Thrum (band)
Encyclopedia
Thrum are an indie rock
band from Bellshill
, Lanarkshire
, Scotland
, formed in 1992. They released four singles and an album before splitting up in 1995. Singer Monica Queen
went on to a solo career. Since 2011, Thrum have reformed, releasing a new album, available on iTunes
through PRA Records.
, and she had previously sung in a Christian rock band. Smillie was strongly influenced by Neil Young
while Queen cited Patsy Cline
, Johnny Cash
and Tammy Wynette
as influences.
They signed to Fire Records
at the start of 1993, and Fire issued their début self-titled EP
in April 1993. Singles "So Glad" (which they performed on The Word
) and "Here I Am" were critically well-received, and they recorded their début album Rifferama in San Francisco. "Purify" was taken from the album as the band's final single; They split up in 1995. Queen guested on Belle & Sebastian
's "Lazy Line Painter Jane" single in 1997, recorded duets with The Jayhawks, Grant Lee Buffalo
and Shane MacGowan
, and performed with Snow Patrol
in Glasgow (June 2010). Queen signed to Creeping Bent
as a solo artist (with Smillie still on guitar), releasing an EP in 2000 and an album in 2002.
Since 2011, Thrum have been reformed, releasing a new album, Elettorama on April 12, 2011, available to download on iTunes
.
The band played at T in the Park
in Kinross
on Sunday, July 10, 2011. Thrum graced the T Break Stage, playing old favourites like So Glad and Here I am, and some material from their well-received new release, Elettorama.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Bellshill
Bellshill
Bellshill is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, 10 miles south east of Glasgow city centre and 37 miles west of Edinburgh. Other nearby towns are Motherwell , Hamilton and Coatbridge . Since 1996, it has been situated in the Greater Glasgow metropolitan area...
, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, formed in 1992. They released four singles and an album before splitting up in 1995. Singer Monica Queen
Monica Queen
Monica Queen is a singer from Glasgow, Scotland who has collaborated with Belle & Sebastian , Chris Coco, James Grant and Jim White, among others...
went on to a solo career. Since 2011, Thrum have reformed, releasing a new album, available on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
through PRA Records.
History
The band was formed in 1992 by Johnny Smillie (guitar, vocals), Dave McGowan (bass guitar, vocals), Gary Johnston (drums), and Monica Queen (vocals, guitar). Smillie had met Queen while she was singinging in a youth theatre performance of GodspellGodspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
, and she had previously sung in a Christian rock band. Smillie was strongly influenced by Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
while Queen cited Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
as influences.
They signed to Fire Records
Fire Records (UK)
Fire Records is an independent record label in London, England. The label was founded by Clive Solomon in 1986 and is currently run by James Nicholls.-Current roster:*Giant Sand*Guided By Voices*Howe Gelb*Josephine Foster*Wooden Wand*Bobby Conn...
at the start of 1993, and Fire issued their début self-titled 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...
in April 1993. Singles "So Glad" (which they performed on The Word
The Word (TV series)
The Word was a 1990s Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom.-Format:Its presenters included Mancunian radio presenter Terry Christian, comedian Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrik, Jasmine Dotiwala, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and "Huffty"...
) and "Here I Am" were critically well-received, and they recorded their début album Rifferama in San Francisco. "Purify" was taken from the album as the band's final single; They split up in 1995. Queen guested on Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
's "Lazy Line Painter Jane" single in 1997, recorded duets with The Jayhawks, Grant Lee Buffalo
Grant Lee Buffalo
Grant Lee Buffalo is a rock band based in Los Angeles, California, consisting of Grant-Lee Phillips , Paul Kimble and Joey Peters . All three were previously members of another Los Angeles band, Shiva Burlesque.-Career:...
and Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
, and performed with Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
in Glasgow (June 2010). Queen signed to Creeping Bent
Creeping Bent (record label)
Creeping Bent, aka The Creeping Bent Organisation is an independent record label set up by Douglas MacIntyre in 1994, based in Glasgow, Scotland.-Notable artists:* Bricolage* Alan Vega* Vic Godard, of the Subway Sect* The Secret Goldfish...
as a solo artist (with Smillie still on guitar), releasing an EP in 2000 and an album in 2002.
Since 2011, Thrum have been reformed, releasing a new album, Elettorama on April 12, 2011, available to download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
The band played at T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
in Kinross
Kinross
Kinross is a burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It was formerly the county town of Kinross-shire.Kinross is a fairly small town, with some attractive buildings...
on Sunday, July 10, 2011. Thrum graced the T Break Stage, playing old favourites like So Glad and Here I am, and some material from their well-received new release, Elettorama.
Singles, EPs
- Thrum EP (1993), Fire
- "So Glad" (1994), Fire
- "Here I Am" (1994), Fire
- "Purify" (1994), Fire