THERAPY?, fronted by Andy Cairns, formed in Belfast, Northern Ireland during 1989. THERAPY? truly came into their own with 1994's 'Troublegum' having released their major label debut, 'Nurse', through A&M two years previously. The band purvey a brand of hard Punk-Pop with Industrial leanings that has softened with successive releases but has still has found them a ready audience with the British Rock media. The band comprised vocalist / guitarist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare, a quality controller in a tyre factory, and drummer Fyfe Ewing. Initially Cairns had handled bass guitar duties on the band's inaugural demo, featuring tracks 'Bloody Blue', 'Skyward', 'Body O.D.' and 'Beefheart/Albini', after which former EVIL PRIEST bassist Michael McKeegan was acquired. In this formation, the trio put in their first live performance that same year at Belfast art College opening for DECADENCE WITHIN. Entering a studio in Lurgan, the band crafted a second demo, hosting the tracks 'Multifuck', 'Here Is', 'S.W.T.' and 'Punishment Kiss'.

THERAPY? had initially found it difficult to attract interest, resulting in the group self-financing the 'Meat Abstract' debut single in 1990, recorded at Homestead Studios, Randalstown with engineer Mudd Wallace, and issuing it themselves on the cynically titled Multifuckingnational label, part funded by Cairns' day job. Despite only pressing up 1000 copies 'Meat Abstract' made a significant impact, being promoted heavily on Northern Irish radio by DJ's Mike Edgar and Johnny Hero as well as receiving valuable Radio 1 exposure through John Peel.

On the touring front THERAPY? embarked upon a live campaign opening for acts such as THE BEYOND, NED'S ATOMIC DUSTBIN, TAD and FUGAZI amongst others. The band gave a copy of the single to the Wiiija signed SILVERFISH who duly took it back to their label who in turn immediately offered THERAPY? a deal. Tracks from 'Meat Abstract' were to later become a part of the group's July 1991 'Babyteeth' mini album, this outing impressively topping the UK indie charts. On the mainland, the band's profile was raised further with a John Peel radio session and guest slot to noted Minneapolis Riot Grrl act BABES IN TOYLAND. A second mini album 'Pleasure Death' for Wiiija, cut at Southern Studios in London with engineer Harvey Birrell. 'Pleasure Death' too scaled the heights of the Indie charts to take the no. 1 position. In the USA Quarterstick Records released 'Caucasian Psychosis', an amalgamation of both the 'Babyteeth' and 'Pleasure Death' albums. A major touring schedule followed, taking in shows across Germany and France before returning to undertake their first major festivals at Reading and Finsbury Park in the UK, and the 'Feile' in Southern Ireland.

Eventually, A&M took the bait and signed the Irish trio in 1992, laying down the 'Nurse' album at Loco Studios in Wales, again with Harvey Birrell behind the desk. Initially, 'Nurse' failed to make much of an impression, despite US dates with THE SCREAMING TREES and a British support tour to SILVERFISH and GALLON DRUNK. A sought after commodity as far as the band's fans were concerned, came in late '92 when THERAPY? gave away a limited edition of 500 singles at their December Dublin SFX gig. The single featured raucous covers of U2's 'With Or Without You' and UNDERTONES' 'Teenage Kicks'.

The band opened 1993 ensconced in Black Barn Studios, Oxfordshire recording the 'Shortsharpshock' EP with producer Chris Sheldon. The lead track 'Screamager' gave THERAPY? A top ten single, generating a 'Top of the Pops' performance and a sold out UK tour. Further European touring solidified the band's standing there and their UK base was strengthened when both the 'Opel Mantra' and 'Face The Strange' EPs went top 20. Heading back to the USA, THERAPY? clocked up another two months of tour dates sharing stages with HELMET and JESUS LIZARD. 1993 closed with recording for a new album, the musicians choosing Chris Sheldon once again to cut tracks at Chipping Norton Studios, Rak Studios and The Church Studios in London.

THERAPY? Launched into 1994 with the hit single 'Nowhere', backed with a shambolic cover of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Breaking The Law', preceding the highly anticipated, top 5 'Troublegum' album. Not only did 'Troublegum' firmly cement the band as true contenders, successive singles 'Trigger Inside' and 'Die Laughing' were all valuable top 30 British hits, it also hosted a rendition of JOY DIVISION's 'Isolation'. The 'Trigger Inside' package came backed with versions of WIRE's 'Reuters', THE MEMBRANES 'Tatty Seaside Town' and THE STRANGLERS 'Nice n' Sleazy', all these extra tracks being produced by John Robb of THE MEMBRANES. Touring in Britain had THERAPY? supported by CREDIT TO THE NATION and fellow Irishmen KERBDOG. As THERAPY? continued to grow they performed at 22 festivals throughout Europe, including Castle Donington, Reading and Phoenix. US shows witnessed alliances with HENRY ROLLINS, TAD and SWERVEDRIVER with other notable gigs including stops in Israel and Japan.

At the height of their success, the trio also contributed the track 'Iron Man', featuring vocalist OZZY OSBOURNE, to the BLACK SABBATH tribute album 'Nativity In Black'.

However, 1995's 'Infernal Love' album, that included a brooding take on HÜSKER DÜ's 'Diane', was not generally received as well as its predecessors as, shifting from their Punk influences, THERAPY? conducted an experiment in darker realms. The record had been crafted at Real World Studios in Bath with producer Al Clay. However, the stripped down, string quartet driven 'Diane' fared well in Europe, bringing in an entirely fresh audience for the group. Another track, 'Misery', had also garnered favourable reception in North America. To embellish their sound the band had drafted in second guitarist / cellist Martin McCarrick, a SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES veteran, for the album and the tour, which took the band into many previously unvisited territories such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and the Czech Republic.

Having played second on the bill to METALLICA at the 1995 Castle Donington Festival drummer Fyfe Ewing surprisingly quit the band in early 1996. He was replaced by Buck from JOYRIDER then the more permanent Graham Hopkins. The revised band departed for a US tour supporting GIRLS AGAINST BOYS, then travelled on to Canada for a further month of dates before returning back to the United States to open for OZZY OSBOURNE. Returning to Ireland they recorded two covers by THE SMITHS and the MISFITS for tribute albums prior to getting back onto the European tour circuit.

THERAPY? entered Metropolis Studios in Chiswick to commence work on their next record during early 1998, punctuating these sessions with a one off London gig billed with IDLEWILD and the DEFTONES. Further live dates in 1998, supported by FOIL and promoting the 'Church Of Noise' single, had McCarrick performing onstage with crutches after a motorbike accident. Promotion for the 'Semi-detached' album did not reach labels previously attained and as the year drew on the group learned that A&M Records was in the process of closing down. As such, 'Semi-detached' did not receive a US release.

1999 started badly, with Graham Hopkins breaking his arm. Nevertheless, THERAPY? signed a fresh label deal with ARK 21 Records, mentored by former IRS Records owner Miles Copeland, and relocated to Great Linford Manor Studios in Milton Keynes to cut the album 'Suicide Pact - You First' for October release. The album failed to chart but 2000 European festival gigs included the 'Bizarre' event in Germany, 'Pinkpop' in Holland and 'Witness' in Ireland. The group also performed at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas during August. The next release, 'So Much For The Ten Year Plan - A Retrospective 1990-2000', was a retrospective compilation issued through Mercury Records.

In 2001 THERAPY? ventured to Seattle to record the 'Shameless' album with noted producer Jack Endino. During these sessions a cover of TURBONEGRO's 'Denim Demon' was cut for the 'Alpha Motherfuckers' tribute album on Bitzcore Records. THERAPY? engaged in a short burst of US dates prior to the release of 'Shameless'. After ending the year with gigs in Belfast and Dublin drummer Graham Hopkins left the band just prior to Christmas. The band duly brought in ELEVATION and former 3 COLOURS RED drummer Keith Baxter as temporary replacement for touring commitments in Scandinavia and Europe. By the time of recording for the 2003 'High Anxiety' album, THERAPY?'s first for Eagle Rock, erstwhile THE BEYOND and CABLE man Neil Cooper had taken over the drum stool.

Andy Cairns recorded a guest vocal appearance for THE WILDHEARTS album 'The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed', featuring on the track 'Get Your Groove On'. Martin McCarrick was ejected from the band in March of 2004, just upfront of UK shows allied with THE WILDHEARTS. Early May found IRON MAIDEN singer BRUCE DICKINSON providing some notable sounds on his BBC radio 'Rock Show' programme, guesting on a cover of DEEP PURPLE's 'Black Night' with THERAPY? The band set 'Never Apologise Never Explain' as the title for a new album for September issue. However, although the album saw a European release the band's US label Spitfire Records passed on 'Never Apologise Never Explain'.

In early 2005 Cairns contributed to the 'No End In Sight' album from THIS IS MENACE, a collaborative project of PITCHSHIFTER members bassist Mark Clayden and drummer Jason Bowld. THERAPY? returned in April 2006 with a downloadable four track EP 'Rain Hits Concrete', followed by the Pedro Ferriera produced album 'One Cure Fits All'. A compilation of the band's BBC recordings was issued in February 2007.

During 2008 THERAPY? enlisted GANG OF FOUR founding member Andy Gill to produce new album tracks. The group performed at the U.K.'s Damnation Festival, taking place Saturday, 24th October 2009 at Leeds University Union.