Ian McCulloch (singer)
Encyclopedia
Ian Stephen McCulloch (born 5 May 1959) is an English singer, born in Liverpool
, and is best known as the frontman for the rock group Echo & the Bunnymen
.
, one of many local bands that sprung up amongst the regulars who patronised a Liverpool club called Eric's
in the late seventies. The other two members were Julian Cope
, later of The Teardrop Explodes
, and Pete Wylie
who went on to form Wah!
In 1978 McCulloch founded Echo & the Bunnymen
with Will Sergeant
(guitar), Les Pattinson
(bass), and a drum machine
(allegedly named Echo), making their live debut at Eric's later that year. In 1979 the Bunnymen exchanged the drum machine for Pete de Freitas
on drums. With their line up solidified, the Bunnymen enjoyed critical acclaim in the late seventies and early eighties culminating with the release of Ocean Rain
in 1984. In the late 1980s, McCulloch left to pursue a solo career under the impression the Bunnymen would be laid to rest if only temporarily. When the remaining Bunnymen continued using the name with new singer Noel Burke
, the split became permanent with McCulloch referring to the band as "Echo & the Bogusmen".
In 1990 McCulloch achieved modest chart success with the album Candleland
which reflected a more mature outlook on the world, owing to the recent deaths of McCulloch's father and Pete de Freitas
. It yielded two Modern Rock Tracks
singles, "Proud To Fall" (#1 for 4 weeks) and "Faith and Healing". The album Mysterio
was released in 1992 as the public's interest in the former Bunnyman was waning. Shortly after, McCulloch left the public eye to devote more time to his family.
In 1993 McCulloch partnered with Johnny Marr
of The Smiths
, writing an album's worth of material and generating public excitement over the collaboration of two highly regarded artists. McCulloch has credited Marr with helping him regain his lost confidence and rejuvenating his desire to create music. When it was suggested that Will Sergeant
be brought in to work on the songs, the tapes were allegedly stolen from a courier van preventing Sergeant from offering any input.
The rekindling of the relationship between McCulloch and Sergeant led to the formation of Electrafixion
in 1994 which was notable for the band's rock oriented approach and McCulloch's new found vocal ferocity. The band received glowing live reviews and released the album Burned
to very positive press but little chart success. The band soon found themselves performing set lists composed of half Electrafixion
songs and half Echo & the Bunnymen
songs. In 1997 Echo & the Bunnymen
reformed and released the album Evergreen to positive reviews and chart success. The reformed Bunnymen have since released four further albums to generally favourable reviews, the most recent being The Fountain
which was released in late 2009.
McCulloch has cited Lou Reed
, Iggy Pop
, The Doors
, Leonard Cohen
and – in particular – David Bowie
as influences for his work.
At the height of the Bunnymen's popularity, McCulloch earned the nickname "Mac the Mouth" due to a penchant for witty, blunt criticism of artists he deemed inferior, while proclaiming the Bunnymen's superiority. Targets of his observations included Bono
of U2
, Julian Cope
, Paul Weller, and Nick Cave
.
In 1998, McCulloch teamed up with the Spice Girls
, Tommy Scott of Space, and Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene
as "England United" to record "Top of the World", the official song for Team England
in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
, although it fared less well than a reissue of "Three Lions". He enjoyed more success working as a sort of 'associate producer' with Coldplay
. McCulloch has been a lifetime supporter of the Liverpool Football Club. In 2006 he took part in recording the team's anthem with the Bootroom Allstars – a remake of the Johnny Cash
song, "Ring of Fire
".
In 2003 McCulloch released his third solo album Slideling
which received the best reviews of his solo career and saw a solo tour in support of the album.
In 2010 McCulloch was featured on the song "Some Kind of Nothingness" by the Manic Street Preachers
from their tenth album Postcards from a Young Man
. He has joined the band in their current tour.
McCulloch was raised in the Norris Green
area of Liverpool. The road on which he originally lived, Parthenon Drive, is the title of a song contained in the 2005 Echo & the Bunnymen album, Siberia
. He was educated at Alsop High School
.
McCulloch featured in a YouTube video appeal in October 2010 which was campaigning for Tom Hicks
and George Gillett to be removed from Liverpool Football Club
.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and is best known as the frontman for the rock group Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
.
Career
McCulloch was a singer-songwriter with the Crucial ThreeCrucial Three
The Crucial Three were a short-lived band that existed for approximately six weeks in early 1977. They nevertheless achieved notoriety on account of the individual success of all three founding members: Julian Cope formed The Teardrop Explodes and has enjoyed a long and successful solo career as...
, one of many local bands that sprung up amongst the regulars who patronised a Liverpool club called Eric's
Eric's Club
Eric's Club was a music club in Liverpool, England. It opened on October 1, 1976 in a building basement on Mathew Street opposite The Cavern Club where The Beatles and other bands of the 1960s played, and became notable for hosting early performances by many punk and post-punk bands.The club was...
in the late seventies. The other two members were Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
, later of The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
, and Pete Wylie
Pete Wylie
-Studio albums:- Extended Plays :-Singles:-External links:***...
who went on to form Wah!
In 1978 McCulloch founded Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
with Will Sergeant
Will Sergeant
Will Sergeant is an English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in the centre of Liverpool, he grew up in the suburb of Melling and attended nearby Deyes High School...
(guitar), Les Pattinson
Les Pattinson
Les Pattinson is an English musician, best known for his work as the bassist and co-writer of the Liverpool based band, Echo & the Bunnymen....
(bass), and a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
(allegedly named Echo), making their live debut at Eric's later that year. In 1979 the Bunnymen exchanged the drum machine for Pete de Freitas
Pete de Freitas
Pete Louis Vincent de Freitas was a musician and producer, best known as a drummer with Echo & the Bunnymen, and whose drumming skills have been compared to Dave Grohl's....
on drums. With their line up solidified, the Bunnymen enjoyed critical acclaim in the late seventies and early eighties culminating with the release of Ocean Rain
Ocean Rain
Ocean Rain is the fourth studio album by the British post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on 8 May 1984 and reached number four on the UK Albums Chart, number 87 on the United States Billboard 200, number 41 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and number 22 on the Swedish chart. Since...
in 1984. In the late 1980s, McCulloch left to pursue a solo career under the impression the Bunnymen would be laid to rest if only temporarily. When the remaining Bunnymen continued using the name with new singer Noel Burke
Noel Burke
Noel Burke is an Irish singer, who is best known for replacing Ian McCulloch as the lead singer with Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in Belfast, Burke's first band was St. Vitus Dance, who released the album Love Me, Love My Dogma in 1987 before splitting up a few years later...
, the split became permanent with McCulloch referring to the band as "Echo & the Bogusmen".
In 1990 McCulloch achieved modest chart success with the album Candleland
Candleland
Candleland is the first solo album by Ian McCulloch, released 17 September 1989. This album marked McCulloch's departure from Echo & the Bunnymen in 1989. The album features a guest appearance by the Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser on the title song, "Candleland"...
which reflected a more mature outlook on the world, owing to the recent deaths of McCulloch's father and Pete de Freitas
Pete de Freitas
Pete Louis Vincent de Freitas was a musician and producer, best known as a drummer with Echo & the Bunnymen, and whose drumming skills have been compared to Dave Grohl's....
. It yielded two Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
singles, "Proud To Fall" (#1 for 4 weeks) and "Faith and Healing". The album Mysterio
Mysterio (album)
Mysterio is an album by Ian McCulloch, released 17 March 1992. This was McCulloch's second solo album since his departure from Echo & the Bunnymen in 1989. The album features a cover of the Leonard Cohen song "Lover, Lover, Lover," as well as a guest appearance on the song "Heaven's Gate" by...
was released in 1992 as the public's interest in the former Bunnyman was waning. Shortly after, McCulloch left the public eye to devote more time to his family.
In 1993 McCulloch partnered with Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
of The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, writing an album's worth of material and generating public excitement over the collaboration of two highly regarded artists. McCulloch has credited Marr with helping him regain his lost confidence and rejuvenating his desire to create music. When it was suggested that Will Sergeant
Will Sergeant
Will Sergeant is an English guitarist, best known for being a member of Echo & the Bunnymen. Born in the centre of Liverpool, he grew up in the suburb of Melling and attended nearby Deyes High School...
be brought in to work on the songs, the tapes were allegedly stolen from a courier van preventing Sergeant from offering any input.
The rekindling of the relationship between McCulloch and Sergeant led to the formation of Electrafixion
Electrafixion
Electrafixion were an alternative rock band, formed by former Echo & the Bunnymen members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant in 1994, joined by bass guitarist Leon de Sylva and drummer Tony McGuigan. They released one album, Burned, and four singles and EPs before splitting up in 1996, due to the...
in 1994 which was notable for the band's rock oriented approach and McCulloch's new found vocal ferocity. The band received glowing live reviews and released the album Burned
Burned (album)
Burned was released in 1995 and is the only album to have been released by Electrafixion. The album reached #38 on the UK albums chart in October of that year.- Different releases :Burned was originally released in 1995 on CD with eleven tracks....
to very positive press but little chart success. The band soon found themselves performing set lists composed of half Electrafixion
Electrafixion
Electrafixion were an alternative rock band, formed by former Echo & the Bunnymen members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant in 1994, joined by bass guitarist Leon de Sylva and drummer Tony McGuigan. They released one album, Burned, and four singles and EPs before splitting up in 1996, due to the...
songs and half Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
songs. In 1997 Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
reformed and released the album Evergreen to positive reviews and chart success. The reformed Bunnymen have since released four further albums to generally favourable reviews, the most recent being The Fountain
The Fountain (album)
The Fountain is the eleventh studio album by British band Echo & the Bunnymen. The album was released on 12 October 2009 and was produced by John McLaughlin, Ian McCulloch and Simon Perry...
which was released in late 2009.
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
and – in particular – David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
as influences for his work.
At the height of the Bunnymen's popularity, McCulloch earned the nickname "Mac the Mouth" due to a penchant for witty, blunt criticism of artists he deemed inferior, while proclaiming the Bunnymen's superiority. Targets of his observations included Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
, Paul Weller, and Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
.
In 1998, McCulloch teamed up with the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
, Tommy Scott of Space, and Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
as "England United" to record "Top of the World", the official song for Team England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, although it fared less well than a reissue of "Three Lions". He enjoyed more success working as a sort of 'associate producer' with Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
. McCulloch has been a lifetime supporter of the Liverpool Football Club. In 2006 he took part in recording the team's anthem with the Bootroom Allstars – a remake of the Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
song, "Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire (song)
"Ring of Fire" or "The Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash...
".
In 2003 McCulloch released his third solo album Slideling
Slideling
Slideling is the third solo album by British singer Ian McCulloch and was released in 2003. The album features guest appearances by Coldplay singer Chris Martin, who provides backing vocals and piano on "Sliding" as well as piano on "Arthur"; Coldplay lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, who plays guitar...
which received the best reviews of his solo career and saw a solo tour in support of the album.
In 2010 McCulloch was featured on the song "Some Kind of Nothingness" by the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
from their tenth album Postcards from a Young Man
Postcards From a Young Man
Postcards from a Young Man is the tenth studio album by the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, which reached the number 3 spot on the UK Charts. The Manics began recording the album in October 2009 at their Faster Studio in Cardiff...
. He has joined the band in their current tour.
Personal life
In 1983 McCulloch married Lorraine Fox. They have two daughters, Candy and Mimi. The couple separated in late 2003.McCulloch was raised in the Norris Green
Norris Green
Norris Green is a large housing estate and council ward in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 17,784.-History:...
area of Liverpool. The road on which he originally lived, Parthenon Drive, is the title of a song contained in the 2005 Echo & the Bunnymen album, Siberia
Siberia (album)
Siberia is the tenth studio album by Echo & the Bunnymen. The album garnered generally positive reviews, with some commentators calling it their best work since Ocean Rain, despite it being the first to not reach the UK Top 75....
. He was educated at Alsop High School
Alsop High School
Alsop High School is a community secondary school in Walton, Liverpool, L4 6SH, England. It holds specialist certification in both Technology and Applied Learning .It also has a Lifestyles gym close by where the school can use it's resources....
.
McCulloch featured in a YouTube video appeal in October 2010 which was campaigning for Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
and George Gillett to be removed from Liverpool Football Club
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Discography
- CandlelandCandlelandCandleland is the first solo album by Ian McCulloch, released 17 September 1989. This album marked McCulloch's departure from Echo & the Bunnymen in 1989. The album features a guest appearance by the Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser on the title song, "Candleland"...
(1989) - MysterioMysterio (album)Mysterio is an album by Ian McCulloch, released 17 March 1992. This was McCulloch's second solo album since his departure from Echo & the Bunnymen in 1989. The album features a cover of the Leonard Cohen song "Lover, Lover, Lover," as well as a guest appearance on the song "Heaven's Gate" by...
(1992) - SlidelingSlidelingSlideling is the third solo album by British singer Ian McCulloch and was released in 2003. The album features guest appearances by Coldplay singer Chris Martin, who provides backing vocals and piano on "Sliding" as well as piano on "Arthur"; Coldplay lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, who plays guitar...
(2003)