(Editor’s note – this email interview was conducted before news broke that long time Therapy? member, Martin McCarrick was leaving the band)

Recently, while browsing through the web-site for famous Amsterdam club The Paradiso, I stumbled upon a live broadcast of Therapy? I watched intrigued, as it’s been some years since I’d seen anything from the band. The live show was by turns energetic, humorous, and full of life – with the crowd lapping it up.

It’s a conundrum – Therapy? have produced some of the finest rock to come out of Ireland (no mean achievement), are a consistently powerful live band, and are more than a little well known – yet after the success in particular of Troublegum they’ve gradually moved to the periphery of the music media’s interest at least in Ireland/the U.K and America. But be in no doubt, Therapy? are alive and kicking, and still producing excellent albums.

Three Monkeys Online talked (via e-mail), to Bassist Michael McKeegan about the past, present and future for Therapy?

What’s the current state of play in Therapy? – you brought out “HighAnxiety” last year – how has that gone?

We did a lot of touring and had a very positive responsefrom fans and critics all over the world. We also released our first DVD’Scopophobia‘ which got great reviews and now we’re getting new materialready for the follow up.

Is it ironic, that after years of being less than fashionable, now thatmetal in one form or another is popular, Therapy? Remain outside of thefashionable circle?

I think we had about 6 months of being fashionable back in 1992 but tobe honest to work outside of what’s ‘cool’ means we never get hyped withany scene. These scenes come and go but we’ve been chipping away fornearly 15 years now and I’m very proud of that fact. Not a lot of bandslast 5 years these days.

Tell us the truth – what do you make of “The Darkness”??

I grew up on bands like Thin Lizzy, Queen, Van Halen, Judas Priest, UFOetc. so i don’t find it them as original or outrageous as some peoplemight. Having said that, they seem like sincere, passionate people and Ithink they write good songs and the live show kicks major ass. So morepower to them.

This Year is the centenary of Joyce’s “Bloomsday” from Ullyses – Should youre-release Potato Junkie to co-incide?!?

I doubt if we’ll re-release that one..hahaha……To be honest thelyric isn’t directed specifically at Joyce (who both Andy and I have readand enjoyed) but at the time we wrote it (late 80’s/early 90’s), Irishculture seemed to be bound by it’s past and not looking forward.Thankfully that’s all changed now.

Did it surprise you when Graham left the band(Editor’s note – Graham Hopkins, Therapy’s second drummer) – particularly to go and playwith people like Gemma Hayes and David Kitt?

A bit surprised but also relieved as he was becoming lazy in hiscommitment and playing with the band. Some of his choices (and comments hehas made publicly) since he left Therapy? have disappointed me, I feel tobe part of Therapy? you have to have a passion and commitment to somethingunique rather than become a ‘hired hand’. But he also did us a big favouras we got Neil in to drum and he’s phenomenal to play with…aggressive,innovative and passionate.