Robert Ian McNabb (born 3 November 1962 in Liverpool, England) is known both for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of the Icicle Works in the 1980s, and his critically-acclaimed solo career throughout from the early 1990s to date. He has also played with musicians as diverse as Ringo Starr, Crazy Horse, Mike Scott (of The Waterboys), and Danny Thompson of folk legends Pentangle. This entry covers only his solo career - see the entry for the Icicle Works for his earlier work. is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Liverpool (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Named after a novel, The Icicle Works joined Liverpools early 1980s neo-psychedelia wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom. ... Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. ... For other uses, see Crazy Horse (disambiguation). ... Michael Mike Scott (born December 14, 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is the founding member and chief songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... Daniel Henry Edward Danny Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English double bass player. ... Pentangle is a British folk-rock band. ... Named after a novel, The Icicle Works joined Liverpools early 1980s neo-psychedelia wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom. ...

Solo career

Early solo career

Following the split of the Icicle Works in 1990, 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. The classic line-up at the time of Spike Island The Stone Roses were one of the most influential bands to come out of Britain during the late 1980s and early 90s. ... This article is about the British music producer. ...

Head Like a Rock and Crazy Horse

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, on remembering his recent demos, 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. Sir Andrew Lauder of Fountainhall, 5th Baronet (8 May 1702 – 6 March 1769) was a Burgess of the Royal Burgh of Lauder (August 1, 1737), and also of Musselburgh (June 8, 1739). ... Neil Percival Young[1] OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film director from Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... For other uses, see Crazy Horse (disambiguation). ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Billy Talbot is a singer-songwriter, best known as the bassist for Crazy Horse. ...

Head Like a Rock was subsequently nominated for the 1994 Mercury Music Prize in 1994, 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. The Mercury Music Prize, now officially known as the Nationwide Mercury Prize, is a music award given annually for the best British or Irish album of the previous 12 months. ... M People were a British house music act from Manchester which formed in 1990. ...

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. Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... The Seeds were a 1960s rock and roll band whose raw and abrasive energy and simple, repetitive lyrics came to exemplify the garage rock style. ...

Merseybeast

The 1996 album Merseybeast saw McNabb with a new backing band called “The Afterlife”, perhaps an assertion that there was far more to come following the Mercury nomination. But the first single, the fierce "Don't Put Your Spell On Me" only hit UK #72, and the title track of the album (which saw McNabb exploring his scouse roots and merging them with West Coast Americana) fared even worse, hitting UK #74.

Commercial disappointments aside, however, the album contains some classic McNabb songs. The wry “I’m a Genius” is a special live favourite, listing the narrator’s shortcomings before the sweet refrain ‘But when it comes to loving you babe, I’m a genius’. Nevertheless, Merseybeast failed to capitalize on the commercial success of its predecessor, and occasioned a hiatus on McNabb’s 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.

Work with others

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 got his first music industry break in 1988 when McNabb hired him to be a member of a late-running version of The Icicle Works. Michael Mike Scott (born December 14, 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is the founding member and chief songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. ... Zak Starkey (born September 13, 1965 in London, England) is the drummer for English rock band Oasis. ...

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, who has played with (among many others) Alexis Korner, Pentangle, Tim Buckley, Sandy Denny, John Martyn, and Richard Thompson [no relation]). Birmingham (pron. ... Ronnie Scott (left) with Tubby Hayes. ... Anthony Thistlethwaite born 1955 was a member of 1980s folk rock group The Waterboys. ... Daniel Henry Edward Danny Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English double bass player. ... Alexis Korner (born Alexis Andrew Nicholas Korner, 19 April 1928 in Paris, France - died on 1 January 1984 in Westminster, London, England) Korner is probably best remembered as the Founding Father of British Blues and a pioneering blues musician. ... Pentangle is a British folk-rock band. ... Timothy Charles Buckley III (February 14, 1947 – June 29, 1975) was an experimental vocalist and performer who incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, and avant-garde rock in a short career spanning the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy on September 11, 1948 in New Malden, Surrey, England) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... For other persons named Richard Thompson, see Richard Thompson (disambiguation). ...

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’s dislike of celebrity culture as noted earlier in "Don’t Patronise Me".

In 2007 June Ian announced he will be collaborating with a series of artists on his new album entitled Reasons of take off. The artists include Mark Chadwick, Primal Scream, The View, Rufus Wainwright, Lily Allen and Bobby Zamora. Primal Scream are a rock group formed as a duo in 1982 in Glasgow, Scotland, by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie, evolving into a band in 1984 at which time Gillespie was also the drummer in The Jesus and Mary Chain. ... This article is about the talk show. ... Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter. ... Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born May 2, 1985) is a British singer-songwriter best known for songs such as Smile and LDN. She is the daughter of actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Later solo career

Ian McNabb (2001) marked McNabb’s full- band return, and was issued by Sanctuary Records. The album's opening track, “Livin’ Proof [Miracles Can Happen]”, was written for the Go-Gos reunion which had recently taken place, but was declined by that band. McNabb's version was pressed as a promo single, and showed his assured virtuosity as a composer of Pop-Rock singles. The Go-Gos are an all-women band. ...

The rest of the album drew heavily on the rock canon, and included nods to Status Quo, AC/DC and of course McNabb’s idol Neil Young. All of McNabb’s favourite topics were explored: what he calls the ‘go get ‘em’ song (“Livin’ Proof”), his Liverpudlian roots (the droll “Liverpool Girl”), fake celebrities (“Hollywood Tears”), and the West Coast of America which inspires so much of his work both musically and thematically (“[I Wish I Was In] California”). 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. This article is about the English rock band. ... This article is about about the band. ... Neil Percival Young[1] OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film director from Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... This article is about the city in England. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ...

On a creative roll, 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’t 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. Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... Illustration by Arthur Rackham of the ballad The Twa Corbies A ballad is a story, usually a narrative or poem, in a song. ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ...

Another “bits and pieces” collection, Boots followed in 2003, the title being both McNabb’s nickname (after his penchant for wearing Beatles-style boots in the mid-80s while with The Icicle Works), and a reference to the ‘official bootleg’ nature of the release. The double disc set includes some very hard to find items, demos, and alternative versions. The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as part of their first tour of the United States, promoting their first hit single there, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ...

2004 saw McNabb issuing a second 'Best Of' album, Potency. This covered his whole solo oeuvre, showcasing his eclectic musical taste and output.

Current work

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. Jeremy Vine (born May 17, 1965, Epsom, Surrey) is an English current affairs presenter on BBC radio and television. ... Janice Long (born April 5, 1955) is a Liverpudlian radio broadcaster in the UK, the sister of TV personality Keith Chegwin. ... BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBCs national radio stations and is the most popular station in the UK. It broadcasts throughout the UK on FM radio between 88 and 91 MHz from its studios in Western House, adjacent to Broadcasting House in central London. ...

Later in 2005, McNabb released People Don't Stop Believin', an album of b-sides and outtakes from Before All of This.

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. June 2007 saw a return to Liverpool with two consecutive performances at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the first of which featured support act Kevin Critchley (himself a long-time fan of McNabb) and his cellist/pianist/regular sidekick Luke Moore. Named after a novel, The Icicle Works joined Liverpools early 1980s neo-psychedelia wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom. ...

Singles

“British Hit Singles” redirects here. ... See also: 1991 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels established in 1991 // 1991 was the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. ... See also: 1991 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels established in 1991 // 1991 was the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. ... See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... See also: 1994 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1994 Record labels established in 1994 // January 29 - The Supremes Mary Wilson is injured when her jeep hits a freeway median and flips over just outside of Los Angeles, California. ... See also: 1994 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1994 Record labels established in 1994 // January 29 - The Supremes Mary Wilson is injured when her jeep hits a freeway median and flips over just outside of Los Angeles, California. ... See also: 1996 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1996 Record labels established in 1996 // January 8 - Madonnas stalker, Robert Hoskins is found guilty and convicted on five charges of assault, stalking, and threatening to kill the singer. ... See also: 1996 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1996 Record labels established in 1996 // January 8 - Madonnas stalker, Robert Hoskins is found guilty and convicted on five charges of assault, stalking, and threatening to kill the singer. ... See also: 1999 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1999 Record labels established in 1999 // January 7 After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation. ... See also: 2001 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2001 Record labels established in 2001 // January 1 Comeback of Guns N Roses in House of Blues Hum disbands. ... See also: 2005 in heavy metal music 2005 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2005 Record labels established in 2005 Albums released in 2005 January 1 - In most of Europe, copyright expired on a number of classic pop and rock-and-roll songs recorded in 1954 and earlier, including...

Original albums

See also: 1993 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1993 Record labels established in 1993 // Date Unknown- Christian Rock label Tooth and Nail Records is formed. ... See also: 1994 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1994 Record labels established in 1994 // January 29 - The Supremes Mary Wilson is injured when her jeep hits a freeway median and flips over just outside of Los Angeles, California. ... See also: 1996 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1996 Record labels established in 1996 // January 8 - Madonnas stalker, Robert Hoskins is found guilty and convicted on five charges of assault, stalking, and threatening to kill the singer. ... Merseybeast is the title of Ian McNabbs third solo album after disbanding The Icicle Works. ... See also: 1998 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1998 Record labels established in 1998 // 1998 - The single Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls sets a new hot 100 airplay record, 18 weeks at number one. ... See also: 2000 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2000 Record labels established in 2000 // John Tavener is knighted in the New Years Honours List. ... See also: 2001 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2001 Record labels established in 2001 // January 1 Comeback of Guns N Roses in House of Blues Hum disbands. ... See also: 2002 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2002 Record labels established in 2002 // 2002 was marked by significant trends in rock music. ... See also: 2005 in heavy metal music 2005 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2005 Record labels established in 2005 Albums released in 2005 January 1 - In most of Europe, copyright expired on a number of classic pop and rock-and-roll songs recorded in 1954 and earlier, including...

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")

Sources

• "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.

Named after a novel, The Icicle Works joined Liverpools early 1980s neo-psychedelia wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom. ...

External links

• Official Ian McNabb website
• Ian McNabb on BBC Radio 2's Sold on Song
• Ian McNabb and The Icicle Works Guitar Tab and Chord website