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Interview with
STEPHEN HOLT
from
INSPIRAL CARPETS

(18th July 2023)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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For any new fans, how did you come together originally?
Myself (Stephen) and Graham had been making music for years with friends, mainly in our parents garages. When we became friends in 1983 we decided to form a band together and recruited several bass players and drummers along the way to help out.
Clint joined the band around 1986. We knew him from being in a few bands in the Oldham area and also DJ’ing at a local club we went to. He also had a small rehearsal and recording space (The Mill) which we started to use and he then started to play keys with the band as we thought this would add to our sound.
Craig joined the band at the age of 15 after our drummer failed to show up at an outside gig we were due to play. Luckily it was cancelled due to rain but Craig saw our drummer was missing and offered to go and get his kit to help out.
The rest, as they say, is history.  

What was the motivation for reuniting in 2003 and did playing 10-15 years later feel much different?
I rejoined the band on vocals in 2011 after a 22 year break, replacing Tom Hingley who had recently fallen out with the rest of the band. I was aware the band had had several ‘reunions’ previously.
Stepping back into the band in 2011 felt so natural, like seeing your best mates again after being away for a while. The rest of the band were so welcoming and supportive. I think that’s one of the reasons Inspiral Carpets still exist, there are no ego’s. Everyone just get’s on really well, supports each other and we all love making music together.

Sadly, the world lost Craig back in 2016 and you took an obvious break from music. It must feel great to get back on the road and play, especially in memory of Craig. Can you tell us a bit about him?
Craig was the life and soul of the band, he was our brother and that’s why it was so difficult to even consider reuniting as a band and considering playing together again. However, after 6 years we decided the best way to pay our respects was to celebrate his life and what he contributed to music by reforming. We also thought our amazing and also deserved this and the opportunity to pay their respects.  

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Now, tell me why, since Aussie crowds are the best in the world, you haven’t been out here since 1993?
We haven’t been ignoring you honestly. It was just a matter of logistics. We haven’t been a full time band since the mid 90’s so it was difficult to take the time out to tour abroad as well as manage our other commitments. As we’re now fully committed to the band again we aim to make up for lost time and get to as many countries as possible we’ve not been able to visit for a while. 

What are you looking forward to most, and what can the fans expect?
Personally I’ve never been to Australia so I’m really looking forward to seeing as much as possible, as well as catching up with some family and friends I’ve not seen for years. I’m also really looking forward to seeing what the music scene is like and what the differences are between the UK and Australia and New Zealand.
As far as what the fans can expect, we’re on fire at the moment, sounding as good as ever, so I think they can expect a brilliant night full of top tunes.

For any new listeners, how would you describe your sound? Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
I think we’ve always had a more punky/60’s garage sound than other Manchester bands we were grouped alongside in the 80’s. Alongside that I feel we have always written great, sing along choruses that our fans can engage with.
Also, our songs are generally about LIFE, everyday things/feelings that we can all relate to.

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You released a great album of remastered and remixed singles in March this year. How did this come about?
Mute/BMG, our record label, wanted to compile a definitive collection of all our singles released so far. There had been other collections released previously but I think we all felt that these weren’t of the best quality and didn’t include our latter material.

Any new music / new album on the drawing board?
As we’re a full time band again I think it’s only natural that at some point, when we stop touring, we will start to write some new material. We’re totally loving being back together again and we want this to continue as long as possible.
We’d also started demo’ing some new songs before Craig sadly died so we’d also like to re-visit these at some point and possibly release them. 

For any new fans, which tracks from all those magnificent releases would you point them to, to experience Inspiral Carpets best?
I think it’s really hard to pin down just a few songs. In the band we all have our own favourites to play and these differ between us. Also, when you speak to fans everyone seems to have other favourite tunes we hadn’t thought of.
Basically I’d say give our new Greatest Hits album a play and decide for yourself.

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I imagine you may be on someone’s list with this question. If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
It would have to be the Velvet Underground or REM for me, but there’s no way I’d be replacing either Lou Reed or Michael Stipe!
Both bands just had everything you’d want from a band.

Do you have any more aspirations as a music artist?
I just try to be a better singer/frontman every time I rehearse or go on stage. I want to be the best for the band and also for the crowd who have paid to be entertained.

You have so much experience in living a musicians life performing and recording. With that in mind, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out? 
Just be yourself and enjoy what you are doing. Don’t try to be something or someone else.

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What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? With all the highlights, what’s been the one highlight that has stood out for you?
Building a connection between the band and audience is vital and when this works it’s the most beautiful feeling ever. I don’t know if you saw the Lewis Capaldi moment at this years Glastonbury when he was really struggling, but it was the most moving/beautiful thing I had seen.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Heaven Up Here – Echo and the Bunnymen, Forever Changes – Love, The Velvet Underground (Banana album)
Artist – REM, The Velvet Underground, Echo and the Bunnymen, Talking Heads, The Doors, Joy Division, Magazine, Afghan Whigs… There are just too many.
Movie – One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, To Kill a Mocking Bird.
Place to visit – France.
Venue to play – Anywhere in Manchester.
Food – I’m a vegetarian so anything with cheese and mushrooms.
Drink – Coffee, Rooibos Tea, Beer, Wine…
Person in History –  anyone who has fought for equality and other people’s rights.
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I don’t have a tattoo and if I did get one it would have to be something meaningful that I wanted on my body for the rest of my life.

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Follow INSPIRAL CARPETS
Website – Instagram – Facebook

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Press Release February 2023 (below)

A Metropolis Touring Presentation

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Cool as **** Legendary Manchester band INSPIRAL CARPETS are reuniting for a Greatest Hits Tour of Australia and New Zealand in July / August. An integral part of the Madchester scene along with the Stone Roses, Charlatans, Happy Mondays and James this will be their First Time in Australia since 1993 and their First Time ever in New Zealand!!!

The INSPIRAL CARPETS formed in Oldham in the late 80s and by 1990 their stunning debut album Life peaked at #2 on the UK albums chart and produced several Top 20 singles including ‘This Is How It Feels’ and ‘She Comes in the Fall’.

Follow up album The Beast Inside went Top 5 and featured favourites ‘Caravan’ and ‘Please Be Cruel’ whilst 92’s Revenge Of The Goldfish album featured indie-dancefloor bangers ‘Dragging Me Down’ and ‘Two Worlds Collide’.

The next album, Devil Hopping (1994), reached number 10 in the UK album chart, with ‘Saturn 5’ and ‘I Want You’ (featuring Mark E Smith) as top-20 hits.

INSPIRAL CARPETS reunited in 2003, playing to sellout crowds 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 went on indefinite hiatus after the sudden death of much-loved band mate, drummer Craig Gill in 2016. Now the Carpets, (who Noel Gallagher once famously roadied for), say the “time is right” to head back on tour to celebrate their music – while paying tribute to Craig Gill.

“It will be a celebration of the music we created, which has brought so much joy to people over the last 34 years”

Moo!

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AMNPLIFY – DB