F.A.O. Anyone who gives a shit. Mac on Radio 2.

[Crystal Days]

He came across quite chipper and funny.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/tzn56/

Go to 1:13:00

[Voodoo Billy]

Thanks CD, really enjoyed that. If we get the knock knock joke in the style of Robert Mugabe at the Anglican Cathedral, that alone would be worth the ticket price.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Music: "Still a weirdo, Still a weirdo, after all these years, after all these years" fades out.

Radcliffe: KT Tunstall's great single "Still A Weirdo" there. Oh yeah that reminds me, lets welcome Mac to the studio.

He didn't say that really - only in my mind.

[black francis]

You guys still listen to the Bunnymen?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Yes. I think I'd rather listen to them than take your advice and listen to Bronski Beat instead.

[withahip]

*doors swings open*

Did someone say Bronski Beat?!?!?

[black francis]

That was a Bronski Beat tribute band I was recommending.

[withahip]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em9PtzQzWOg[/youtube]

[crystal89]

I thought it was a good interview.
particularly liked the bit where he said
that the Sarge had told him , that he
was gonna sing like he did on the record.

Mac then said "And You'd better play guitar like you played on record."

Bit of a problem here.

1. Sgt Fuzz I have no doubt can play the songs still
2. Mac cannot even get through NLF let alone Over The Wall, so how
on earth will he be able to do A Promise?

Solution, rather than turn the drum machine on for Over The Wall.
At the start Will presses the button and turns on Mac's voice from 1980/81
on. Mac mimes, and then declares at the end "best band of all time" and
"any questions?"

Audience in baffled astonishment applauds middle aged man with youthful crooning
baritone, and for a joke Mac sings All I Want in Karaoke tom waits style, leading
on to racuous laughter. etc etc etc

[Dave Smith]

Havnt had chnace to listen yet.Erm....re singing...seems La Sarge is well aware of croaky low octave voice Mac these days......this tour could be the end as no way will Mac sing high again.His old trick was to go up on the chorus.........whats HUH going to sound like????

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Well, we have heard over recent years Show of Strength, Over the Wall, The Disease and With A Hip. So we know exactly what they will sound like. A Promise also at Glasgow, which required someone else on stage to sing the high bits when actually I think Mac could have given it a go himself. Heaven Up Here might be problematic.

I kind of have the same feeling about HUH as I had in part to Ocean Rain, how he would tackle some of the tracks. At the venue, it sounded fine but listening to the tracks like Thorn of Crowns now on Youtube, I cringe everytime I see it. But to be perfectly honest, while no way as bad, I do cringe listening to some of the 80s live performances where Mac is singing out of tune.

[Dr Evil]

Most of No Dark Things is about the chiming bass/lead guitar duel, though there could be a problem at the end. It might be worth going to a show just for this. Perhaps they could borrow Thom Yorke and/or Richard Ashcroft-preferably both- to cover Mac's youthful range. Though Freddie Mercury could have done it on his own-probably the only person in history with Mac's range, though not quite the same intellectual depth.
When I talk about intellectual depth, I'm referring to young Mac and his God-Like songwriting, not the trite bollox he comes out with now.

[withahip]

Seeing as it would be nice for the song to be in key, let's pass on Yorke.

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Seeing as it would be nice for the song to be in key, let's pass on Yorke.

I wouldn't have even let the young Mac unleashed on No Dark Things live, as demonstrated below. Fantastic instrument dynamics but some of the vocals aren't exactly in key. Not his fault really as I guess it was impossible to hear yourself singing over the instruments back then, whereas now he can use one of those in-ear thingies. Of course, many will say that this was the greatness of the Bunnymen in their heyday and will say it's a brilliant performance compared to now. True, but I much prefer the recorded version in this case. As for now, for the Crocs and HUH gigs, I think the consensus on here is that Mac should play guitar on stage as well, but I bet he won't.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt1aJuwAprU[/youtube]

[black francis]

I will take an out of tune, guitar bashing Mac over the current incarnation any day.