Ian McNabb

Ian McNabb is widely regarded as one of the best singer/songwriters to come out of 80's Liverpool. From the hay days of the Icicle Works, Ian has continued to win over admirers from all area's and age groups. With the eagerly awaited new Album, 'Before all of this' due out at the end of May, Music-News caught up with Ian, as he prepares to open for John Martyn at Shepherds Bush.

MN: Your first band was called “Young world”, what age were you then and what are your memories of that band.

McNabb: That's going back a bit, I was 15 when I started, it was a cabaret band about 1975 I think. It was a great way to learn stuff, we played in hostile clubs and sang songs from the top 40. I think we lasted about 18 months….

MN: I believe the Icicle Works was taken from a science fiction novel, is that true?

McNabb: Yeah I was a big Sci Fi fan. This author called Frederik Pohl had a short story called ‘The day the icicle works closed' We had to have a trendy name and I thought this would work.

MN: Of the four albums you released with Icicle Works, which one gave you most satisfaction, and why?

McNabb: Probably the first one ‘The icicle works' released under Beggars Banquet. Mainly because we were all very enthusiastic about it and so much hard work went into it at the time. We spent so much time on it, but it was worth it.

MN: How did it come about that you made an album with Crazy horse.

McNabb: Yeah it was in LA in 1993 I think, they produced ‘Head like a rock' Not too sure if Neil Young was too happy about it, nobody else had ever played with them before. The record company in LA set everything up though

MN: You played with Neil Young and Crazy horse at the 1996 Phoenix Festival, how did you find playing with Neil?

McNabb: It was great, we all hung out together which was pretty cool, the first time we met he was okay, second time was not so cool, he didn't say much…

MN: Talking about festivals, do you have a favourite one and do you still go?

McNabb: Yeah well I did a few festivals, and a lot to promote the ‘Greatest of' album, all the usual places. Glastonbury was good ,and T in the Park was pretty cool. As far as going to one is concerned, I reckon I might be getting a bit old for it now!

MN: You're touring with John Martyn, do you like his music, how did it come about?

McNabb: Well I'm a massive fan of John Martyn. The new album's half acoustic and half electric, it was recorded over two years, I thought that his fans would really like it and he was very keen so we went for it. I don't usually open for people.

MN: What are you listening to at the moment?

McNabb: I love new music and listen to it a lot. At the moment I'm into bands like the Kaiser Chiefs, Future Heads, Block Party etc.

MN: What does the future hold for Ian McNabb?

McNabb: This is the first single in 9 years; I'll just see how things go really. I always get a lot of respect for the things I do. The new albums comes out and I'll just see where it takes me. Things change very easily.

MN: Coming from Liverpool, do you have an interest in any of the football teams there?

McNabb: I used to be a football nut, but I'm not really into it much now.

MN: What's your favourite thing to do away from music?

McNabb: I still like to see a lot of bands, I think I'm a very social person so I like to get out. I just like to do the same as everybody else really.

MN: How would you like to be remembered?

McNabb: I don't know, wrote good songs and was a nice bloke?

The album 'Before All Of This' is released on May 30th.