In this episode, we’re joined by Ian McNabb, songwriter, solo artist, and frontman of Liverpool legends The Icicle Works, for a wide-ranging conversation covering his life in music, from growing up in Liverpool to decades of songwriting, touring and recording.

Ian takes us back to his earliest memories of music and discovering records through Liverpool’s shops and venues, reflecting on the city that shaped him creatively and personally. We talk about the early days of The Icicle Works, the Liverpool scene in the 1980s, rehearsing, local venues, and the feeling that something genuinely exciting was happening around them.

We dive into the making of the first Icicle Works album, the evolution across the follow-up records, and the pressures and freedoms that came with success. 

Beyond The Icicle Works, we explore Ian’s prolific solo career, including his Mercury Prize-nominated album Head Like a Rock, working with members of Crazy Horse, and the creative differences between making records alone and being part of a band. We also talk about The Wild Swans, Fairfield Records, the Merseybeast project, and how his recording process has changed over the years.

Elsewhere in the episode, Ian discusses Fleetwood McNabb, revisiting classic songs in new ways, the discipline of songwriting, and what continues to drive him creatively after releasing more than two dozen solo albums. We also touch on new audiences discovering his music through TV shows like Stranger Things and what it’s like to see younger listeners connect with songs decades later.

A huge thank you to Ian McNabb for his warmth, humour and generosity with his stories and time.

The Dead Air Records podcast is hosted by Marc and Jess. Filmed and edited by Second Best Studios. New episodes every Thursday at 5pm. 

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple. 

Check out our Season 1 and Season 2 playlists on Spotify to listen to any of the music mentioned in the podcast. 

Contact: [email protected]

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