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Career with The Icicle Works (1980-1990)
Main entry: The Icicle Works
After playing in Liverpool bands in his teens, McNabb first came to prominence as the lead vocalist and songwiter for The Icicle Works. This rock band that was founded in 1980 and had success in the UK with the top 20 single "Love Is A Wonderful Colour" in 1983. They also hit the top 40 in North America with the single "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" in 1984.
The Icicle Works continued recording through the 1980s with limited success. In the UK, several of the band's follow-up singles charted, although none reached higher than #52. In the US, they briefly made the Modern Rock charts in 1988, but achieved no further mainstream recognition and were regarded in North America as a one-hit wonder.
The original line-up of The Icicle Works broke up in 1988. McNabb put together a new "second generation" Icicle Works line-up in 1989, which released one album in 1990. However, the album was commercially unsuccessful and the band broke up the following year.
Affiliations with The Wild Swans and The Lightning Seeds (1990-1994)
Around the time the "second generation" Icicle Works were winding down, McNabb became a de facto member of The Wild Swans, playing guitar and singing back-up vocals on their second and final studio album, 1990's Space Flower.
As well, he worked with Ian Broudie on Broudie's studio project The Lightning Seeds, providing backing vocals on the band's first three albums, released between 1990 and 1994. McNabb also co-wrote a total of two songs with Broudie that wound up on The Lightning Seeds' second and third albums, 1992's Sense and 1994's Jollification.
Solo career
Early solo career (1991-1993)
McNabb at the Metro Club, London
Following the split of the Icicle Works in 1990, and the subsequent dissolution of The Wild Swans, McNabb issued two singles in 1991 to little notice. He then resurfaced in 1993 with a collection of demos which would form the basis of his first solo album, Truth and Beauty. Recorded on a shoestring, it won him a record deal with Andrew Lauder's new 'This Way Up' Label.
The album's first proper single "If Love Was Like Guitars" became a minor UK hit in 1993. Following this, the 1991 single "Great Dreams of Heaven" was re-released, but failed to gain much airplay, possibly due to lyrical references such as "babies being born H.I.V."
The next single pulled from the album ("I'm Game") failed to chart, so This Way Up went for a different strategy. "(I Go) My Own Way" was re-recorded with Stone Roses producer John Leckie at the helm, but it too failed to significantly impact on the UK charts. Still, This Way Up stuck with McNabb and vice versa.
Head Like a Rock and Crazy Horse (1994)
Post-Truth and Beauty, McNabb was allegedly inspired to a rockier sound by the engineer who mastered that record, telling him "Aye, Ian, your rocking days are behind you." Legend has it that McNabb went back to his home in Liverpool, and recorded a demo of what would become the coruscating opener of Head Like a Rock, "Fire Inside My Soul".
Label boss Andrew Lauder then suggested that McNabb go to record in America, which McNabb was skeptical about. He facetiously suggested to Lauder that his new material sounded like Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and if Lauder could get Crazy Horse to play on the record, he would go to America. A few phone calls later, McNabb found himself in a Los Angeles studio with Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina and bassist Billy Talbot. This cast-iron rhythm section appeared on four of the ten tracks on Head Like a Rock, including the #54 UK hit "You Must Be Prepared To Dream". The album's other single, "Go Into The Light", did not feature Crazy Horse and peaked at UK #66.
Head Like a Rock was subsequently nominated for the 1994 Mercury Music Prize, and although M People would end up taking the award home, the attendant publicity surrounding the award-nominated album propelled Head Like A Rock into the UK album charts, where it peaked at #29.
Molina and Talbot toured with McNabb in 1994, featuring on the short live bonus CD which accompanied his next album, Merseybeast. This performance also featured Noel Gallagher of Oasis on uncredited rhythm guitar as the group covered The Seeds' "Pushin' Too Hard". Gallagher's refusal to be credited reportedly inspired the later McNabb composition "Don't Patronise Me", although McNabb has always denied this accusation.
Merseybeast (1996)
The 1996 album Merseybeast saw McNabb with a new backing band called he Afterlife. But despite high expectations for the new CD, the album's first single, the fierce "Don't Put Your Spell On Me" only hit UK #72. The second single, the album's title track (which saw McNabb exploring his scouse roots and merging them with West Coast Americana) fared even worse, hitting UK #74.
Although generally well-received by critics and fans, in the end Merseybeast failed to capitalize on the commercial success of its predecessor. This led to a two-year hiatus on McNabb part from both touring under his own name, and recording full studio albums.
In 1997, This Way Up parted company with McNabb, and released a 'best-of' collection entitled My Own Way: The Words & Music of Ian McNabb.
Working with others/the acoustic era (1998-2000)
1998 saw McNabb as part of a touring band for Mike Scott and The Waterboys, playing bass and sometimes keyboards. He also had occasion to serve as a touring bassist for one of his heroes, Ringo Starr, whose son Zak Starkey had had an early music industry break in 1988 when McNabb hired him to be a member of a late-running version of The Icicle Works.
On returning to performing his own material, McNabb focused on acoustic music, leading to a residency at the Birmingham club of Ronnie Scott. The material arising out of this became the low-key drummerless album A Party Political Broadcast On Behalf of The Emotional Party, released by McNabb on his own Fairfield label in 1998. Aside from McNabb, the only other musicians on the album were Waterboys Mike Scott and Anthony Thistlethwaite, and legendary bassist Danny Thompson.
McNabb followed APPBOBOTEP with a live acoustic album, Live at Life (2000), compiled from a pair of Christmas gigs in 1999. The album included one newly-written track, "Why Are the Beautiful So Sad", which continued to chronicle McNabb dislike of celebrity culture as noted earlier in "Don Patronise Me".
Into the 21st century (2001-2004)
Ian McNabb Performing at Canterbury Festival 2003 Photo: Gerry Gardner
Ian McNabb (2001) marked McNabb full-band return, and was issued by Sanctuary Records. The album's opening track, ivin Proof [Miracles Can Happen], was written for the Go-Go's reunion which had recently taken place, but was declined by that band. McNabb's version was pressed as a promo single.
The album was moderately received critically, with reviewers complaining of a lack of variety in the rock bombast of the record as compared to its two predecessors. 2001 also saw the issuance of a demos and outtakes collection, Waifs and Strays, which included previously unreleased material and alternate versions of familiar McNabb chestnuts.
McNabb returned to his own Fairfield label in 2002, and issued the low-key The Gentleman Adventurer. Best described as a semi-acoustic album, it is similar in spirit to his first solo album, Truth and Beauty, with occasional use of the drum machine to accompany more upbeat numbers such as "Ain No Way to Behave". Almost entirely performed by McNabb (with help from his long-time collaborator and bassist in the latter-day Icicle Works Roy Corkill), the album takes in a variety of styles from rock, through ballads, a touch of funk, and acoustic storytelling.
Another its and pieces collection, Boots followed in 2003, the title being both McNabb nickname (after his penchant for wearing Beatles-style boots in the mid-80s while with The Icicle Works), and a reference to the fficial bootleg nature of the release. The double disc set includes some very hard to find items, demos, and alternative versions.
2004 saw McNabb issuing a second 'Best Of' album, Potency. This covered his whole solo oeuvre, showcasing his eclectic musical taste and output.
Return to the Top 40 (2005)
In 2005, McNabb successfully pushed a single, "Let The Young Girl Do What She Wants To" to #38 on the UK charts. This was McNabb's highest-ever chart placing as a solo artist, and his biggest hit since The Icicle Works' "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" reached #15 in early 1984, a span of over 21 years. This unexpected chart success was assisted considerably by his loyal fanbase buying several different formats of the single in an attempt to gain greater publicity and recognition for his then-current album, Before All of This. But despite support from a number of prominent DJs such as Jeremy Vine and Janice Long on BBC Radio 2, further widespread success continued to elude McNabb.
Later in 2005, McNabb released People Don't Stop Believin', an album of b-sides and outtakes from Before All of This.
Current activity
In October 2006, after 15 years as a solo artist, McNabb unexpectedly revived the name "The Icicle Works" for a series of UK concerts. However, this new version of McNabb's old band did not feature any original Icicle Works members other than McNabb himself. In essence, McNabb seemed to be re-branding himself, using a somewhat more successful trade name in order to give his work increased exposure. Throughout 2007 and into early 2008, McNabb played dates as both a solo artist and with The Icicle Works.
In December 2007, McNabb's second live album (How We Live - At The Philharmonic) was issued. The album was culled from two June 2007 shows at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall.
A series of Icicle Works gigs in December 2007 were heavily criticized by fans on the Message Boards at www.ianmcnabb.com for their supposedly shambolic nature, especially with regards to McNabb's performance. Perhaps by way of an apology, The Icicle Works played 2 free shows in January 2008. Thereafter, The Icicle Works name was retired once again, and McNabb resumed playing exclusively as a solo artist.
In January and February 2008, McNabb was involved with "The Number One Project", a concert and compilation album celebrating Liverpool's fifty-six #1 singles on the UK charts. McNabb played at the January concert, and subsequently appeared on the album, released in February, with his studio cover of John Lennon's "Woman".
In late 2008, McNabb participated in a concert reunion of City Lights, an early pre-Icicle Works band of which he had been a member as a teen. At the end of the year, McNabb released his autobiography, entitled Merseybeast.
McNabb's latest studio album, Great Things, was first made available at gigs in September, 2009. As of November, it was made available for sale on McNabb's website. It has been announced on McNabb's website that Great Things will be released to retail stores in January, 2010, and will be preceded by a release of the single "New Light" featuring Mike Scott of The Waterboys on guitar and backing vocals.
Solo Discography
For McNabb's work with The Icicle Works, please see The Icicle Works.
Singles
Year
Title
Peak Chart Position
Notes
UK Singles Chart
July 1991
"Great Dreams Of Heaven"
-
Original single release. Track later included on Truth And Beauty.
October 1991
"These Are The Days"
-
Track later included on Truth And Beauty.
January 1992
"If Love Was Like Guitars"
#67
From Truth And Beauty.
March 1993
"Great Dreams Of Heaven"
-
Re-release. From Truth And Beauty.
June 1993
"I'm Game"
-
From Truth And Beauty.
August 1993
"(I Go) My Own Way"
-
Re-recording. Original version from Truth And Beauty.
September 1993
"Still Got The Fever"
-
Promo-only release. Re-recorded for Head Like A Rock.
June 1994
"You Must Be Prepared To Dream"
#54
From Head Like A Rock.
September 1994
"Go Into The Light"
#66
From Head Like A Rock.
April 1996
"Don't Put Your Spell On Me"
#72
From Merseybeast.
June 1996
"Merseybeast"
#74
From Merseybeast.
January 1999
"Little Princess"
-
Single edit. Original version from A Party Political Broadcast On Behalf Of The Emotional Party.
April 2001
"Livin' Proof (Miracles Can Happen)"
-
Promo-only release. Single edit. Original version from Ian McNabb.
May 2005
"Let The Young Girl Do What She Wants To"
#38
From Before All Of This.
January 2010
"New Light"
-
From Great Things.
Studio albums
Year
Title
Peak Chart Position
UK Albums Chart
1993
Truth And Beauty
#51
1994
Head Like A Rock
#29
1996
Merseybeast
#30
1998
A Party Political Broadcast On Behalf Of The Emotional Party
-
2001
Ian McNabb
-
2002
The Gentleman Adventurer
-
2005
Before All Of This
-
2009
Great Things
-
Live albums
Live At Life (2000)
How We Live - At The Philharmonic (2007)
Compilation albums
My Own Way: The Words & Music of Ian McNabb (1997) (best-of)
Waifs and Strays (2001) (demos + rarities)
Boots (2003) (demos + outtakes + rarities)
Potency: The Best of Ian McNabb (2004) (greatest hits + rare b-sides)
People Don't Stop Believin' (2005) (b-sides + outtakes from "Before All Of This")
References
^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.341. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
"The Crazy Dreamer", review of Head Like a Rock, from Vox,???? 1994.
Allmusic.com entry for Icicle Works
AllMusic.com entry for Ian McNabb.
Information posted by Ian McNabb on Yahoo!Groups discussion list
Biography on official Ian McNabb website
Liner notes to McNabb albums, particularly Waifs and Strays, Boots
The Right to Imagination & Madness, by Martin Roach (London: Independent Music Press, 1994) ISBN 1-897783-03-5.
Guinness Rockopedia, by David Roberts (London: Guinness World Records Ltd., 1998) ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
The Great Rock Discography, by M.C. Strong (Edinburgh: Mojo Books, 2000) ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
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The Waterboys
Mike Scott Steve Wickham Ian McNabb Geoff Dugmore Brad Weissman Brady Blade
Anthony Thistlethwaite Karl Wallinger Roddy Lorimer Trevor Hutchinson Richard Naiff Sharon Shannon Thighpaulsandra Kevin Wilkinson Jody Linscott May East
Studio albums as "The Waterboys"
The Waterboys (1983) A Pagan Place (1984) This Is the Sea (1985) Fisherman's Blues (1988) Room to Roam (1990) Dream Harder (1993) A Rock in the Weary Land (2000) Universal Hall (2003) Book of Lightning (2007)
Studio albums as Mike Scott
Bring 'em All In (1995) Still Burning (1997)
Live albums
The Live Adventures of the Waterboys (1998) Karma to Burn (2005)
Compilations
The Best of The Waterboys 8190 (1991) The Secret Life of the Waterboys 8185 (1994, recorded 1981 to 1985) The Whole of the Moon: the Music of Mike Scott and the Waterboys (1998) Too Close to Heaven/Fisherman's Blues Part 2 (2001)
Related articles
World Party The Big Music
External links
Official Ian McNabb website
Unofficial Ian McNabb website, with discussion board
Ian McNabb on BBC Radio 2's Sold on Song
Ian McNabb and The Icicle Works Guitar Tab and Chord website
Video interview with Ian McNabb and Ian McNabb acoustic session from BBC Liverpool08
Categories: 1960 births | Living people | English bass guitarists | English songwriters | English folk musicians | The Waterboys members | Musicians from LiverpoolHidden categories: Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2008 | All articles lacking in-text citations
