The Icicle Works
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Liverpool, England (1980 – 1990, 2006 – 2008, 2011 – present)
The Icicle Works is an alternative rock band which formed in Liverpool, England in 1980. The band’s original lineup consisted of Ian McNabb (vocals, guitar), Chris Layhe (bass, percussion) and Chris Sharrock (drums). Layhe and Sharrock left the band in 1988, but McNabb continued the band with replacement members until 1990. McNabb reformed the band with different replacement members in 2006, but this incarnation lasted only until 2008.
In 2011, McNabb reformed the band once more for a tour celebrating the band’s 30th anniversary. Since leaving the band, Chris Sharrock became the drummer for numerous bands, including The La’s, World Party, Oasis and Beady Eye.
Named after the 1960 short story “The Day The Icicle Works Closed” by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool’s early 1980s ‘neo-psychedelia’ wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom.
The band was founded in Liverpool by 18-year-old singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and frontman Ian McNabb. In 1980, McNabb joined up with drummer Chris Sharrock (who had been playing with McNabb on and off since he was nine) and bassist Chris Layhe (who had been recruited though a classified ad), and they began playing as The Icicle Works. By the end of 1981, the trio had recorded a six-song independently released cassette, and in 1982 they released the independent single “Nirvana”.
Named after the 1960 short story “The Day The Icicle Works Closed” by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool’s early 1980s ‘neo-psychedelia’ wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom.
The band was founded in Liverpool by 18-year-old singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and frontman Ian McNabb. In 1980, McNabb joined up with drummer Chris Sharrock (who had been playing with McNabb on and off since he was nine) and bassist Chris Layhe (who had been recruited though a classified ad), and they began playing as The Icicle Works. By the end of 1981, the trio had recorded a six-song independently released cassette, and in 1982 they released the independent single “Nirvana”.
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Top Albums
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The Icicle Works
The Icicle Works
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The Best Of The Icicle Works
The Icicle Works Buy- Download Album
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The Small Price of a Bicycle
The Icicle Works Buy- Download Album
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Icicle Works
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Shoutbox
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Lesscities wrote:
This group could've been one of my favourites, when it was more known in Germany... Nice arranged sounds...Fantastic music and voice.
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slowpulse-girl wrote:
LOVE LOVE LOVE
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alliedbakeries wrote:
Google the following acts for ICICLE WORKS connections 1.YOUNG WORLD. 2.CITY LIGHTS. 3.OUR KID. 4.SPY CANDY. Dodgy but interesting.
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MazzyJ70 wrote:
Most of my Icicle Works stuff is on second hand vinyl from student days, therefore doesn't scrobble... Sounds as fresh as ever
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RumbleFishing wrote:
The s/t album absolutely the best wave record of the 80's ... great singing, great guitar, great DRUMS !! Totally energetic one way, totally calm the other. I was a damn good air-drummer at that time. Nostalgic ... I remember writing down the lyrics while listening to the LP over and over again, and translating it into my own language, the first few years we had English at school. Still remember the whole lyrics stuff.
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Nightwolf6669 wrote:
One of my favorite bands. Bought Small Price of a Bicycle on Import back when it was first released, and it still remains a great album.
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ExScapegoat wrote:
Great songs
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epi_gee wrote:
only 12 shouts? Who knows the song "waiting in the wings"? I believe its on a 12" only.. anybody know if its on CD? -E
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Lesscities wrote:
nice song,nice group..In Germany shamelessly underrated!!
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BAMtime wrote:
I just like it..........mmmmm.......relaxing!
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sytim wrote:
Small Price of a Bicycle is one of the great albums of all time...saw them Live in London playing songs from it. Totally blew me away!
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dmen01 wrote:
One of the best bands of the 80's. Vastly under-rated.
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smegger68 wrote:
Always underrated, never outshone.
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floydkelley wrote:
don't worry, there are many who appreciate icicle works...
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Timebender wrote:
More listeners now, please.
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fergusmcphail wrote:
<3
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twinsen110 wrote:
one of the most underated bands of the 80's,they should have been huge!!
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flashbleu wrote:
God, they should be more popular than this.
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MacTonight wrote:
...this is it?
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shaggyshaggy wrote:
Birds Fly is such a great new wave song.
Videos
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Play
Icicle Works / Whisper To A…
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Play
Love Is A Wonderful Colour
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Play
hollow horse
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Play
shit creek the icicle works
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Recent Activity
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SpaceAgeRomantk, wazzaswonders, Andy30Bonner and 11 other people added The Icicle Works to their libraries. Friday morning
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RPLastFM tagged The Icicle Works with radio paradise and radioparadise. last month
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bro_jamesh and dcnuman added The Icicle Works to their libraries. last month
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TheUglyTuna tagged The Icicle Works with new wave, neo-psychedelia and 80s. last month
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TheUglyTuna, jhng74, JillianCA and 4 other people added The Icicle Works to their libraries. last month
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gidesfruitbowl tagged The Icicle Works with ‘uk’. December 2011
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nickyboy__24, kurtschlatzer, pauldino and 8 other people added The Icicle Works to their libraries. December 2011
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TraderBob tagged The Icicle Works with ‘bands i need to check out more’. November 2011
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simonwood32 tagged The Icicle Works with alternative, british, 80s and one other tag. November 2011
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simonwood32, rrishch, vampirelestat66 and 3 other people added The Icicle Works to their libraries. November 2011
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