Thrum

Thrum are an alternative rock and indie rock group from Bellshill, United Kingdom, formed in 1992 by Monica Queen and Johnny Smillie. The band is built around Queen’s vocals and Smillie’s guitar arrangements, with a guitar-led sound that has been compared to Lone Justice and, at times, to Janis Joplin fronting Teenage Fanclub.

Formation and line-up

Thrum form around Monica Queen on vocals and Johnny Smillie on guitars. The group begins in Glasgow and is later identified with Bellshill in the United Kingdom. Their core line-up centres on Queen’s voice and Smillie’s playing and arrangements.

Releases and appearances

The band releases its debut album, Rifferama, in 1994. Thrum also appears on the television programme The Word and records several sessions for Mark and Lard.

Monica Queen’s later work

Monica Queen’s vocals later appear on Belle and Sebastian’s “Lazy Line Painter Jane”. She also contributes vocals for other artists, including Chris Coco. Queen and Smillie later release two further albums under the name Monica Queen: 10 Sorrowful Mysteries and Return of the Sacred Heart.

Later activity

In 2010, Monica Queen performs with Snow Patrol at Bellahouston Park on “Take the Fire to the Third Bar” in front of a large crowd. Thrum reform in 2011 and release Elettrorama. The group remains active.