About Compulsion
Compulsion evolved out of Dublin band Thee Amazing Colossal Men which had been around since the mid-80s. The line up included singer Joey Barry, a.k.a. Josephmary, guitarist Garret Lee and bassist Sid Rainey. They signed to Siren records in 1989. They later sued Siren for breach of contract and won. Following this they renamed to Compulsion and took on a new drummer, Dutchman Jan Alkema.
Compulsion was known for their aversion to record label politics, establishing their own label, Fabulon, and favoring quick, one-take recordings over elaborate production. They soon signed with One Little Indian and released the mini-album Safety. Their high-energy live shows, which often led to stage injuries, received mixed reviews, with some critics dismissing them as a subpar punk revival.
The band was lumped into the "New Wave of New Wave" movement (a construct of the music press), which they felt didn’t accurately represent their music. By the time of their debut album Comforter in 1994, some critics began to recognize the band’s distinct sound, which leaned more towards the abrasive styles of the Pixies and Manic Street Preachers rather than the new wave bands of the 1980s. Comforter featured darkly satirical lyrics and garnered more favourable attention.
Compulsion faced further complications when a dispute with their American label, Elektra, delayed the U.S. release of Comforter. They ultimately signed with Interscope Records, who released the album in autumn of 1994. Despite a devoted fan base and continued touring, including a U.S. tour marked by fans throwing stuffed animals at them, the band struggled with inconsistent critical reception and the evolving musical landscape.
Their second album, The Future is Medium, released in 1996, continued their critical commentary on society but failed to secure the lasting success they hoped for. By 1997, Compulsion was dropped by One Little Indian and disbanded. After the split, Garret Lee went on to work as Jacknife Lee and produce for Snow Patrol and U2. Between 2020 and 2022 he collaborated with Cathal Coughlan in a project called Telefís.
Video
Compulsion: Basketcase on live on Channel 4
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