Echo and The Bunnymen have made some great albums. Their first four albums were great. They are much much more than the song "The Killing Moon".
Even Larry Mullen Jr. liked (EATB's) "Ocean Rain" (album) and had great things to say about the album, and the late Pete de Frietas' drumming, when Larry was interviewed in Modern Drummer (1985).
Pete de Frietas died in a motorcycle accident in 1987. Ian quit the Bunnymen just before. The Bunnymen then disbanded. Ian and Will Sergeant (guitarist) started a band called Electrafixion in 1994. They made (1) album and meet calls of EATB titles at each show by fans that wanted The Bunnymen and not Electrafixion. The Bunnymen reunited in 1997 witht he release of "Evergreen". It's a pretty great album but the last of theirs that was with 3 of the 4 original members, as (bassist Les Pattinson) left before the tour.
In short, the problem with EATB today is that they are only half of the band that made their great albums. It is as if U2 was only Bono and Edge. There'd be some great ideas and some well executed but a BAND is the sum of it's parts and every part IS important.
Even Adam mentioned Les Pattinson in 2004, stating that his rolling bass part on "Vertigo" was bassed on the type of parts that Les Pattinson was known for. And in my opinion, that is what The Bunnymen have been missing. They are only 1/2 of The Bunnymen + hired musicians. It can get the job done but it is not that 'special'.
That is what U2 has - special. The fact that they are still together. The fact that 29 years since they released their first album, they are still filling stadiums.
So is Ian McCulloch a bit jealous? Maybe. But again, it is more the good natured shit talking that he's done for years.
Proof he's not a complete asshole...
...I met Ian and Will at the Virgin Megastore a few years back when their "Crystal Days" box set came out in the summer of 2001. They played a short set and signed posters and box sets.
I'd forgotten and had worn a U2 shirt that day. I had a hoodie too but the zipper was down. When I got to the front of the line, Ian snickered and said ""Fookin' nerve" and smiled. I smiled back and said: "I love both band and pulled up the zipper. Ian smiled and said "Not necessary. Not a problem" and laughed again. He signed my box set and CD and was chatty. I asked him some questions about Bunnymen songs and he was more than friendly in answering. Nice enough guy.
I ran into (guitarist) Will Sergeant before the set and signing and he was also very cool. A bit shy but perfectly nice.
A few thoughts.
1.) Ian was known as Mac The Mouth by the UK press because he always has something to say to stir up something.
2.) Yes, there may be some jealousy.
3.) Bunnymen wanted to be underground, dark and mysterious. Bunnymen wanted to be The Doors meets Velvet Underground. He can't be surprise that The Bunnymen didn't make "Beatles/Stones/U2" overground/big money when you are trying to be 'underground'. Both The Doors and Velvet Underground were both broke when they ended in the early `70's. It's only been in retrospect that their influence has been seen and bigger money earned.
The Edge was inspired by a number of guitar players from punk and post punk bands of the late 1970's to early 1980. He was inspired by The Bunnymen (and guitarist Will Sergeant). Edge and Bono have said as much in the past. As I mentioned earlier, Adam mentioned the influence when he wrote his "Vertigo" bass part.
So while it's easy to say McCulloch is jealous or whatever... truth is, that The Bunnymen have influence other musicians, including U2. The Bunnymen made some great records. And yes, part of them is jealous of U2 on some level.
The Cutter - Echo And the Bunnymen. Check out the bass line and you might see what Adam was referring to and what I mentioned about the type of rolling bassline.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rimebQv-0Dc
Few more cool Bunny-tunes.
My White Devil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-1DB3T9HwQ
All That Jazz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkPqflnRzU8
mouth shut!
If you don't I'll bitch slap you into the middle of next month!
