📰 Natty Mac, Incidentally – Feature: Feb. 1973

A one‑page NME interview in which Faces keyboardist Ian MacLagan reflects on the band’s sound, his musical roots, and the joy of playing Tamla‑influenced rock ’n’ roll.

A warm, candid NME profile capturing Ian MacLagan’s humour, modesty, and deep love of soul‑driven rock — a portrait of the Faces’ quiet anchor at the height of their swaggering fame.

📰 Key Highlights

• One‑page feature in New Musical Express, February 17, 1973

• Interview by James Johnson

• Includes a large photograph of MacLagan with a drink in hand

• Discusses the Faces’ musical identity and Mac’s influences

• Highlights his affection for Tamla/Motown and R&B roots

📰 Overview

This NME feature offers a relaxed, conversational portrait of Ian “Mac” MacLagan — the understated but essential keyboardist of the Faces. Speaking with James Johnson, Mac reflects on the band’s chemistry, his musical upbringing, and the soulful influences that shaped his playing.

📰 Source Details

Publication / Venue: New Musical Express

Date: February 17, 1973

Issue / Format: One‑page interview feature

Provenance Notes: Part of NME’s regular artist‑profile series.

📰 The Story

James Johnson’s interview with Ian MacLagan opens with a casual, friendly tone — a fitting match for Mac’s famously down‑to‑earth personality. The accompanying photograph shows Mac sharing a drink and a laugh, reinforcing the easygoing charm that made him a beloved figure within the Faces and among fans.

MacLagan speaks openly about the band’s musical identity, emphasising their roots in rhythm and blues rather than the heavier rock stylings of some contemporaries. He notes that the Faces’ sound is built on feel, looseness, and camaraderie — a band that thrives on instinct rather than precision.

A highlighted pull‑quote captures the heart of the piece:

“If I ended up in a band playing Tamla hits, I’d be well pleased.”

This line underscores Mac’s lifelong affection for Motown, soul, and American R&B — influences that shaped his keyboard style and helped define the Faces’ warm, ragged swing.

Johnson’s article also touches on the band’s internal dynamics, their reputation for on‑stage chaos, and the contrast between their public image and the musicianship that underpins their sound. MacLagan emerges as both the band’s stabiliser and its soul‑lover — a musician who values groove, humour, and the joy of playing above all else.

The page closes with a small “Musique Boutique” sidebar listing sheet‑music bestsellers — a reminder of the era’s print‑culture ecosystem — but the heart of the page belongs entirely to Mac’s voice: modest, musical, and unmistakably human.

📰 Visual Archive

“Natty Mac, Incidentally” feature, New Musical Express, February 17, 1973.

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📰 Closing Notes

This feature captures Ian MacLagan’s warmth, humour, and musical soul — a reminder that behind the Faces’ swagger stood a keyboardist whose love of groove and R&B shaped the band’s unmistakable sound.

#IanMacLagan #TheFaces #NME #1973 #RockHistory #TamlaInfluence #GlamSlamChronicles

📰 Sources

• New Musical Express, February 17, 1973

• Faces press interviews and 1973 coverage

• Contemporary R&B‑influenced rock commentary

📝 Copyright Notice

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