Michael McKeegan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael McKeegan
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McKeegan at Wacken Open Air 2022
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| Background information | |
| Born | 25 March 1971 Larne, Northern Ireland |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Alternative metal Alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | Marshall Records, Black Tragick Records |
| Associated acts | Therapy? |
Michael McKeegan (born 25 March 1971) is a musician from Northern Ireland. He is best known as the bassist for the rock band Therapy?.
Contents
Early Music: Evil Priest
In 1988, Michael McKeegan started a heavy metal band called Evil Priest. He played bass and sang. His two brothers, Ciaran (guitar) and Charlie (drums), were also in the band.
Evil Priest recorded two demo tapes: "Pretention Is No Excuse" and "Hear No Evil...". The band broke up in 1989 when Michael joined Therapy?.
Joining Therapy?
In 1989, Michael McKeegan was still in school. His classmate Fyfe Ewing gave him a cassette tape. It had four songs recorded by Fyfe and Andy Cairns. The tape was called "Thirty Seconds of Silence."
Michael was very impressed by the music. He quickly joined the band as their bassist. Soon after, he recorded his first songs with Therapy?. This was another four-track demo tape called "Meat Abstract."
Since then, Michael has recorded many albums with Therapy?. He has made sixteen studio albums and two compilation albums. He has also recorded many EPs. Michael McKeegan and Andy Cairns are the only original members still in the band today.
Other Music Projects
Michael McKeegan has also worked on other music projects. These are often called "side projects."
Sons of Massey
In the late 1990s, Michael joined a group from Belfast called Sons of Massey. His brother Charlie McKeegan played drums. Robyn G. Shiels sang and played guitar, and Paul Kinghan played guitar. The band played live shows in Northern Ireland. They also recorded a demo at Einstein Studios.
East Antrim Project
In November 2014, Michael McKeegan and Andy Cairns worked on a project called East Antrim. They recorded 15 songs in Belfast. Other musicians from Northern Ireland also helped. This project is an electronic record. It has a calm, late-night sound and includes spoken words. This music has not been released to the public.
The Gemils
In August 2015, Michael played bass for a group called The Gemils. They recorded an original song and a cover song. The group included Andy Cairns and Neil Cooper from Therapy?. 'Diamond' Dave Thompson sang, and Rich Jones played lead guitar.
Other musicians sang backing vocals. Only 10 copies of their song were made. It was a special 50th birthday gift for Andy Cairns and was not sold to the public.
Haunch Band
In 2017, Michael McKeegan started a band called Haunch. He played bass and guitar. Rory McGeown sang and played guitar, and Willy Mundel played drums, sang, and played guitar. Their first album, "Lay My Bones Beside The Others," was released on 26 January 2018. It came out through Black Tragick Records.
Musical Gear
Michael McKeegan uses different equipment to create his bass sound. He has talked about the instruments and amplifiers he uses.
In March 1998, he mentioned buying a Music Man StingRay bass. He called it "the best bass I've ever played." He also used a Mesa/Boogie amplifier and a large speaker cabinet. He sometimes tuned his bass lower for a "big bottom end" sound. He also used special pedals like a Boss Bass Overdrive and a Digitech Whammy pedal for unique sounds.
In August 2003, he shared more details about his gear. For albums like Troublegum and Infernal Love, he used a black Status bass with an Ampeg amplifier. For Semi-Detached, he used a Sunburst Musicman bass with a Mesa Boogie amplifier.
He also used a Sans Amp bass driver pedal and Boss Bass Overdrive. He used Morley Bass wah pedals for "squally sounds." Michael has also used other basses, including a Status Buzzard, a Fender Precision, and a Fender Jazz bass.
Michael's Life
Michael McKeegan is sometimes called 'The Evil Priest'. He is known for being friendly with Therapy?'s fans. At concerts, he often talks to people in the audience between songs. He also posts messages on the band's official message boards.
He lives in Belfast. He married his Dutch wife in September 2008, and they have two sons.
In 2007, Michael was a judge on a TV show called ATL Rock School 2007. This show was on BBC Northern Ireland.
Since 2013, Michael McKeegan has written a monthly column for Bass Guitar Magazine in the UK. In his column, he also reviews different bass guitars and amplifiers.
Discography
Therapy?
Evil Priest
- Pretention Is No Excuse (1988) - demo tape
- Hear No Evil... (1988) - demo tape
- Hate Net (1989) - demo tape
Sons of Massey
- Sons of Massey (1999) - demo CD, unreleased
The Gemils
- Purveyor of Quackery (2015) - 7" limited to 10 copies, not for sale
Haunch
- Lay My Bones Beside the Others (2018)
