Ian McCulloch on war, U2’s Bono and Coldplay

Ian McCulloch’s ‘mystery guest’ at the anti-war One Big No concert in London, as anyone with a slug-like perception could predict, was his ‘new best friend’, Chris Martin of Coldplay. Gwyneth Paltrow’s fiancé and the band’s guitarist Jonny Buckland are guests on ‘Slideling’, kind of returning the favour; Mac’s been credited with being an inspiration for the Coldplay’s ‘The Rush Of Blood To The Head’ album to which he lent his vocal talent as well.

McCulloch then appeared as a ‘special guest’ for the Coldplay’s Manchester and two London shows, ahead of his own series of dates. Mac, as he is known to his fans, is promoting new album, ‘Slideling’, the first solo outing since ‘Mysterio’ (1992) and the first excursion from the band since the 1997 reformation that followed nine years of inactivity.

You are better known for emo-cum-oblique-lyrics; what prompted you to start voicing political views at the tender age of 43?

“Well, I feel strongly about the subject and realize that after the ‘Twin Towers’ tragedy something needed to be done but war… Blair and Bush had to do something but the way they were going about it was rather wrong and they keep on concentrating on Saddam and Iraq although North Korea presents a bigger threat right now… People don’t realize that there are few madmen around the globe who have finger on the button and can press it at any time because they don’t really care.”

War & love

Mac fronted Echo & The Bunnymen emerged in the late 1970s as part of the Liverpool’s New Wave groups, such as Teardrop Explodes and Wah! Heat; they really were the coolest Brit band between 1979 and 1988 (when he left the line-up). The band’s music has always been a bit psychedelic with lyrics exploring the innermost vistas; the nearest McCulloch’s ever come to a political lyric was, probably, ‘Killing Moon’, the meaning of which is still keeping the jury out.

All music can offer nowadays is solace rather than any opposition; hasn’t its profile changed so much that it actually can’t alter any minds?

“Yeah, you are right, there are no messages coming through anymore, not even the best music. I don’t think even I send messages but can offer a solace, a refuge, that’s all I can do. There are no more musicians on soapboxes and the only messages that come out are negative ones, from rappers… And, I hate that Ms Dynamite, as much as she is good, it is too localized, too MTV, too bling-bling and I think it is disgraceful the amount of time it gets on TV. You really need a new Bob Dylan to say ‘F**k this, damn that, you muthaf**ker!’ but with songs that cut deep, change the climate of the world… John Lennon picked the baton then but nobody’s doing is any more.”

“As much as I thought U2 looked stupid with their hairdos and fashion, they actually did get hold of some issues and seemed to deeply care. What I’m saying is that they believe in certain things, something good and work towards it; Bono is one of the few people who go, not necessarily in music but in general, out on a limb. As much as I think he is an idiot, he’s well meaning and he doesn’t do self-promotion because he doesn’t have to anymore. Apart from him, there is nobody, really…”

Feelings in veins

‘Slideling’ offers full scope of music, from the upbeat, eternal optimism of the opening ‘Love In Veins’, through anthemic jangle of ‘Seasons’, to the dirty strut of ‘High Wires’, it is the sound of a man who knows his time and place - and it’s now, it’s here, as well as finally reconciling what sort of a human he is. And he is passionate, inquisitive, obsessed, opinionated, unsettling, teasing, challenging and with a prime sense of Scouse humour.

“I’m much more confident now than I was when I last did any solo stuff. It’s the first record I’ve made solo-wise where I’m happy with the reasons why I did it and with the way it turned out. What I’ve always liked about Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed, it was street kind of music and always left me wondering – ‘How did he nail that?’ It is so true and I can’t still touch it, like it is beyond me. So, I’m reaching for that, striving… I think I’m as good with words…”

You’ve developed a close friendship with Coldplay and their success has surpassed Bunnymen’s few times over; do you think they are in the same league as the greats?

“Yes, I do, I think Chris is in the same position Jim Morrison (the late Doors singer) was; he didn’t need to tell people about his lyrics, imagery… He (Martin) is only on the second album and he is already brilliant. I still am trying to impress, to prove myself to myself and to my brother who went to Cambridge and I’d forever be asking him if that line was better than all the ones I had written before,” Mac smiles at his artistic insecurity and fires up another ciggy.

Some months ago Echo & The Bunnymen were given a prestigious Inspiration Award by the Q magazine and Mac’s acceptance speech included a line, “Not before time!” He was speaking the truth.

Tour dates:

07 May – Leadmill, Sheffield
08 May – Union Chapel, London
09 May – Lomax @ Nation, Liverpool
10 May – King Tuts, Glasgow
12 May – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham