We spoke to Bassist Michael McKeegan before the gig at the Academy. All his answers appear in a condensed form.

MM: "High Anxiety" has just been released, how would you say it compares to say your earlier stuff?
Michael McKeegan: Well, a lot of it sounds like the bands earlier records, but at the same time, I think we also tried to do something a little different. We stripped it all back to basics, we just had our guitars with no effects so we could concentrate on the actual writing of the songs and not all the flash effects and that.

MM: What happened regarding the collapse of A&M and how did you find yourself on Ark 21?
Michael McKeegan: Basically A&M were involved in a huge corporate buy-out. A&M were part of Polygram along with Mercury Records and Island Records, so when Universal bought Polygram, there were three labels all concentrating on rock music. Universal decided to close one of them down, which unfortunately was ours, A&M. Then after some time we found ourselves on Ark 21, which ironically Universal own anyway, We also found ourselves working with the people we has been working with before!

MM: Going back a bit now, can you remember the first ever Therapy gig?
Michael McKeegan: I can yes! 1990, We played in the Art College in Belfast. We supported a band called Degadence Within, who went on to become Stampin' Ground. I speak to them quite a lot now, they still say, yep! you opened for us! (laughs).

MM: What advice would you give to a young band just starting out?
Michael McKeegan: Well, when we started, we just played stuff we liked and not the stuff that was popular at the time so, I think I would say that you should play what you enjoy and not do what everyone else is doing. I think you have to be into what your doing if you know what I mean.

MM: If you could create your own dream festival, including yourselves, what other five bands would you have playing, past or present?
Michael McKeegan: I'd have Faith No More, Black Sabbath, The Melvins, Dillenger Escape Plan, Jesus Lizard and erm... maybe Simon & Garfunkel.

MM: What was the weirdest bill you’ve ever played on?
Michael McKeegan: I think were quite lucky, because we can play with a wide range of bands. We could play an Ozzfest with say Pantera etc, but we could also play festivals with bands like Coldplay, were not light but were also not really heavy. I think our weirdest gig though was when we played with The Cranberries and Duran Duran. We were in our dressing room next to Duran Duran and this guy comes in with a bottle of champagne and says "Duran says Hi!" well, we were really pissed off as they could of come in themselves. It was a nice gesture, but it was a bit rude if you ask me, I mean they were 10 feet away!.

MM: What is your favorite album at the moment?
Michael McKeegan: I love Thin Lizzy so it has to be their "Live & Dangerous" album

MM: What bands are you listening to at the moment?
Michael McKeegan: We were listening to AC/DC last night but as for newer bands, Scissor Fight, the new Turbo Negro album is really cool, Mastadon, we also listen to bands like The Who and Yes so, all sorts really.

MM: What do you think is the bands worst and greatest moment
Michael McKeegan: I'm an optimist, so I always think our best moment is yet to come, otherwise if you've already had your greatest moment, what's the point in carrying on. So I'd say the best moment is yet to come, as for our worst, erm.... there's a few like the record company stuff and when our first drummer Fife left.

MM: What do you think about the Internet? How does it help and how does it hurt bands/record companies?
Michael McKeegan: As a fan of music, I think its really good, especially for younger bands. Its also good when you want to check out a band before you go and spend your cash on it.

MM: What do you miss most when you’re on tour
Michael McKeegan: Not a lot really. There's times when your tired and that, but there isn't much actually as you can do whatever you want, whenever you want.

MM: Out of these three people, which one would you marry, sleep with and push off a cliff, Kylie, Brittany Spears & Madonna?
Michael McKeegan: (After a lot of discussion, we came up with) I'd sleep with Madonna........actually scrap that, I'd marry Madonna, sleep with Brittany and as for Kylie, I don't get her at all. She probably has loads of clever people around her changing her image. I wouldn't kill her, I'd just lock her in a cupboard instead.

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