved to quite simply do a gig at Derby’s main venue, ‘The Assembly Rooms’. Now, as soon as I achieved that should I have hung up my proverbial hat?!! see what I mean? Deal with the priorities - the music, touring and releasing records. You’ve just got to keep pushing forwards I reckon, not thinking about hanging up your proverbial hat.

Michael: One day to have an aftershow party with the following…Larry David, Laura Linney, David Lynch, Happy Tom, George A Romero, Lucy Liu, John Cusack, Angus Young, Patricia Arquette, Bill Murray, Neil Fallon, Chuck D, Penelope Cruz, Bill Hicks and Diamond Dave in attendance to drink all the warm beer. Plus assorted Wombles of course…

vagabond: will you please keep releasing albums and touring for the rest of my life (at least)? I’m 26 …

Neil: Oh, ok then.

andys gibson sg: How often do you read up on posts from these message boards?

Andy: Hi Andy’s Gibson SG. I don’t read the message boards myself as I think it’s a bit like eavesdropping on a conversation! Friends of mine will let me know of any gossip and Sarah and Rene let me know if I need to clarify an issue. Apart from that I enjoy the site and think Rene and Sarah have done a sterling job.

Neil: I’ll be honest here - not as much as I should!!

Michael: Probably more often than I should to be honest. A couple of times a week if I have regular access to a computer.

ctrlaltdelete: Who’s your favourite womble, eh?eh? wink wink nudge nudge!

Andy: All wombles are created equal…etc.

Neil: A weirdo called Chris!!

Michael: Who’s that big one with the glasses? Orinoco or something. “Boom, tish” etcetc

Shade: What would the multi-word albums be called in an alternate reality where albums could only be titled with a single word? And if that’s too much effort to puzzle through; who’s the reigning Therapy? chess champion?

Neil: We’ve not played each other… but obviously I’ll go with MEEEE!! I did my Chess badge at Cubs don’t ya know.

Kill_Hill: Andy, how often do you have to dye your facial hair?

Andy: Hi Kill Hill, now, now, you should know better than to ask a senior gentleman his beauty tips…

Punkwak: What would be your names if you were born as a girl?

Neil: Claire. That’s a fact.

Tubthumper: What is your preferred type of sausage, Cumberland or Lincolnshire?

Andy: Lincolnshire. Chorizo is my all time fave though. mmmmmmmm…chorizo, drools.

Neil: Erm, either?! I tell you what though, I love them Tomato Sausages.

Michael: Of the two I do like the old Cumberland but all time fave has to be the Unox Rookworst. That’ll make a man out of you.

Dermot: Who is your favourite serial killer?

Neil: I’m not going to give any murderer the tag of being my “favourite” - however, the most dysfunctional would have to be Rose and Fred West. They were simply insane. For someone to feel so isolated and to be in such a bad place within themselves they feel the need to wander around killing people is one thing, but to do what they did, not only to strangers but to their own children, is beyond understanding. It’s incredible how two human beings in today’s society can meet up and both of them see that as normal behaviour. The sorry thing is, these characters are amongst us and are in part being created by the society we’re all part of.

Dennis: how do you like your tea? (PS Seeing as you’re putting the kettle on, I’ll have a weak, milky one, no sugar. Ta)

Neil: Firstly, Yorkshire Tea is a must. Milk, no sugar. Accompanied by Maltesers or Malted Milk Chocolate Biscuits.

Cuchulain: On the topic of teabags, do you prefer square, round or pyramid shaped?

Andy: Hi Cuchulain. I tend not to drink tea. I’m a coffee man

Jizz: Why is there a B at the end of dumb but not at the end of dim?

Michael: Because “Dumbo” looked better on the posters than “Dimo”.

LunacyBooth: If you absolutely had to… If your life depended on it… Esther Rantzen or Cilla Black?

Neil: Definitely Cilla. What do you mean if your life depended on it?

mr self destruct: Neil, how many times have you had to mop someone’s sick up, since that time I chundered on your tourbus?

Neil: Not too often, thank christ.

Jizz: Why is instant custard, such as Birds, called ‘instant’ when it can be bought ready made in a tin? Surely the ready made stuff, such as Ambrosia, is the most instant you can possibly get?

Michael: I think post-WW2 ‘powdered’ food was quite popular (due to lack of fresh supplies/rationing) in the UK and Birds(being an older brand) used the ‘instant’ tag which has stuck over the years. Do let me know the real answer…

chr1s: Andy - Can I just ask… Do you have a favourite cheese?

Andy: Ah, Chris, cheese…don’t get me started, I love it in any shape or form. I love buying tons of the stuff with pickle, caramelized onion, crusty bread and crackers. I’m salivating just thinking about it. If pushed, my fave would be either Gorgonzola or Danish Blue (ah…salty). There’s a great snack I got from Samuel Beckett’s novel ‘More Pricks Than Kicks’. The ‘hero’ Belacqua has a penchant for burnt toast, mustard instead of butter and a slab of Gorgonzola on the top. It’s feckin’ marvellous. Great book too.

Macker: Andy how do Jacobs get the fig in the fig roll??

Andy: Hi Macker, if I knew that I’d be a very rich man…

(Go to the homepage, or read the questions as posted on Wall of Mouths)