Ian McLagan is a genuine, dyed-in-the-wool rock’n’roller. In fact, his smiling visage — he was, after all, a member of the Small Faces and the Faces — would serve as an ideal illustration in the proverbial Dictionary of What Is Truly Cool.
The man known to his many mates and even more fans and admirers as 'Mac' is the sort who shrugs off such puffery. And then he just carries on creating splendid and genuine rock’n’roll with his Bump Band as well as musically aid and abet a marquee line-up of truly blue ribbon talent that he has toured and recorded with: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Taj Mahal, John Hiatt, David Lindley, Paul Westerberg, Billy Bragg and Patty Griffin, to name some but hardly all of the notables that McLagan has worked with over his four-plus decade career.
He has also etched his distinctive musical talents onto the playlist of rock’n’roll history co-writing such Faces hits as Cindy Incidentally, You're So Rude and Three Button Hand Me Down. His Wurlitzer electric piano is heard on everything from Stay With Me by the Faces to the smash hit Miss You by The Rolling Stones, and Mac's trademark Hammond B-3 organ is featured on the Small Faces classic Itchycoo Park and Rod Stewart's Maggie May and You Wear It Well.
McLagan entered the music game in Swinging London in the mid-1960s, and you can read all about it in his vivid and delightful memoir, All The Rage, a book that The Express hailed as “One of the best music books in years.” He ascended from the Top of the Pops with Small Faces to the pinnacle of rock with the Faces when Rod Stewart and Ron Wood joined the band. The rollicking Faces ruled 1970s album radio and sales charts as well as the stadiums, arenas and festivals around the world, leaving countless satisfied fans, many wild tales and more than a few quivering hotel managers in their wake. Whether McLagan is singing, writing and playing his own music or as the go-to guy for a session or tour, he has been and remains the quintessence of rock’n’roll.
Since he cut his debut solo album, Troublemaker, in 1979 — with two Rolling Stones (Keith Richards and Ron Wood) and a Beatle (Ringo Starr) among the players — McLagan has been making music in his own right that carries on the British rock tradition that he helped establish with the Small Faces and Faces on the albums Bump In The Night (1980), Best Of British (2000) and Rise & Shine! (2004). “It’s all raw, up front, in your face, rollicking greasy good-time music done by a master,” says All Music Guide of Rise & Shine!
In 2006, he released a touching tribute to his old bandmate, Spiritual Boy: An Appreciation of Ronnie Lane, acclaimed by the Dallas Observer as “a warm and fitting salute to one of rock's sadly unsung master songwriters and a must-have disc.” Spiritual Boy has garnered chart success in Mojo and leaves a trail of glowing reviews in Rolling Stone, No Depression, Uncut, and Goldmine.
Since McLagan moved to Austin in 1994, the Bump Band has come to include some of the city’s best players: 'Scrappy' Jud Newcomb, one of Austin’s busiest and best guitarists (The Resentments, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Beaver Nelson), drummer Don Harvey, whose resume boasts putting the big beat behind Martha Davis, Joe Ely, and Charlie Sexton; and veteran bassist Ronnie Johnson (James McMurtry, Ronnie Lane). Those not fortunate to catch McLagan & the Bump Band on tour or, when home, in their weekly residency at Austin’s Lucky Lounge can enjoy their magic on the CD Extra Live, which All Music Guide hailed as “the first real rock & roll record to be released in 2006.”
Awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award in 1996 for his outstanding contributions to British music and inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2004, McLagan is beloved by musicians and music lovers alike. He produced the Faces four CD boxed set, Five guys walk into a bar... for Rhino Records, and received a rare honor on April 6th, 2006, when it was proclaimed Ian 'Mac' McLagan Day in Austin Texas. But rather than rest on his laurels, Ian McLagan continues to do what he has always done best: rock’n’roll.
In December of 2007 Ian 'Mac' McLagan and Glyn Johns, his old pal from Small Faces and Faces days, met at Sphere Studios in London to mix and master Ian McLagan's beautiful and emotionally raw CD, Never Say Never. The self produced and directed album features McLagan's award winning Bump Band: 'Scrappy' Jud Newcomb, Don Harvey and Mark Andes, and includes all original songs written by one of the best-loved musicians of our time. Patty Griffin graces Never Say Never with her soulful vocals and she and the Tosca Strings can be heard on the final track, the heart wrenching When The Crying Is Over. McLagan recorded and produced Never Say Never at The Doghouse Studios in Manor, Texas, and recorded Where Angels Hide on the Steinway in The Edythe Bates Old Chapel at The International Festival-Institute in Round Top, Texas.
Catch the Bump LIVE experience on the 'Never Say Never' tour...stay tuned for upcoming dates.
Hey Ian - I just wanted to say what an honor it was to do a solo opener for you in Cleveland! You sing and play music from the heart and you are truly an inspiration. I enjoyed meeting John from The Bump Band too. The night was a total joy! I wish you all the best...............Greg Townson
Thanks a million Ian for a fantastic show at the Tin Angel in Philly. Jim George was the perfect opener to your amazing solo show--and we loved having you play in our favorite Philly spot. Your set was just beautiful.... It was great fun hanging out after the show as well; you were just terrific. Please come back to Philly soon!!
Hey, Marty, I talked to you in line at the show at Smiths Olde Bar in Atlanta. And what a great show it was! Get in touch about pictures that you took of us and Mac. Thanks, Jerry
Ian, It's been awhile since I've been on myspace. I've been woodshedding with a band, and new material is forthcoming. My son Ian, (named after The Small Faces keyboard player) has a new band called Ape Machine...You'll love them! Also, Minmae, Ian's other band, knowing what a Small Faces fan I am, played "The Baker" from Ogden's Nutgone Flake as a finale for me last time they were here in Sacramento! A perfect match! Blew what little mind I had left! Your music is great as always...STEADY COOOOOL WON'T YOU! STEADY ON!!!
Thanks for the very speedy add! I was going to ask for a photo with you but you was having a conversation with a female friend so I'll wait until next time!
See you at the Ferndale Michigan show!! Ahhh the good ole days of the Faces! cruising Woodward with the band, wild parties and lots of wine!! and of course the MUSIC was wild!! Had me a real good time!
Thanks for the add... You and the rest of the guys of The Small Faces are a great inspiration for us. The music you made is absolutely fantastic... Full of spirit... Timeless... Love it, just Love it!!!
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