Inspiral Carpets

Graham Lambert experimented with line ups from 1980 to 1983, going by "The Furs", until he and Stephen Holt, a friend from their school days, formed Inspiral Carpets in 1983, originally as a garage rock- and punk-inspired band. Manchester drummer Chris Goodwin and bassist Tony Welsh helped record a demo and play live in and around the Oldham area. Due to Goodwin's commitments the band recruited 14-year-old drummer Craig Gill in 1986.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38066578 Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill dies at 44]. BBC News (2016-11-22). Tony Welsh also had other music commitments and departed in 1986. The band then had a succession of bass players (Rick Garage, Mark Hughes, Scott Carey) before Dave Swift, on bass and organist Clint Boon (at whose Ashton-under-Lyne studio the band had been rehearsing).Larkin, Colin: The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music, 2002, Guinness Publishing, pp. 144/5, {{ISBN|0-85112-579-4}} The band released two albums of demos in the 1980s, Waiting for Ours and Songs of Shallow Intensity, including songs that would later be re-recorded.

Inspiral Carpets came to prominence along with bands such as the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays in the Madchester scene of the late 1980s. The band first appeared on a flexi-disc with "Garage Full of Flowers" that was given free with Manchester's Debris magazine in 1987. Their first proper release, the Cow cassette, soon followed. The 1988 Planecrash EP on the Playtime label received much airplay from Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who asked the band to record a session for his show. The band reworked their single "Find Out Why" as the theme song for the show 8:15 from Manchester.{{cite web|title=YouTube video showing how the band recorded the theme tune to 8:15 from Manchester|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS9C_mO0LPs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/oS9C_mO0LPs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=YouTube|access-date=4 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}

As the band's popularity grew, Playtime's distributor Red Rhino Records went bankrupt, leading Inspiral Carpets to form their own label, Cow Records, in March 1989. The label's first release was the Trainsurfing EP. With half of the first album, Life, written, Holt and Swift departed and formed the Rainkings, so the band recruited Too Much Texas singer Tom Hingley and Martyn "Bungle" Walsh of The Next Step to replace them. Martyn Walsh became the band's 13th bass player.Graham Lambert interview on Cool As box set After a handful of singles on their own label, with "Move" nearly reaching the UK top 40, the band signed a deal with Mute Records and soon experienced their first top-40 chart success in the UK with "This Is How It Feels." The single reached No. 14 on the singles chart, and the debut album Life reached No. 2 on the albums chart in 1990.

The following year's The Beast Inside was less well received by critics, but still achieved a top-5 album chart ranking. The "Caravan" and "Please be Cruel" singles only reached No. 30 and No. 50 respectively, and an attempt to crack the American market largely failed. However, the band gained a strong following in Portugal, Germany and Argentina, where the 1992 album Revenge of the Goldfish became their most successful. The album peaked at number 17 in the UK and spawned four UK hit singles. The next album, Devil Hopping (1994), reached number 10 in the album chart, with "Saturn 5" and "I Want You" (featuring Mark E. Smith) as top-20 hits. The next single, "Uniform", stalled at No. 51 and in 1995, after the release of a Singles collection, the band were dropped by Mute and split up soon after.

During this time, Noel Gallagher was a roadie for the band until he left to join Oasis.

Hingley formed a new band, the Lovers, along with Jerry Kelly of the Lotus Eaters (which later featured Steve and Paul Hanley of the Fall), while Boon formed the Clint Boon Experience, releasing a string of singles on the Artful label. Gill also formed a new band, Hustler, who eventually changed their name to Proud Mary after a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} Proud Mary signed to Noel Gallagher's Big Brother label some years later, while Walsh moved into production, largely working on techno and dance music. Two of the band's roadies enjoyed musical success themselves: van driver Mark Collins joined the Charlatans in 1991 and drum technician Noel Gallagher joined Oasis.

In 1999, Strange Fruit Records released a compilation of tracks recorded for BBC Radio 1 sessions.Larkin, Colin (2006) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, OUP USA, {{ISBN|978-0195313734}}, p. 482

Inspiral Carpets reunited in 2003, playing to sellout crowds {{cn|date=September 2024}} on tour and releasing the single "Come Back Tomorrow" (recorded in 1995) and a number of new compilation records, most notably the Cool As box set. The band have toured sporadically since, reuniting again in 2007 to tour in support of an iTunes-exclusive compilation of their B-sides and rarities. They played a tour in 2008 under the banner "Return of the Cow", announcing that their own Cow Records label was to be revived.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In February 2011, it was revealed that Tom Hingley was no longer part of the band, with the circumstances of his departure unclear. Band members indicated that Hingley had left of his own accord, with Clint Boon contradicting Hingley's suggestion that the band had split up{{cite web|title=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/therealboon/status/33568163060785152|access-date=31 August 2011}} whilst Hingley later claimed that he had been fired by the band at a meeting.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/inspiral-carpets-pulled-the-rug-from-under-693963|title=Inspiral Carpets pulled the rug from under me claims ex-frontman Tom Hingley in new autobiography|first=Sarah|last=Walters|date=28 August 2012|website=Manchestereveningnews.co.uk|access-date=24 November 2017}}

In August 2011, the band announced a reunion with original singer Stephen Holt. Their website indicated that "Inspirals will be recording their first material in 15 years coupled with concerts in South America & Greece."{{cite web|title=Inspiral Carpets garage band|url=http://www.inspiralcarpets.com/|access-date=31 August 2011}} The band recorded "You're So Good For Me"/"Head for the Sun" for Record Store Day, a 7" single that was released, sold and deleted on 21 April 2012. The accompanying video for the main track was shot at a concert in Buenos Aires in November 2011. In support of the single, the band toured the UK in March 2012 for the first time with Holt in 24 years. In May, the band were special guests on a Happy Mondays tour.{{Cite web |last=NME |date=2012-01-30 |title=Happy Mondays announce UK tour - ticket details |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/happy-mondays-36-1270513 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

In the summer of 2012, the band played at several festivals, culminating with a live performance at the Old Trafford cricket ground on 10 September during England's T20I match with South Africa. For Record Store Day in April 2014, Inspiral Carpets released Dung 4, a previously cassette-only collection of demos from 1987, on vinyl and CD, with the earlier tape Cow Demo added as a free 7" with the vinyl version. Uncut said of the album: "... the whole package is a fine summation of the Inspirals' enduring appeal".

In October 2014, the band released Inspiral Carpets on Cherry Red Records. Their first album in 20 years, Inspiral Carpets contained two past singles, "You're So Good for Me" and "Spitfire", plus 10 new tracks. The album also included "Let You Down", co-written by and featuring punk poet John Cooper Clarke. Interviewed in Record Collector, Boon described the album as "Diverse. A couple (of the songs) have an R.E.M. flavour, one nod to the 50s, two to Joy Division, several the Doors, one Northern soul, two the Beach Boys." After several dates in Europe over the summer, the band played 12 UK dates in December 2014 in support of the album's release.

On 20 November 2016, drummer Craig Gill died at the age of 44."[http://www.radiox.co.uk/news/inspiral-carpets-drummer-craig-gill-dies-aged-44/#2H7TQZrlW2PGLWmp.97 Inspiral Carpets Drummer Craig Gill Dies, Aged 44]", RadioX, 22 November 2016{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38066578|title=Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill dies at 44|date=20 November 2016|access-date=22 November 2016|work=BBC News}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/05/inspiral-carpets-drummer-craig-gill-inquest-tinnitus|title=Inspiral Carpets drummer killed himself after 20 years of 'unbearable' tinnitus|date=5 May 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 November 2017}} Memorial services were attended by music-industry friends including Inspiral Carpets members, Oasis singer Liam Gallagher, Stone Roses bassist Mani and Happy Mondays singer Rowetta.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/101080/music-world-mourns-craig%7COldham_Evening_Chronicle|title=Music world mourns Craig - Chronicle Online|website=www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk|access-date=2016-12-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220074742/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/101080/music-world-mourns-craig%7COldham_Evening_Chronicle|archive-date=20 December 2016|df=dmy-all}} Soon after his death, Gill's friends began a social-media campaign to make the band's 1994 hit "Saturn 5" the Christmas number-one song for 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/christmas-number-1-2016-the-contenders-revealed__17110/|title=Christmas Number 1 2016: The contenders revealed|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=2016-12-06}}

In October 2022 the band announced they would be reforming and performing a live UK tour in March and April 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/inspiral-carpets-reunite-for-2023-uk-tour-3331199 |title=Inspiral Carpets reunite for 2023 UK tour|work=NME|date=18 October 2022|access-date=10 December 2022}} The band also announced that longtime bassist Martyn Walsh would not be joining them on their forthcoming tour. It was announced that Jake Fletcher will be touring with Inspiral Carpets in 2023 and that Kev Clark{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Dave |last2= |first2= |date=6 March 2023 |title='After gigs, we'd drop off our drummer to do his paper round': How Inspiral Carpets made This is How It Feels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/mar/06/how-inspiral-carpets-made-this-is-how-it-feels |newspaper=The Guardian}} from Dub Sex will be on the drums for the tour.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

On 15 February 2023, the group also announced their return to Australia for the first time in 30 years that August, as well as their first shows in New Zealand. On 17 March 2023, the band released a singles compilation, featuring all of their hit singles on cd/vinyl from 1988 to 2015 and remixes of the tracks. On 23 March 2023, just as the band's tour starts, it was announced that Boon's son, Oscar, would be joining the band for some of the tour on bass guitar.

On 28 October 2024 it was confirmed that Martyn Walsh would be rejoining the band on bass for the 2025 tour dates and in the studio.

• Graham Lambert – guitars (1983–1995, 2003–2016, 2022–present 1980-1982 as a member of The Furs)
• Stephen Holt – lead vocals (1983–1989, 2011–2016, 2022–present)
• Clint Boon – keyboards, backing vocals (1987–1995, 2003–2016, 2022–present)
• Martyn Walsh – bass (1988–1995, 2003–2016, 2024–present)

• Kev Clark – drums (2022–present)

• Tony Welsh – bass (1983–1986) guitars (1980-1982 as a member of the Furs)
• Kevin Foey – bass (1983)
• Chris Goodwin – drums (1986)
• Craig Gill – drums (1986–1995, 2003–2016; his death)
• Rick Garage – bass (1986)
• Mark Hughes – bass (1987)
• Scott Carey – bass (1987)
• Dave Swift – bass (1987-1988)
• Tom Hingley – lead vocals (1989–1995, 2003–2011)

• Glenn Chesworth – bass, vocals (1980–1982)
• Tony Feeley – keyboards (1980–1982)
• Mark 'Joe' Jordan – guitars, bass, effects (1981)
• Mark Hindley – bass (1982)

• Jake Fletcher – bass (2022–2023)
• Oscar Boon – bass (2023–2024)

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{{Main|Inspiral Carpets discography}}

• Life (1990)
• The Beast Inside (1991)
• Revenge of the Goldfish (1992)
• Devil Hopping (1994)
• Inspiral Carpets (2014)

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|www.inspiralcarpets.com}}
• {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4551}}
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2009/01/19/tom_hingley_inspiral_carpets_feature.shtml BBC interview with Tom Hingley]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071007070108/http://www.mutelibtech.com/mute/inspiral/icbiog.htm Inspiral Carpets Biography]}}. Mute Records. (Accessed 4 December 2005).

{{Inspiral Carpets}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:English alternative rock groups

Category:English garage rock groups

Category:English indie rock groups

Category:Alternative dance musical groups

Category:Madchester groups

Category:Musical groups from the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham

Category:Musical groups established in 1983

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2003

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2016

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2022

Category:Mute Records artists

Category:Cherry Red Records artists

Category:Alternative rock groups from Greater Manchester