Ian MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Ian MacCormick (3 October 1948 – 20 August 2003) was a British music critic and author, best known for Revolution in the Head, his forensic history of The Beatles
which borrowed techniques from art historians, and The New Shostakovich, a controversial study of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich
. MacDonald was instrumental in popularising the then forgotten Nick Drake
during the 1980s.
, at first to study English but transferred to Archaeology and Anthropology. He dropped out after a year. While at Cambridge
, he was distantly acquainted with the singer/songwriter Nick Drake
.
From 1972 to 1975 he was assistant editor at the NME
. He began a songwriting collaboration as lyricist with Quiet Sun
, which included his brother Bill MacCormick
and future Roxy Music
guitarist Phil Manzanera
. This collaboration was resumed in the late 1970s, when MacDonald provided lyrics for the album Listen Now. Later, Brian Eno
assisted MacDonald in producing Sub Rosa, an album of his own songs release on Manzanera's label.
In his book Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
, first published in 1994, MacDonald carefully anatomised every record The Beatles
made, drawing attention to broad themes, particular examples of inspiration and moments of human frailty alike. The book contains song-by-song analysis and is often critical. Access to the original masters was granted to MacDonald when researching it. Revolution in the Head is widely regarded as the definitive work on the Beatles' music.
The book also includes his essay "Fabled Foursome, Disappearing Decade", an analysis of the social and cultural changes of the 1960s and their after-effects. The entries about the Beatles' singles that topped the singles chart were released in a separate book in 2002. The edit featured a new, shorter introduction, and only featured the essays on the songs on The Beatles' chart-topping album, 1.
MacDonald wrote widely on classical music. His The New Shostakovich was one of the most talked-about classical books of the 1990s. It was the first western book that attempted to put the works of the great Russian composer in their political and social context. MacDonald's insistence on creating a cinematic scenario for every major piece — a satire on Soviet brutality and Stalinism — polarised opinion sharply. Some rated his interpretations fanciful and musicologically worthless, while others believed they held some subjective truth. MacDonald was a regular reviewer for the UK magazine Classic CD, and was known for his passionate and opinionated views on twentieth-century music.
The success of Revolution in the Head motivated him to resume popular music writing and he began contributing to Mojo
and Uncut
music magazines. The People's Music, an anthology of these writings, was published in July 2003 just weeks before his death. He had been working on a book entitled: Birds, Beasts & Fishes: A Guide to Animal Lore and Symbolism and working on a book about David Bowie
. Neither of these has been published.
home following a lengthy period of clinical depression
. He was 54 years of age. Before killing himself, he had posted a note on his front door to call the police. MacDonald's body was cremated and his ashes were given to either a family member or a friend.
The track "Wish You Well" on Phil Manzanera
's album 6PM is a tribute to MacDonald.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
which borrowed techniques from art historians, and The New Shostakovich, a controversial study of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
. MacDonald was instrumental in popularising the then forgotten Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
during the 1980s.
Biography
MacDonald briefly attended King's College, CambridgeKing's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, at first to study English but transferred to Archaeology and Anthropology. He dropped out after a year. While at Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, he was distantly acquainted with the singer/songwriter Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
.
From 1972 to 1975 he was assistant editor at the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
. He began a songwriting collaboration as lyricist with Quiet Sun
Quiet Sun (band)
Quiet Sun were an English progressive rock/jazz fusion band from the Canterbury Scene consisting of Phil Manzanera , Bill MacCormick , Dave Jarrett and Charles Hayward .-History:...
, which included his brother Bill MacCormick
Bill MacCormick
Bill MacCormick is an English bassist and vocalist. He was a member of the bands Quiet Sun with Phil Manzanera, brother Ian MacCormick and others; Matching Mole with Robert Wyatt and others; 801 with Manzanera, Brian Eno and others; and Random Hold...
and future Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
guitarist Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
. This collaboration was resumed in the late 1970s, when MacDonald provided lyrics for the album Listen Now. Later, Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
assisted MacDonald in producing Sub Rosa, an album of his own songs release on Manzanera's label.
In his book Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties is a 1994 book by British music critic and author Ian MacDonald detailing every record The Beatles ever produced...
, first published in 1994, MacDonald carefully anatomised every record The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
made, drawing attention to broad themes, particular examples of inspiration and moments of human frailty alike. The book contains song-by-song analysis and is often critical. Access to the original masters was granted to MacDonald when researching it. Revolution in the Head is widely regarded as the definitive work on the Beatles' music.
The book also includes his essay "Fabled Foursome, Disappearing Decade", an analysis of the social and cultural changes of the 1960s and their after-effects. The entries about the Beatles' singles that topped the singles chart were released in a separate book in 2002. The edit featured a new, shorter introduction, and only featured the essays on the songs on The Beatles' chart-topping album, 1.
MacDonald wrote widely on classical music. His The New Shostakovich was one of the most talked-about classical books of the 1990s. It was the first western book that attempted to put the works of the great Russian composer in their political and social context. MacDonald's insistence on creating a cinematic scenario for every major piece — a satire on Soviet brutality and Stalinism — polarised opinion sharply. Some rated his interpretations fanciful and musicologically worthless, while others believed they held some subjective truth. MacDonald was a regular reviewer for the UK magazine Classic CD, and was known for his passionate and opinionated views on twentieth-century music.
The success of Revolution in the Head motivated him to resume popular music writing and he began contributing to Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
and Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
music magazines. The People's Music, an anthology of these writings, was published in July 2003 just weeks before his death. He had been working on a book entitled: Birds, Beasts & Fishes: A Guide to Animal Lore and Symbolism and working on a book about David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. Neither of these has been published.
Death
In August 2003, MacDonald committed suicide at his GloucestershireGloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
home following a lengthy period of clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. He was 54 years of age. Before killing himself, he had posted a note on his front door to call the police. MacDonald's body was cremated and his ashes were given to either a family member or a friend.
The track "Wish You Well" on Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
's album 6PM is a tribute to MacDonald.
Publications
- Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the SixtiesRevolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the SixtiesRevolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties is a 1994 book by British music critic and author Ian MacDonald detailing every record The Beatles ever produced...
. ISBN 1-84413-828-3 - The New Shostakovich (1990). ISBN 0-19-284026-6 (reprinted & updated in 2006)
- The People's Music (2003)
External links
- Guardian Obituary
- MacDonald's essay on Nick Drake
- Comments on MacDonald's 1973 Krautrock articles in NME
- Music under Soviet Rule : Shostakovichiana, a website he maintained full of Shostakovich information and trivia