The Thirst

The Thirst are a British indie rock group from the United Kingdom. They are a Brixton-based four-piece built around Mensah Hart, with Kwame Hart on bass, Mark Lenihan on guitar and Marcus Harris on drums and backing vocals. Their sound draws on indie rock, with influences from ska, hip-hop and other styles, and they also describe themselves as a funk-laced rock band.

Career and releases

The band releases its debut album On the Brink in 2008 on Wooden Records, the label run by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. After the label closes, the band splits from it amicably and continues independently. It later works on a second album and releases the EP/mixtape Laugh with the Sinners as the first independent body of work after the debut album. The group describes this release as a two-part EP.

Live work and reputation

The Thirst build a reputation as a live band on the London circuit and perform regularly at club nights in Brixton, including at Plan B. They tour widely in the UK and share bills with a range of acts, including Pete Doherty, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Kano, Wiley and The Libertines. Their music is also taken up by audiences beyond the indie scene, reflecting the band’s aim to move across subcultures and genres.

Background and notable events

The band is self-taught and often plays through difficult touring conditions, including travelling in unreliable vans. In 2009, it is stranded in Chile for nearly two weeks during the earthquake while in the country for a Rolling Stones tribute performance. In the same period, the group is wrongly arrested at gunpoint after a performance and later has its DNA removed from the police database. These events receive wider media coverage in the UK.

Influences and collaborations

The Thirst cite Prince and Jimi Hendrix among their main influences. They are supported by music media including NME, RWD, The Guardian and MTV Base, and they collaborate with rapper G Frsh. Their songs include crowd favourites such as “My Everything” and “Sail Away”, alongside later material such as “Could This Be Real”.