Interview with Ian 'Mac' McLagan

Geo:  The Small Faces L.P. Ogdens Nut Gone Flake was for me the band's
'masterpiece'. Do you remember if the LP was cut on 4 track or 8 track?

Ian:  I believe it was 8 track, we cut it at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London.

Geo: On the title tack Ogdens Nut, who had the idea to 'flange' the drum
track & was this song written from a jam session w/ the band members?

Ian: There was no 'flanging' on the drums. Steve twisted the pot to change the EQ
on the piano. The song is an instrumental rehash of  I've Got Mine.

Geo: The photos inside this great package had some very interesting shots of
the band by Gered Mankowitz. How did they come about & how did the Small
Faces meet Gered?  Also where were the photos taken?  (I can see some egg
cartons on the ceiling in one shot)

Ian: We met Gered through Andrew Oldham. They were taken in different locations,
Mine at Gered's studio, Ronnie's at his music room (egg cartons), and
Steve's at his house in Chiswick.

Geo: On the track Long Agos & Worlds Apart, the vocals seem to be a bit
covered by the music. Is this something that you wanted on this track as
the writer & why?

Ian: I wanted the vocal to sink into the track .

Geo: Why was it that the Small Faces never toured the States?

Ian: I had a drug conviction which prevented entry, but I was allowed in later
when lawyers got on the case. The fact is we were never offered a tour.

Geo:  Any idea to release a DVD w/ footage of the Small Faces?  (I have a
Rhino DVD - Psychedelic High w/ Small Faces doing Itchycoo Park ) There is
a CD box set planned?

Ian:  Kenney and I are working on putting out a DVD of Small Faces material, but
legal complications are holding it up.

Geo: The LP, There Are But Four Small Faces (released in USA Feb.1968) -
was this put together by the band or Immediate to gain some fans in the
States?  Who came up w/ the photo cover - band on the front & kids on the
back both w/ the Itchycoo sign?

Ian: Immediate's idea. Don't know who's idea.

Geo:  The first time I saw the Faces (w/ Ronnie & Rod) was @ the Electric
Factory here in Philadelphia on a bill w/ Grandfunk Railroad & local band
Elizabeth. Do you remember this show or being @ the Factory in Philly?

Ian: I do remember it, but no details.

Geo:  Later I remembered two shows @ the Spectrum in Philly. One July 2nd 1972,
and another Oct. 1st 1975 w/ opener Gary Wright. Can I shake up you memory
banks about these shows?

Ian: I remember the awful echo of that arena. We weren't used to handling sound
in such a large place.

Geo:  The First Step   LP w/ Faces - was this record cut on 4 track or 8
track? And how did the song Three Button Hand Me Down come about w/ you &
Rod?

Ian: I think it might have been 16 track. Rod and I were jamming on a twelve bar
and he wrote the lyrics.

Geo: On your recent CD, Best Of British, the song Hello Old Friend seems
to be a song that could have been written by you & Ronnie Lane. Was this any
inspiration for the song or am I going in the wrong direction? (I like
this song very much - it has a nice charm to it  & it's nice to see the
'nod' to your dad w/ cover)

Ian: I wrote it for Ronnie. It was in a style I knew he'd like. The bass line and
the acoustic guitar part are inspired by his playing. I'd hoped he would
record it.

Geo: What new recordings are you working on that are due for release?

Ian: A new album Rise & Shine is ready for mixing and will be available early
in 2003 on the site, and in stores by springtime.

Cheers, Mac

Last Minute addition to the Interview above:

Geo asked Gered Mankowitz, (Stones & Small Faces photographer) about the conception of the cover photo .............

Gered: Thanks George for bringing this to my attention -
you might be interested to know in regard to the photos of the kids in the park with the Itchycoo Park sign that I came up with that idea because the band were not available (I expect they were slaving away on the road!) and Andrew Oldham wanted an ad for the single to go on the front of the NME. So I shot a group of 4 little kids (small faces - geddit!!) and had a street sign made up. Everybody loved the idea so when the band were around a while later I tried to duplicate the
shot with them. The 2 photos were then brought together for the US album that you mention!!

Keep smiling,
Gered.

Go here to see Gered's cover photo

More on Gered Mankowitz: http://www.mankowitz.com/nonflash.htm  

Pick up a copy of Mac's All The Rage, a perfect memoir of R & R life on &
off the stage! From the Small Faces & Faces to the Stones, Springsteen &
Billy Bragg.

Also available: Best of British, Ian 'Mac' McLagan & the Bump Band on CD.
You can pick up both the book & CD from 'Mac' @  http://www.macspages.com

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