Misadventures in Music with Ian Prowse & Mick Ord

In this episode of Misadventures in Music, Ian Prowse and Mick Ord sit down with legendary Liverpool songwriter and Ian McNabb for a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation about music, creativity, and a career that has spanned decades.
From the early days of The Icicle Works through to his solo work and latest projects, Ian shares insights that only someone with his experience could provide.
Ian reflects on the rise of The Icicle Works, explaining how the band’s unique sound emerged during the 1980s alternative music explosion. He dives into the story behind the band’s unforgettable name, revealing the quirky, unexpected origins that many fans might not know. He also discusses the songwriting approaches that helped make classic tracks like Love Is a Wonderful Colour and Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) resonate with audiences, combining melodic sensibility with storytelling and emotional depth.
The conversation then moves to Ian’s brand new album 65, offering listeners a glimpse into his current creative process. He talks in detail about his cover of So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry), explaining what it meant to reinterpret such an iconic track and how collaborating with Peter Buck influenced the recording and arrangement. Ian also reflects on his broader approach to music production, maintaining artistic integrity, and how he balances homage to his influences with forging a sound that is unmistakably his own.
Throughout the episode, Ian shares candid stories about Liverpool’s vibrant music scene, performing live across the UK and Ireland, life on the road, and the challenges and rewards of sustaining a long career in music.
He offers personal anecdotes that range from humorous to deeply insightful, including the experiences that shaped his artistry, the pivotal moments that defined The Icicle Works, and how early influences continue to inspire his work today.
Whether you are a longtime fan of The Icicle Works, a music enthusiast interested in songwriting and production, or someone who loves hearing behind-the-scenes stories from Liverpool’s iconic music scene, this episode is full of rich, engaging content. It’s an honest, funny, and thoughtful conversation that captures both the legacy of Ian McNabb and the ongoing evolution of his music.

Tommy Scott, the main songwriter and guitarist, from the iconic Liverpool band "Space" is our highly entertaining guest in episode 42 of the Misadventures in Music podcast.
The band scored 8 UK Top 40 singles and had great success with their albums 'Spiders' and 'Tin Planet' in the 1990's and they're still going strong today.
Space' has a new album out later this year - "Ten Neurotic Fairytales" - and a UK tour.
Tommy's imagination and enthusiasm sparkles in this podcast and his wild tales of playing live in China, boozing with Tom Jones and throwing stones at the Prime Minister - when a self-confessed scouse "urchin"- provide genuinely laugh-out-loud moments in the podcast.

It's 1977 and punk has just hit Liverpool.  
The legendary Eric's club is home to the city's rebels and posers - many became pop stars.
Penny Kiley became a music journalist.
Atypical Girl - Punk rock, Liverpool and trying to be normal' is Penny's homage to the city's re-emergence as a musical force which had lain dormant since the Beatles upped sticks and left in the 60's.
The book is also the highly personalised tale of an autistic woman in the male-dominated world of music journalism - working for Melody Maker, Smash Hits and the Liverpool Echo, reviewing gigs by Echo and the Bunnymen and Dead or Alive, and interviewing Jonathan Richman and the rest.
"If anyone can paint a true picture of those glorious days, Penny can." - says Will Seargent.

In this we hear from Mike Badger - one of the founder members of the legendary Liverpool band The La's and an established artist in his own right.
Mike recently released  'Devils, Ghosts & Firearms', his first studio album in 5 years.
Mike's continues to have a successful career as a film-maker (cult folk-horror movie,"The Vaden") and as an acclaimed sculptor whose current exhibition with Jeff Young at the Kirkby Gallery has received rave reviews.
You can hear Mike's and artistic passion in every word he speaks.

The latest episode of the 'Misadventures in Music' podcast (number 39) with Ian Prowse and Mick Ord features some of the highlights from the last 12 months including revealing and controversial comments from some of their top guests including Mike McCartney, "Nasher" from Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the brilliant Merseyside-born singer Beryl Marsden who's been wowing audiences since the early 60's when she supported the Beatles on tour and played in Hamburg aged just 16.
The guys also discuss Ian's own musical highlights from past year and reveal some of the exciting plans they have for the podcast in 2026, with a few meaty teasers thrown in about his forthcoming album due for release in the summer.