FORMED: 1980DISBANDED: 1990
A product of the same Liverpool neo-psychedelic community which gave rise to Echo & the Bunnymen and the Teardrop Explodes, the Icicle Works formed in 1980 from the ashes of local bands like City Limits and the Cherry Boys. A trio originally comprised of singer/guitarist Ian McNabb, bassist Chris Layhe and drummer Chris Sharrock, the Icicle Works (who nicked their name from an obscure sci-fi novel) issued their debut single "Ascending" in 1981. After the success of subsequent efforts like 1982's "Nirvana," the band earned a deal with the Beggars Banquet label, and scored a U.K. Top 15 hit with "Love Is a Wonderful Colour."
The Icicle Works' self-titled debut appeared in 1984 and reached the U.S. Top 40 on the strength of the excellent single "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)." The superior 1985 follow-up The Small Price of a Bicycle failed to match their earlier success, however, and neither the 1986 hits collection Seven Singles Deep nor 1987's If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song failed to generate much interest either.
Prior to recording 1988's Blind, both Layhe and Sharrock left the band, and were replaced by bassist Roy Corkhill and drummer Zak Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr. Minus Starkey, the Icicle Works (now rounded out by guitarist Mark Revell, keyboardist Dave Baldwin and drummer Paul Burgess) completed one final album, Permanent Damage, before disbanding in 1990. McNabb continued on as a solo artist. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide Photography By: Paul Rider