THE ICICLE WORKS

Random and bite-sized facts on all things on the mythical band The Icicle Works. Totally random but totally fascinating if you're into it. Do you know The Icicle Works now?

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THE BAND'S NAME CAME FROM A SCIENCE-FICTION STORY

The Icicle Works took their name from Frederik Pohl's short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed". Published in 1960, the story supplied an unusual name for a Liverpool band whose music would combine post-punk energy with expansive, melodic arrangements. Bassist Chris Layhe later confirmed the story's origin in an interview.

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THE BAND WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED THE BUREAU

Before Ian McNabb settled on The Icicle Works, the group had used the name The Bureau. Layhe recalled the earlier name when discussing the band's formation, before McNabb found the phrase in Pohl's science-fiction writing and adopted it for the group.

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CHRIS LAYHE ANSWERED AN ADVERTISEMENT

The band's original partnership began when bassist Chris Layhe responded to an advertisement placed by McNabb, who was looking for a musical collaborator. The two started writing and rehearsing together before drummer Chris Sharrock joined them, forming the core trio that made the early records.

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THE FIRST SONGS WERE RECORDED ON AN OLD REEL-TO-REEL MACHINE

Layhe remembered spending time with McNabb in his bedroom, playing songs and recording them on an old reel-to-reel tape machine. These early recordings helped lead to the cassette release Ascending, an extremely modest beginning for a band that would soon be signed by Beggars Banquet.

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"ASCENDING" WAS SOLD THROUGH LIVERPOOL'S PROBE RECORDS

The six-track Ascending cassette appeared in 1981 and was distributed through Probe Records in Liverpool as well as at the band's own gigs. It included early songs such as "Are We Dreamers", "A Cure for Something" and "Lunar Holiday", offering a glimpse of McNabb's songwriting before the group's major-label-era sound developed.

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DIFFERENT COPIES OF "ASCENDING" CONTAIN DIFFERENT TRACKS

Collectors have documented copies of Ascending with "Sympathy" and others featuring "Artificial World" in the same position. The variation is one of the small mysteries of the band's early discography, and makes the cassette more interesting to collectors than its limited original circulation might suggest.

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THE EARLY CASSETTE EVEN CIRCULATED WITH A LOCAL MUSIC MAGAZINE

Accounts from collectors suggest that some copies of Ascending were distributed with the Liverpool music magazine Merseysound. Reports also describe copies containing an interview track. These variations are documented by specialist discography collectors, although the precise number of copies circulated remains uncertain.

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"NIRVANA" WAS AN INDEPENDENT SINGLE BEFORE THE HIT YEARS

The Icicle Works released "Nirvana" independently in 1982, before signing to Beggars Banquet. The single attracted attention on the independent chart and helped bring the group to the attention of Situation Two, the Beggars Banquet subsidiary that released their next records.

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THE BAND'S FIRST SINGLE WAS NOT "BIRDS FLY"

Although "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" became their international calling card, the earlier independent single "Nirvana" was already circulating in 1982. The distinction matters because the band's history began on the independent scene before its records reached a much larger audience.

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"BIRDS FLY" AND "WHISPER TO A SCREAM" ARE THE SAME SONG

The song was originally released in Britain as "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)". For the American market, the title was reversed to "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)". The American release also used a different mix, making the two versions a useful comparison for listeners interested in how records were adapted for different markets.

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THE AMERICAN MIX OMITTED THE SPOKEN INTRODUCTION

The American version of "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" differs from the original British recording, including the omission of its female spoken introduction. The change helped make the US release distinct from the British single that had first appeared on Situation Two in 1983.

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HUGH JONES PRODUCED "BIRDS FLY"

Producer Hugh Jones worked on "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)", helping shape the sound that brought The Icicle Works to a wider audience. Jones had extensive experience with Liverpool bands and was closely associated with the region's alternative music scene during the 1980s.

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"LOVE IS A WONDERFUL COLOUR" WAS PRODUCED BY DAVID LORD

The band's biggest British hit had a different production history from "Birds Fly". David Lord produced "Love Is a Wonderful Colour", while Hugh Jones was involved in mixing it. The distinction is an interesting detail in the making of the group's early singles, which helped establish their reputation for combining melodic pop with a powerful sound.

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THE HIT SINGLE REACHED NUMBER 15 IN BRITAIN

"Love Is a Wonderful Colour" became the band's biggest UK hit, reaching number 15 in late 1983. Its success helped build anticipation for the self-titled debut album, released the following year, and made the group one of the more distinctive Liverpool acts of the period.

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THE DEBUT ALBUM HAD DIFFERENT UK AND US CONFIGURATIONS

The band's 1984 self-titled debut did not appear in exactly the same form in every territory. The American edition used the retitled and remixed "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)", omitted "Reaping the Rich Harvest" and included "Waterline". Canadian track listings differed again, making the original editions of the album worth comparing.

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THE DEBUT ALBUM REACHED THE TOP 25 IN BRITAIN

The self-titled album reached number 24 on the UK Albums Chart in 1984. It also entered the American album chart, where it reached number 40. The band's success in both countries was unusual for a group whose origins lay in the Liverpool independent scene.

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THE BAND'S AMERICAN HIT WAS BIGGER THAN ITS UK CHART POSITION SUGGESTED

"Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" reached number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving The Icicle Works a significant American hit. The song's American profile helped the self-titled album find a wider audience, even though the band's commercial momentum there would prove difficult to sustain.

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AMERICAN SUCCESS DID NOT TRANSLATE INTO A LONG RUN OF HITS

In a 2020 interview, McNabb recalled that the band had done very well in America for a short period during the mid-1980s. He argued that the record company's decision not to release the UK hit "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" as expected damaged their momentum. Without consistent major-label backing, the group struggled to build on its initial American success.

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THE SECOND ALBUM WAS A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION IN AMERICA

McNabb said the American record company rejected The Small Price of a Bicycle because it did not sound like the record they wanted the band to make. He was particularly frustrated because the album contained material he believed could have built on the band's British success. The decision became a turning point in their American prospects.

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"THE SMALL PRICE OF A BICYCLE" FOLLOWED IN 1985

The band's second album arrived in 1985, following the international attention generated by the debut. It retained McNabb's melodic songwriting while exploring a wider range of arrangements. The album is also notable for the way its release history differed between Britain and the United States.

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"HOLLOW HORSE" FAILED TO MATCH THE FIRST HIT

Released in 1984, "Hollow Horse" was expected to build on the success of "Love Is a Wonderful Colour", but it did not become another major hit. It later remained an important part of the band's live repertoire, illustrating how a song's lasting place among fans can differ from its initial chart performance.

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"ALL THE DAUGHTERS (OF HER FATHER'S HOUSE)" TOOK A MOTOWN-INFLUENCED TURN

The 1985 single "All the Daughters (Of Her Father's House)" was described in contemporary and retrospective accounts as having a Motown flavour. It demonstrated that The Icicle Works were willing to move beyond the sound of their best-known early records, even when a stylistic change did not translate into a major chart success.

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"SEVEN HORSES" EXPLORED A FOLK-ROCK DIRECTION

"Seven Horses", released in 1985, drew on folk-rock influences rather than simply repeating the driving new-wave approach of the early singles. The track is one example of McNabb's willingness to explore different musical settings while retaining a strong emphasis on melody.

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CHRIS TURRILL JOINED THE LIVE LINE-UP

Keyboardist Chris "Tugsie" Turrill became part of the band's live set-up during the period around the second album. His presence helped expand the arrangements on stage as The Icicle Works developed beyond the original guitar, bass and drums configuration.

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DAVE GREEN LATER REPLACED TURRILL ON STAGE

Keyboardist Dave Green joined the live line-up in 1986 and also contributed to the band's recordings. His arrival coincided with a period in which The Icicle Works were broadening their arrangements and moving towards the more varied sound heard on their later albums.

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"UNDERSTANDING JANE" BECAME ANOTHER UK CHART SINGLE

"Understanding Jane" was released in 1986 and became one of the band's recognisable singles. It later appeared on If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy, Sing His Song, an album that marked another stage in McNabb's exploration of pop, rock and more expansive arrangements.

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"SEVEN SINGLES DEEP" COLLECTED THE BAND'S EARLY SINGLE WORK

The compilation Seven Singles Deep appeared in 1986, bringing together material from the band's run of early releases. For listeners who had followed the group from its independent beginnings, the collection provided a way to revisit the singles that preceded and accompanied the albums.

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THE TITLE OF "IF YOU WANT TO DEFEAT YOUR ENEMY, SING HIS SONG" SOUNDS LIKE A PROVERB

The band's 1987 album carried the unusually long title If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy, Sing His Song. The phrase gave the record an identity distinct from the concise titles of the group's earlier releases and reflected the band's willingness to embrace a more ambitious presentation.

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"EVANGELINE" BECAME ONE OF THE BAND'S LATER SINGLES

"Evangeline" was released during the group's later-1980s period and became one of the songs that continued to feature in live performances. It demonstrated McNabb's ability to write a memorable, direct chorus even as the band's studio albums were becoming more stylistically diverse.

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"BLIND" PUSHED THE BAND TOWARDS A DIFFERENT SOUND

The 1988 album Blind brought together rock, soul, funk and blues influences. AllMusic describes the record as an ambitious mixture of styles, showing how far the band's sound had travelled from the tightly wound new-wave energy of "Birds Fly". The album also preceded major changes in the group's line-up.

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CHRIS SHARROCK LEFT TO JOIN THE LIGHTNING SEEDS

After the recording of Blind, drummer Chris Sharrock left The Icicle Works and went on to join the Lightning Seeds. He later built a substantial career as a touring and session drummer, including work with Robbie Williams and Oasis-related

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CHRIS LAYHE ALSO LEFT AFTER "BLIND"

Bassist and founding member Chris Layhe departed around the same period as Sharrock. Their exits meant that the original trio that had recorded the early successes no longer existed as a unit, leaving McNabb to continue the band's name with a changing line-up.

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ZAK STARKEY JOINED THE LATER LINE-UP

After Sharrock's departure, drummer Zak Starkey joined the band. Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, became part of the changing personnel around McNabb as The Icicle Works continued beyond the original trio's final album together.

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THE BAND CONTINUED AFTER THE ORIGINAL TRIO SPLIT

McNabb carried The Icicle Works forward with new musicians after Layhe and Sharrock left. This later incarnation was not simply a reunion of the original group; it represented a new phase under McNabb's leadership, with different personnel and a shifting musical identity.

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"PERMANENT DAMAGE" WAS RECORDED WITH A DIFFERENT LINE-UP

The 1990 album Permanent Damage was made with a line-up that included bassist Roy Corkhill, keyboardist Dave Baldwin, drummer Paul Burgess and Mark Revell. By this point, the original trio had dissolved, and the album represented McNabb's final studio release under the band's name during that era.

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THE BAND'S FIRST ERA ENDED AROUND 1991

Following Permanent Damage, The Icicle Works came to an end as an active recording group. McNabb then pursued a solo career, releasing Truth and Beauty in 1993 and continuing to write and perform outside the band name for many years.

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McNABB SAID LIVERPOOL'S BEATLES LEGACY WAS A BURDEN FOR YOUNG SONGWRITERS

In a 2020 interview, McNabb recalled that young Liverpool musicians who wanted to write original songs were often asked what they could do after The Beatles. He said punk and new wave helped break that expectation, making room for groups such as Echo & the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, OMD and The Icicle Works to draw on different influences.

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T. REX WAS A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON McNABB

McNabb has spoken about Marc Bolan and T. Rex as important influences. The band's bright melodic sensibility and McNabb's guitar playing drew on a broad range of 1970s rock, helping The Icicle Works avoid sounding like a straightforward continuation of the Merseybeat tradition.

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McNABB WAS TOO YOUNG FOR LIVERPOOL'S ERIC'S CLUB HEYDAY

In a later interview, McNabb explained that he missed the celebrated Eric's club era because he was younger than some of the musicians who became associated with it. Although he followed the records and knew what was happening, he arrived too late to experience the venue's most famous period first-hand.

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THE BAND DID NOT WANT TO CHASE A HIT AT ANY COST

In a contemporary 1984 interview, McNabb and Layhe pushed back against the idea that a Liverpool group had to trade on the city's musical reputation. Layhe explained that they preferred to release music they believed in rather than make a token disco record simply to achieve a hit. Their early independent releases reflected that attitude.

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"BIRDS FLY" WAS SOMETIMES MISREAD AS A RELIGIOUS SONG

A contemporary band interview recalled an American listener who interpreted "Birds Fly" as a religious song and repeatedly phoned McNabb asking him to come to church. The anecdote captures how listeners can attach meanings to a song that its writer may never have intended, especially when the lyrics are open to interpretation.

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"HOLLOW HORSE" WAS WRITTEN DURING AN AMERICAN TRIP

In a contemporary interview, the band recalled that "Hollow Horse" was the only song they had written while in America at that point. The comment is a small but revealing detail about the band's touring life: despite their American success, their songwriting generally took place back home rather than on the road.

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THE BAND PLAYED SUPPORT DATES WITH DAVID GILMOUR AND THE PRETENDERS

During their American period, The Icicle Works played both headline shows and support dates for established artists including David Gilmour and the Pretenders. These appearances placed the Liverpool group in front of audiences beyond the alternative-rock circuit that had first embraced them.

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McNABB LATER REVIVED THE BAND NAME FOR LIVE SHOWS

After a long period as a solo artist, McNabb revived The Icicle Works name for concerts beginning in 2006. These shows introduced the group's songs to another generation of listeners, although the early revived line-up did not include the original members Layhe and Sharrock.

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CHRIS LAYHE SPOKE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL BAND YEARS AFTER THE SPLIT

In a 2011 interview, Layhe reflected on the group's formation, the early cassette recordings and the experience of making the debut album. His account offers a perspective from a founding member other than McNabb, adding detail to the story of how the original trio developed from informal home recordings into a touring band.

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THE EARLY CASSETTE REMAINS A COLLECTOR'S ITEM

Because Ascending was distributed locally and in limited quantities, original copies are scarce. Specialist collectors have tracked down different cassette versions, alternative track listings and related releases. The tape provides a rare glimpse of The Icicle Works before their commercial breakthrough and remains an important artefact of their beginnings.

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THE BAND'S HISTORY IS MORE THAN ITS TWO BEST-KNOWN SINGLES

Although "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)" and "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" remain the group's best-known songs, The Icicle Works released a substantial run of albums and singles throughout the 1980s. From the early independent material to the stylistic shifts of Blind, their catalogue reveals a band that kept changing rather than simply repeating its first success.

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