Michael McKeegan
Encyclopedia
Michael Robert McKeegan is best known as the bassist
with the rock
band
, Therapy?
.
/vocals), along with his two brothers
Ciaran (guitar
) and Charlie (drum
s), formed a heavy metal
band, Evil Priest. The group recorded
two demo
cassettes - "Pretention Is No Excuse" and "Hear No Evil...". The fledgling group disbanded in 1989 when Michael McKeegan joined Therapy?.
handed him a four song cassette that he had recorded with Andy Cairns
, entitled "Thirty Seconds Of Silence". McKeegan was so impressed he immediately joined as Therapy?'s bassist, and soon recorded his first material with the band; another four track demo tape entitled "Meat Abstract". He has since recorded ten full-length album
s, two mini-albums, two compilation album
s and numerous EP
s. Along with Cairns, McKeegan is the only original member still with the band.
based group, Sons Of Massey, along with his brother Charlie McKeegan (drums), Robyn G. Shiels (vocals/guitar) and Paul Kinghan (guitar). The group played live around Northern Ireland and recorded a demo at Einstein Studios in County Antrim
.
, McKeegan stated:
In August 2003, he posted the following message on the official Therapy? website:
d 'The Evil Priest', McKeegan is known for his friendliness towards Therapy?'s fans - during gigs he often converses with members of the audience between songs, and regularly posts messages on the bands' official message boards. He lives in Belfast
, with his Dutch wife whom he married in September 2008. He appeared as a judge on BBC Northern Ireland
's ATL Rock School
2007.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
with the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
.
Evil Priest
In 1988, McKeegan (bassBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
/vocals), along with his two brothers
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
Ciaran (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Charlie (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s), formed a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, Evil Priest. The group recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
two demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
cassettes - "Pretention Is No Excuse" and "Hear No Evil...". The fledgling group disbanded in 1989 when Michael McKeegan joined Therapy?.
Therapy?
In 1989, while McKeegan was still at school, his classmate Fyfe EwingFyfe Ewing
Fyfe Alexander Ewing , is best known as the original drummer and founding member of rock band Therapy?.-Therapy?:...
handed him a four song cassette that he had recorded with Andy Cairns
Andy Cairns
Andrew James Cairns , is a founding member, singer, guitarist and songwriter for Therapy?, a hard rock band from Northern Ireland.- Therapy? :...
, entitled "Thirty Seconds Of Silence". McKeegan was so impressed he immediately joined as Therapy?'s bassist, and soon recorded his first material with the band; another four track demo tape entitled "Meat Abstract". He has since recorded ten full-length album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s, two mini-albums, two compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s and numerous EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s. Along with Cairns, McKeegan is the only original member still with the band.
Sons Of Massey
In the late 1990s, McKeegan joined the short-lived BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
based group, Sons Of Massey, along with his brother Charlie McKeegan (drums), Robyn G. Shiels (vocals/guitar) and Paul Kinghan (guitar). The group played live around Northern Ireland and recorded a demo at Einstein Studios in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
.
Equipment
In the March 1998 issue of Guitar magazineMagazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, McKeegan stated:
"Chris SheldonChris SheldonChris Sheldon is a record producer, particularly of rock music, based in London, UK. He has produced or mixed records for the Foo Fighters, Garbage, Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Oceansize and Pixies amongst others...
recommended I hired in this Music Man StingRayMusic Man StingRayMusic Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
- then we wangled that the hire cost came off the price, so in the end I bought it for 500 quid which is a bargain. It's the best bass I've ever played. I got a new Mesa/Boogie head and a Mesa/Boogie cab as well, 2x15"s whereas I usually use an 8x10" - I needed something to really give a big bottom end 'cos on some tracks I tuned down to D or even C. I used a Boss Bass Overdrive too, but some of the more fuzzy bass is Mr Coloursound and his wonderful pedals again. Then I used the pitch-shift on a Digitech WhammyDigitech Whammy-Overview:The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first engineered and manufactured in 1989 by IVL Technologies and discontinued in 1993, remains the most sought-after.-Controls:...
pedal for some of the higher notes... oh, and I attacked the bass with the leg off Martin'sMartin McCarrickMartin McCarrick is an English cellist, keyboardist and guitarist.He is best known for his work Siouxsie and the Banshees from 1987 until 1995. He recorded with them three studio albums : Peepshow, Superstition and The Rapture...
cello. It's a very useful thing to have around".
In August 2003, he posted the following message on the official Therapy? website:
"For TroublegumTroublegumTroublegum was the second major label album by the band Therapy? It was released on February 7, 1994 on A&M Records. The album was recorded in 1993 at Chipping Norton Studio in Oxford, as well as Rak Studios and Church Studios, both in London. It had a melodically dark, metal-like sound. The album...
and Infernal LoveInfernal LoveInfernal Love was the third major label album by the band Therapy?. It was released on June 12, 1995 on A&M Records. The album was recorded at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire from January to March 1995....
I used the black Status bass with an AmpegAmpegAmpeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
Svt1 head and an Ampeg 8x10 cabinet. For Semi-Detached I used the Sunburst MusicmanMusic Man (company)Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
and a Mesa BoogieMesa BoogieMesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
4oo+ through a Mesa Boogie 2x15 cabinet. Suicide PactSuicide Pact – You FirstSuicide Pact — You First was the fifth full length album by the band Therapy?, and the first to be released by their third record company Ark21, following the demise of the band's previous label...
was the Sunburst Musicman with the Mesa 400+ head through the Ampeg 8x10, ShamelessShameless (album)Shameless was the sixth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the third and final to be released on Ark 21 Records. It was released on October 1, 2001...
was the Blue Musicman through a Mesa 400+ and a 2x15 Mesa cabinet. High AnxietyHigh Anxiety (album)High Anxiety was the seventh full-length album by the band Therapy?, and was the first to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on 5 May 2003...
was the Blue Musicman with various weird heads through a Harke 4 x10 cabinet. In conjunction with all these set ups I normally use a Sans Amp bass driver pedal and BossBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
Bass Overdrive and MorleyMorley PedalsMorley Pedals is the name of a guitar effects pedal company, famous for manufacturing wah-wah pedals and other treadle type effects for guitar. Morley pedals use electro-optical circuitry rather than a potentiometer to control the effect. The foot treadle controls a shutter inside the pedal that...
Bass wahs for the squally sounds… Hope you are confused. I am. For the record I NEVER had a WestoneWestoneWestone is a manufacturer of hearing healthcare products and high-end earphones, otherwise known as in-ear monitors , used by professional musicians and audiophiles.-Background:...
Thunder 1a. That is a reference to AndyAndy CairnsAndrew James Cairns , is a founding member, singer, guitarist and songwriter for Therapy?, a hard rock band from Northern Ireland.- Therapy? :...
’s first ever bass guitar but I never dabbled. Aria Pro II when I could afford them! Other guitars… Status Buzzard, FenderFenderFender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
Sunburst Precision and a Sunburst Fender Jazz have all made appearances on record and live".
Personal
NicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d 'The Evil Priest', McKeegan is known for his friendliness towards Therapy?'s fans - during gigs he often converses with members of the audience between songs, and regularly posts messages on the bands' official message boards. He lives in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, with his Dutch wife whom he married in September 2008. He appeared as a judge on BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
's ATL Rock School
ATL Rock School
ATL Rock School is a BBC Northern Ireland television programme. The programme aims to highlight new music bands in Northern Ireland.Band members must be aged between 16 and 21 and resident in Northern Ireland. Judges look for entries from every style and genre, from pop to heavy metal and...
2007.
Albums
- BabyteethBabyteethBabyteeth was the first album by the Northern Irish band Therapy?, released on July 15, 1991, on Wiiija Records. Tracks 1 and 3 were recorded in January 1990, with the remaining tracks recorded later that year, all at Homestead Studio in Randalstown, Northern Ireland...
(1991) - Pleasure DeathPleasure DeathPleasure Death was the second album by the band Therapy?. It was released on January 27, 1992 on Wiiija Records. The album was recorded in 1991 at Southern Studios, London. It reached number 1 in the UK Indie Charts....
(1992) - NurseNurse (album)Nurse was the first major label album released by the band Therapy?. It was released on November 2, 1992 on A&M Records. The album was mainly recorded at Loco Studio in Caerleon, Wales, apart from "Gone" which was recorded in Annamoe, Ireland. It marked a departure from the noise punk style of the...
(1992) - TroublegumTroublegumTroublegum was the second major label album by the band Therapy? It was released on February 7, 1994 on A&M Records. The album was recorded in 1993 at Chipping Norton Studio in Oxford, as well as Rak Studios and Church Studios, both in London. It had a melodically dark, metal-like sound. The album...
(1994) - Infernal LoveInfernal LoveInfernal Love was the third major label album by the band Therapy?. It was released on June 12, 1995 on A&M Records. The album was recorded at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire from January to March 1995....
(1995) - Semi-Detached (1998)
- Suicide Pact - You First (1999)
- So Much For the Ten Year Plan - A Retrospective 1990-2000So Much for the Ten Year PlanSo Much for the Ten Year Plan: A Retrospective 1990-2000 was a compilation album by the band Therapy?, and the second to be released by Ark 21 Records. It was released on October 2, 2000 and allowed the band to fulfill some outstanding obligations to Universal Records...
(2000) - ShamelessShameless (album)Shameless was the sixth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the third and final to be released on Ark 21 Records. It was released on October 1, 2001...
(2001) - High AnxietyHigh Anxiety (album)High Anxiety was the seventh full-length album by the band Therapy?, and was the first to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on 5 May 2003...
(2003) - Never Apologise Never ExplainNever Apologise Never ExplainNever Apologise Never Explain was the eight full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the second to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on September 27, 2004. The album was recorded in June 2004 at Parkgate Studios, Hastings....
(2004) - One Cure Fits AllOne Cure Fits AllOne Cure Fits All, was the ninth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the third and final to be released on Spitfire Records. It was released on April 24, 2006. The album was recorded in January 2006 at Jacobs Studios, Surrey...
(2006) - Music Through A Cheap Transistor: The BBC SessionsMusic Through a Cheap TransistorMusic Through A Cheap Transistor is an album by the band Therapy?. It was one of the first releases in Universal Records 2007 series of BBC sessions...
(2007) - Crooked TimberCrooked Timber (album)Crooked Timber, is the tenth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the first to be released on Demolition Records. It was released on March 23, 2009. The album was recorded from July to August 2008 at Blast Studios, Newcastle, with additional recording at The Beauchamp Building, London from...
(2009)
Singles
- "Meat Abstract" (1990)
- "TeethgrinderTeethgrinderTeethgrinder was a single released by the band Therapy?, taken from their Nurse album. It was released on October 19, 1992 through A&M Records. The single reached number 30 in the UK Singles Chart, and number 19 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" (1992) - "Shortsharpshock" (E.P.) (1993)
- "Face the StrangeFace the StrangeFace the Strange was an EP released by the band Therapy? on May 31, 1993 through A&M Records. Its lead track is Turn, which reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart, and reached number 5 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" (E.P.) (1993) - "Opal MantraOpal MantraOpal Mantra was a single released by the band Therapy? on August 16, 1993 through A&M Records. It reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart, and reached number 6 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" (1993) - "NowhereNowhere (song)"Nowhere" is a song by Therapy? and a single released on January 17, 1994 on A&M Records. A remix CD was released a week later on January 24, 1994. The song is featured on the Troublegum album...
" (1994) - "Trigger InsideTrigger Inside"Trigger Inside" is a song by the band Therapy? and a single released on February 28, 1994 on A&M Records. It is featured on the Troublegum album...
" (1994) - "Die LaughingDie Laughing (song)"Die Laughing" is a song by Therapy? released as a single on A&M Records on May 30, 1994. It is featured on the Troublegum album. The single reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart, and number 14 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" (1994) - "Isolation" (1994)
- "Femtex" (1994)
- "StoriesStories (therapy? song)"Stories" is a song by Therapy? and a single released on May 22, 1995 on A&M Records. The song is featured on the Infernal Love album. The single reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart, and number 15 in the Irish Singles Chart....
" (1995) - "LooseLoose (Therapy? song)"Loose" is a song by Therapy? and a single released on July 17, 1995 on A&M Records. The song is featured on the Infernal Love album. The single reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 23 on the Irish Singles Chart...
" (1995) - "DianeDiane (therapy? song)"Diane" was originally recorded by US band Hüsker Dü for their Metal Circus EP in 1983. The song was written by drummer Grant Hart, and concerns the murder of West St. Paul waitress Diane Edwards by Joseph Ture in 1980....
" (1995) - "Stories" (re-release) (1996)
- "Bad Mother" (1996)
- "Church Of NoiseChurch Of Noise"Church of Noise" is a song by the band Therapy? and a single released on A&M Records on March 2, 1998. It is featured on the Semi-Detached album...
" (1998) - "Lonely, Cryin’, OnlyLonely, Cryin’, Only"Lonely Cryin' Only" is a song by Therapy? and a single released on A&M Records on May 18, 1998. It is featured on the Semi-Detached album. This single reached number 32 in the UK Singles Chart.The single was released on CD, CD Digipack and Blue 7" Vinyl....
" (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/Rust" (2003)
- "My Voodoo Doll' (2003)
- "Polar Bear/Rock You Monkeys" (2005)
- "Rain Hits Concrete" (E.P.) (2006)
- "Crooked Timber" (2009)
- "Exiles" (2010)
Other releases
- Pretention Is No Excuse (1988) - Demo tape (with Evil Priest)
- Hear No Evil... (1989) - Demo tape (with Evil Priest)
- Meat Abstract (1989) - Demo tape
- Caucasian PsychosisCaucasian PsychosisCaucasian Psychosis is a US compilation album of Babyteeth and Pleasure Death by the rock band Therapy?. It was released on April 13, 1992 on Quarterstick Records...
(1992) - a US compilation of the first two mini-albums - Have a Merry Fucking Christmas (1992) - a 7" given away at Dublin and Belfast gigs
- Born In A CrashBorn In A CrashBorn in a Crash is a European compilation mini-album release by the band Therapy?. It was released on August 25, 1993 on A&M Records. All tracks were previously released in the UK on different EP's...
(1993) - a European only mini-album - Hats Off to the Insane (1993) - a US and Japan only mini-album
- Live In Japan (Fan Club Edition) (1994) - a fan-club only cassette recorded live in TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in October 1993 - Official Fan Club (1996) - a fan-club only CD recorded live in ArnhemArnhemArnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
in July 1995 - Sons Of Massey (1999) - Demo CD (with Sons Of Massey)
- ScopophobiaScopophobia (dvd)"Scopophobia" is a DVD release by Therapy? on Eagle Vision, a subsidiary of Eagle Rock Entertainment on October 27, 2003. The bulk of the DVD is a full length 19 track concert recorded live at the Mandela Hall, Belfast on June 6, 2003....
(2003) - a DVD release recorded live in Belfast's Mandela Hall in June 2003, plus promo video clips and extras - Gold (2007) - a DVD release featuring promo video clips
- Webgig (2007) - a live studio video/audio download from the official website, recorded in September 2006