EXCLUSIVE: Inspiral Carpets frontman recalls wild ‘Madchester moments’, his relationship with the Oasis brothers and missing his friend Mani.
Clint Boon, the driving force behind iconic Manchester band Inspiral Carpets has opened up on knowing Noel and Liam Gallagher before Oasis even formed.
Noel, or the “boy from Burnage” as the 67-year-old frontman and DJ fondly calls him, was a huge fan of Inspiral Carpets, and the keyboard player recalls him auditioning as their new frontman in 1988.
He says, “We hadn’t made any records at this point. But Noel started coming to our gigs. We got to know him. He was the first person after Steve [Holt] left to say, “I’d like to audition to be your singer.”
“So, we auditioned him in December ’88. But we didn’t think his voice suited what we wanted. We needed somebody with a big voice, as we saw it. But we took him on as our roadie, PA, and general helper for the next four years.”
The Oldham native, who recently released autobiographical book Manchester Chronicles, a wide ride through his life and the Manchester music scene, a lot of fun to be around – and a great grafter. “He had a brilliant sense of humour, was very loyal to us and a great part of the team.”
Boon recalls hilarious instances where Noel would even jump on promotional chats for the band.
“Sometimes he’d be in our office in Manchester doing Japanese interviews, pretending to be me while I was in bed at home. There’s a famous interview Noel did with a fanzine writer. We just couldn’t be a**ed on the day.
“So we just went off to some pub and Noel ended up doing this interview with this young woman. And that was the first ever Noel Gallagher interview in the world.”
On one memorable occasion, he remembers Countryfile’s John Craven – whose daughter Vicky was a big fan – coming into the group’s dressing room, and Noel offering him a spliff.
“He’d just lit it up. And as John walked in, Noel looked at him and said, “Ah, Mr. Craven, would you like a suck on this?” As I recall, John gallantly declined. But moments like that are never too far away when you’re in a band.”
Boon adds, “Noel still says that that period of his working life is one of his favourite times, because I don’t think he had the pressure on his shoulders.”
“I still see him now. He’s got more money in the bank, but he’s the same bloke. Still a cheeky scamp – just a very rich one!”
Boon got to know his younger brother, Liam, as well – but says initially he was the opposite of the mouthy rock’ n’ roll legend we now know.
“The first couple of years I knew Liam, he was quite unassuming. Really good-looking, but quiet compared to Noel”, he says.
“When they signed to Creation, he started morphing into this amazing frontman. You do want your frontmen to be a bit Messiah-like. He’s still that. But you can tell he’s still a soft soul, as well.”
Boon admits he thought the lads’ band name was rubbish. “”When Noel told me they called the band Oasis, I said, “That’s a shit name, Noel.” I remember saying, “You’re getting nowhere with the name.”
Of course, not only was Boon wrong on that count, but Oasis would soon shoot to global fame – and have now sold out their second reunion tour, though he’s not surprised.
“I said for years they’d get back together as long as their mum Peggy was alive. But I was as excited as the rest of the world to see it unfold.”
But rockers aren’t only the famous faces Boon is on first name terms with. He counts Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a friend, and tells us he believes he’s the opposite of a ‘vacant’ politician.
The musician, who first met Burnham when he interviewed him on the airwaves as a local MP, told the Mirror, ” I’ve known him for quite a few years. Obviously, he’s an Inspiral Carpets fan!”
“We had a nice moment in Manchester a few years ago. After our gig, he came backstage, stood on the coffee table and gave a speech. It just came out, this amazing speech. It’s one of his superpowers.”
As for how Britain’s new leader is faring, Boon is convinced he’ll do great things. “When you talk to him, you know you’re talking to somebody that’s listening, and that’s important. You don’t get that in some politicians. They’re just vacant.
“There’s optimism in the air for the first time -I just want to see him given enough time to make great things happen.”
Boon also talks movingly in his book about losing his good friend, Stone Roses and Primal Scream guitarist Mani, last November.
“Losing Mani was a big blow. We all knew that he’d had health issues for years with emphysema. But he was such a big spirit, you could never imagine the world without him.
“But he’s left not just his body of music, but his presence. Right to the end of my time, I’ll remember him and feel him and hear him laughing. He had this really dirty laugh. I can still hear that. He’s just an absolute star. I’m so glad that I knew him.”
Manchester itself feels like a character in Boon’s fascinating book, and he says, “It doesn’t feel like it’s just a geographical location. It’s a magical place, partly because of its people. They’re warm and supportive. It’s let me do all my mad stuff I can make a living from. I’ve not had to have a proper job for 40 years!”
Asked if, a few years off 70, whether he’d consider just putting his feet up, Boon, whose legendary band has a new album out in January, shakes his head firmly.
“I might cut down on DJing. But I’ll keep writing music and performing till the day I fall over. Some people get to my age and think they’re too old to be doing this. Bull**t. Being around music keeps you young.”
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