Guardian interview with Ian

[Kounelaki]

'I'm just a frustrated black soul singer in a white man's underpants'

http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2236950,00.html

[Mr. Brian]

For some reason I find it interesting that his fav movie is Midnight Run with DeNiro and Grodin. I like that movie but it is a bit fluffy at times. Now Chicken Run on the other hand...

[moondance]

Ian is a laugh riot. I think I remember that movie but it made no impression on me.
I think he likes gangster or mob movies too. We all know he likes Murder She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder and goofy stuff like that, but his answers are always funny.

[JackT]

We all know he likes Murder She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder and goofy stuff like that, but his answers are always funny.

What about Matlock? I had no idea he had the television viewing habits of a 75 year old.

[Mr. Brian]

What about Matlock? I had no idea he had the television viewing habits of a 75 year old.

I think Mac does the voice of Grandpa Simpson too. I read that somewhere., maybe Wikipedia?

[blinkilite]

i wonder if mac wears an onion on his belt... apparently he IS fashion.

[Fish Hook Girl]

What about Matlock?

Don't forget Barnaby Jones and Mannix.

[kook]

Don't forget Barnaby Jones and Mannix.

Don't knock Mannix!

[JackT]

I think Mac does the voice of Grandpa Simpson too.

He calls that "singing."

OH NO I DIDN'T!!!!!!

[Frank The Bunny]

He calls that "singing."

OH NO I DIDN'T!!!!!!

Interesting that a man who's done everything he could to destroy his voice and vocal range through decades of abuse now refers to his previous (good) voice as "cringe-worthy and over the top"

Sometimes you have to convince yourself of the lie, I suppose.

He calls his old voice cringe-worthy? Anybody who's heard him attempt the high sustained notes in Ocean Rain over the past several years knows what cringe-worthy is... and it ain't his old voice.

[guitarplayer on here too]

I hope some of those answers were Mac's humour shining through.

Are you fashionable?
I am fashion.

What advice would you give a young singer who is starting out?
Never be afraid to find your voice. I listen to old Bunnymen records now and think I sound cringe-worthy and over the top....

I listen to old Bunnymen records now and think Mac's vocals were fucking amazing.

[JackT]

I listen to old Bunnymen records now and think Mac's vocals were fucking amazing.

Absolutely.

One of my favorite passages:

"Oh where are ya now, I'm ovah he-uuuuuuh

We got those empty pockets and we can't afford the be-uuuuh"

Listening to it right now, in fact.

[Red]

Absolutely.

One of my favorite passages:

"Oh where are ya now, I'm ovah he-uuuuuuh

We got those empty pockets and we can't afford the be-uuuuh"

Listening to it right now, in fact.

i love that part too, Jack! most people don't like that song, but i think it's just brilliant!!!! and the vocals can't get much better than on that track!

[Fish Hook Girl]

Anybody who's heard him attempt the high sustained notes in Ocean Rain over the past several years knows what cringe-worthy is... and it ain't his old voice.

Check out the Weeping Willows with Ian McCulloch video on YouTube doing The Killing Moon. He's hitting some high notes (and sustaining the effort) to the point I'm afraid he's going to give himself a hernia. Maybe he has taken actions to "rescue" the voice.

[JackT]

i love that part too, Jack! most people don't like that song, but i think it's just brilliant!!!! and the vocals can't get much better than on that track!

I think it is the quintessential Bunnymen track.