Super sonic Boon

Inspiral Carpets

OLDHAM music star Clint Boon has revealed the renewed Inspiral Carpets will be performing in front of an army of their fans in Manchester next March.

The legendary local band who provided the world with 13 UK top-40 singles and numerous sell-out tours are back with a familiar old face — as Clint and co look to the future.

Oldham’s Stephen Holt, the original frontman of the group, who formed in 1983, is back on the mic — replacing the long-time stalwart Tom Hingley.

The reformed line-up will be performing for the first time on stage together in 22 years in Argentina next week — before they tour these shores next year.

Clint said: “We have been back together since 2003, so it’s not a new thing as such and I think a few people think we have been inspired by the Stone Roses coming back together.

“We have not done any gigs for the past three-and-a-half years.

Chapter
“Tom pulled out in February and March and we were looking at doing some gigs in the summer, so we decided to get the original singer back in.

“Now we get that chance again to explore chapter one of the Inspiral Carpets.”

“It looks like we will be doing a UK tour in March. There will be a Manchester gig, quite a big one.”

At the age of 52, the life of the DJ is not slowing down.

Clint juggles his week by entertaining thousands every weekday afternoon on radio station XFM, performing DJ sets at various local club nights and more importantly being a doting dad to his five children.

The ever-growing Boon family army will have a new addition in the summer as the Shaw and Royton-raised keyboard player and vocalist will be celebrating the birth of his sixth child.

The band are back in the studio for the first time in 15 years creating new songs that nod back to their roots.

Clint and the rest of the band felt the time was right to get back performing for their huge global fanbase — with all the revived creativity taking place in a studio in Diggle.

“My life is chaotic, but I love it — especially my children,” he said.

“The Inspirals had five years of doing garage music and in 1989, when Stephen left and Tom took over, we went in another direction completely, which was great.

“But this way we can go back to basics. So far rehearsals are brilliant and we are relaunching next week in South America, where we have a massive following still.”

With the return of Stone Roses selling out three Heaton Park concerts next summer and Noel Gallagher’s solo album topping the charts — Clint is delighted the musical spotlight is firmly on Manchester.

The DJ, who has gathered his own fanbase or the aptly-named “Boon Army” over the years, was a key link in the early careers of both Stone Roses guitarist Mani and the Oasis superstar, who was the Inspiral Carpets’ roadie for five years.

He revealed Oasis, who split in 2009, may not have happened at all if a 1988 audition for the band’s new frontman would have gone differently.

“Noel Gallagher was a big fan of ours and he was the first person to audition to be our singer.

“We didn’t like his style of singing but we loved him as a person and we took him on as a full-time roadie.

“He travelled the world with us and he was with us day in day out. It’s funny if Stephen Holt would not have left the Inspirals when he did, arguably you could say Oasis might not have happened.

“That knowledge he learned with us back then, he is still using.

“It’s happened a lot in my life. I have been in these little weird situations when things come together and become incredible.

“Some of it is luck, but I think a lot of it is destiny.”

When asked if he had a ticket for one of the Stone Roses’ Manchester gigs — Clint replied by saying: “Not got a ticket. Not had chance. I’ll be guessing I will be either doing a DJ set, or presenting for XFM, or even the Inspirals might even get the support.

“Anything like that could happen.”