Photos by Marina Chavez (l) and Jim Chapin (r)
Ian McLagan’s death last week hit the Austin music community hard not just for the gifted musician we lost, but also because Mac was such a genuinely nice guy. Even though he was a Rock And Roll Hall-of-Famer who palled around with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Faces, the Small Faces, and dozens more, he was down-to-earth, always lighting up a room with a joke (or going along with a few jokes at his own expense). He was comfortable around all sorts of people, as evidenced by his chosen career and his long list of collaborations. Earlier this year, he teamed up with Alejandro Escovedo to give back to the adopted Austin community that gave him so much support over the years. The pair covered the Kinks’ “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” for the All ATX: British Invasion compilation, and the two sound like they’re having a blast recapturing the energy and rawness of the British Invasion. The song choice even proved revelatory: Mac was one-of-a-kind. Download the song below, and support the Health Alliance For Austin Musicians by buying a copy of All ATX here.
