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There are the leaders and the led. There are legends
and bygones. Some stand and take their fellows forward.
They are respected and revered, have the quality and
the conscience and above all they must be loved. One
such man is willing to lead any new principality of
Liverpool. That man is Ian McCulloch, the leader of
the Bunnymen, a true British musical legend. He is bringing
a God sent power to steady a new regime and to lift
your souls.
Echo and the Bunnymen are one of the greatest
bands of the post-punk era, greater still as they still
survive today. They split at the end of the eighties;
they lost friend and drummer Pete De Freitas and suffered
‘average’ solo letdowns. But since a return in 1997
with the acclaimed Evergreen album, they have
stuck defiantly around and subsequent albums have seen
the band forge a rightful place in today’s musical landscape.
 In
that time away from the band in the early nineties Ian
had, what even he accepts was, a less than successful
solo career. What’s changed this time around is a return
to typical Mac; the swagger and confidence that sees
him describe the Bunnymen as “one of the greatest bands
of all time” now plays through this new project. “It’s
the first record I’ve made solo-wise where I am happy
with the reasons why I’m doing it and with the way that
it turned out,” he says. This break from the band let
him take control of some personal sketches. “After Flowers,
which got good praise and sales, I was ready to be a
whole, less a ½, ¼, 1/5 or whatever of a project,” he
explained. “There was no need for the super-mellow-man
vibe”, something that Ian and Will Sergeant speak of
often in the Bunnymen, “on this album, I wanted to really
enjoy this in my own way”.
“I am believable, always have been mate” he says of
his song writing, “it’s proven. I have put my name to
some of the best songs ever, and I include these in
that.” Ian’s reasoning as to why he does what he does
so well reflects that believability, “I feel blessed,
(it’s) written in the stars that I could do this, so
you have to do it in the right place. I could have been
a bloody oil baron or something, still writing great
tunes. I’d have been a wicked oil baron but I’m an even
better songwriter in my world now. S’all part of that
journey into whatever that everyone is on. You have
to know when you are in the right place at the right
time. It’s the right time for this record.”
Slideling is Ian’s first solo album since Mysterio
nearly eleven years ago and it has inspirations from
across McCulloch’s life, loves and, yes even at 40 plus,
his hopes. Influences such as the Velvet Underground,
“now they are the greatest band of all time, I love
the Velvets” I am instructed, or his beloved home of
Liverpool all play a part in taking you into this record.
The beautiful poetry of his lyrics really stands out
on a track like Playgrounds and City Parks, its
childhood optimism is so infectious. The first single
to be taken from the album is (confusingly) Sliding.
It features some guest musicians that Ian has been ‘helping’
of late. Chris and Jonny of Coldplay learn from
the master, later appearing on another track. “You should
watch out for them” I am recommended, “Chris had little
to do but he did those La,La,La’s pretty good.”
The magnanimous man’s tutelage of Coldplay has extended
into taking them on ‘his’ tour too. The gigs I’m told
are planned so you can enjoy Ian’s set before hanging
around a bit to catch Coldplay, “a good way for them
to get some attention”. He may jest but these shows
will be great for fans of Ian too. Most won’t have tickets
for Coldplay but Ian will really thrive in the
large arenas, so that come the solo tour proper something
special is in store. A recent Mac show stealing turn
at the One Big No anti-war protest in London, in March,
is further testament to his charisma and power live.
“I loved that show, so did they (the crowd). Don’t reckon
they expected it, but they loved it” he said, “some
guy on a piano helped us out on a few tracks”, he’s
on about Chris Martin again, “still, playing Walk On
The Wildside is a blast anytime!”
Expect “a proper fucking rock’n’roll show” when Ian
takes Slideling on tour. Bunnymen gems such as
Stars Are Stars, What You Going To Do and Satellite
are “more than likely, ones that don’t have Will all
over them” he joked. “Seriously though a song like Baby
Rain can just sound better on it’s own a bit. And
there’ll be some covers too, ...Wild Side, maybe
Waiting For The Man. And of course lots of my
solo stuff too.” I asked about his recent spate of superb
covers; Waiting For The Man for BBC3’s Re:
Covered series (to be shown in April) plus Lennon
and Bowie tracks on the Uncut magazine CDs. “It’s
that believable thing again. John, Dave, Lou Reed, they
are all legends, believable stars who wrote great tracks
and who you could believe in.” There’s more praise for
newer acts like The Coral (“true cosmic rock”),
Richard Hawley and, yes, Coldplay too.
There’s no fear that all the confidence with which he
has enthused about Slideling and his solo tour
is going to mean another extended hiatus for Echo and
the Bunnymen. “After I have done what I need to do”,
which includes US and Far East solo gigs, “we’ll be
at the festivals. Warming up for a big fuck-off tour
and party for the birthday.” Twenty-five years old,
still "the greatest band of all time”, I wondered what
could be expected in the way of a celebration, and Ian
got his priorities straight right away. “The tour’s
the big thing. Warner’s (the band’s early record label)
are going to fiddle with the first few records, add
those videos you never saw and remaster them, but it’s
the tour first. Mid-November we are having a hometown
show and that will be awesome.” He jokingly hinted that
playing at home will mean an earlier night in his own
bed but that’s just more Mac wit. You know wherever
it is and whenever it is an Echo and the Bunnymen party
led by Ian McCulloch is one to get an invite too. All
rise for the Prince Regent of the City Of Liverpool.
Sir Mac is back and he’s loving it…mate.
Relevant sites:
http://www.ianmcculloch.com/
SID for Crud Magazine© 2003
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