Ian McNabb

Robert Ian McNabb (born 3 November 1962) 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 earl

Robert Ian McNabb (born 3 November 1962) 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.

Following the split of the Icicle Works, McNabb retreated for a couple of years. He first 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 and self-released, the record is filled with guitar-pop gems, the lightness of the sound admittedly forced on McNabb by being unable to afford to pay a drummer; the drum machine sounds are unobtrusive, though. As usual, McNabb's work was critically acclaimed, enough to win him a record deal with Andrew Lauder's new 'This Way Up' Label. The typically McNabb song "(I Go) My Own Way" was re-recorded with Stone Roses producer John Leckie at the helm, but failed to significantly impact on the UK charts. "Great Dreams of Heaven" was also released as a single and is a favourite McNabb composition of many, possibly being hindered in terms of gaining airplay by its strong references such as to 'babies being born H.I.V.'