The Iceman (performer)

Anthony Irvine (born 17 February 1951), also known as the Iceman and aim, is a British performance artist and visual artist.[2][3]

As the Iceman, his act is to creatively melt large blocks of ice[4][5][6] while talking to the audience over a soundtrack of tightly-looped music[7] and sound effects.[8][9] His methods of attempting to melt the ice include breath, salt and a blowtorch.[10][11] He might also sing songs, make puns, attempt to release a rubber duck from inside the block of ice,[12] or sell photographs of the ice to the audience.[13]

In the 1980s and '90s, he performed at notable alternative comedy venues including Cluub Zarathustra[14][15] and Malcolm Hardee's Tunnel Club as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[16][17][18] In 2007, he performed at the Hackney Empire in a tribute show to the late Malcolm Hardee.[19] In 2011 he performed at the Royal Festival Hall.[20]

He is often cited by Stewart Lee as a legend of alternative comedy[21][22][23] and by Jo Brand as a favourite act of the 1980s.[24] Lee dedicates his epic poem about stand-up comedy, "I'll Only Go if you Throw Glass," to notable 1980s performers including the Iceman.[25]

In 1995, Irvine appeared in Peter Chelsom's film Funny Bones.[26][27] In the same year, he shared the Edinburgh Tapwater Award with Malcolm Hardee and Charlie Chuck.[28]

Since 2014, he has produced art brut paintings under the name aim.[29][30] 2023 saw his first solo art show at Guggleton Farm Arts in Dorset.[31]

In 2022, Irvine published an ice-related children's book called Lockdown Melter.[32]

The Iceman is the subject of a 2023 book released by Go Faster Stripe called Melt it! The Book of the Iceman.[33][34] As a result, he appeared on Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.[35]