ABOUT THIRSTY
Thirsty is a London-based rock project rooted in classic songwriting, shaped by arthouse, psychedelic and alternative influences. The band began as a creative partnership between the late Guy Bailey, founder of The Quireboys, and Russian poet and lyricist Irina D. Their collaboration fused Bailey’s instinctive blues-driven guitar work with Irina’s image-rich, thematic writing.
​
The early recordings took shape during late-night sessions in Bailey’s South London studio, supported by some of the UK’s most accomplished musicians, including:
​
-
Simon Hanson (Squeeze, Death in Vegas)
-
Chris Johnstone (The Quireboys)
-
Lynne Jackaman (Saint Jude)
-
Kristi Kimsey (backing vocals)
Thirsty’s sound was further refined under the guidance of legendary Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey, whose sensibility and experience helped shape the band’s recordings into a cohesive body of work.
Thirsty released their debut album Thirsty in 2015, followed by Albatross in 2016 and Nomad in 2018.
Following the loss of Guy Bailey, Thirsty continues - grounded in his music and unmistakable spirit. The forthcoming album God Bless America marks a return to the studio with Spike (The Quireboys), revisiting and reimagining a selection of Guy’s songs in new versions and duets, honouring the original voice while opening a new chapter.
THIRSTY AND THE THREE MINUTE RULE
Modern pop and rock music grew out of the classic “throwaway” 45 RPM Singles released during the 1950s by American artists such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and, of course, Elvis Presley. In the 60th, this format was adopted and expanded by the Beatles and the Rollings Stones, and later pushed further into an art form by artists such as The Velvet Underground; Lou Reed; Bowie; Dylan and early Pink Floyd.
​
Thirsty believes in the enduring immediacy and power of the three minute formula. Working within the disciplines of a simple but strict formulaic structure is not limiting - it provides artists with the opportunity to be most creative.
Less is more.
Within that three-minute discipline, each song becomes a self-contained story - a distilled portrait of a life or a human condition. For example: For example:
"God Bless America" is the life story of Rosemary Kennedy, sister of JFK. She was presented to the Royal Family in England as a beautiful debutante but was later lobotomised on her father’s insistence in an attempt to remedy certain perceived learning and behavioural issues. Fully conscious throughout the process, she was asked by the doctors to sing "God Bless America". When the music stopped, so did they.
