Madchester was the heyday of the Manchester music scene and at it's height their was obviously The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays but also the oft ignored Inspiral Carpets who sold out the massive Manchester venue G-Mex. They also survived the Manchester fall out to continue recording and did a fantastic duet with Manchester indie stalwart Mark E Smith too. Quite a back catalogue and a quality live band too who have had the odd come back or too to boot.
So after that intro we asked Graham Lambert of the Inspiral Carpets to complete our 'Confessionals of a former indie star' Q&A... here's the results!
Which Indie band were you in and what did you play?
I’m in The Inspiral Carpets and I play the guitar.
How would you have described them as and how did others describe you!
We were part of the Madchester scene of the early 90s. In my mind we were a garage band that wrote some decent tunes.
How many albums did you record?
4
Now were they on a proper ‘indie’ label or did you sell your souls to the devil and sign to a major?
We were on a proper Indie Mute Records. A class label.
Were your records any good and are they worth a listen now?
Yes they still sound good today, the early ones sound a bit niaive but I like that.
How were you treated by the British music press, did you fall victim to their ‘build them up knock ‘em down’ policy?
Probably, but its better to have been up there than not at all.
Did you manage to get onto Top of the Pops (before it was criminally axed) and as many indie bands of the time did you do a kids Saturday morning show and if so what was that like?
We did Top of the Pops 8 times. We also did the theme tune to kids TV programme 8.15 from Manchester. It was great but at the time we werent all sure we were doing the right thing.
What do you remember of the touring circuit, did you partake in the whole rock and roll lifestyle?
I personally am not very rock and roll, but we had a great time travelling the world winding each other up, which we still do today.
Any good stories you wanna share (oh go on!).
I'll leave them for a future book. Which will be made into a film.
What was the biggest and also the best gig you did?
Biggest was the 1990 Reading Festival or G-Mex Manchester 21 July 1990 our hometown show. The best gig we did was a gig in Norwich Waterfront about 3 years ago it was pure bedlam.
Conversely what was the worst gig of your career and why?
A festival in Italy 1994 the day before we did Glastonbury we played badly.
A member of The Tansads wrote a book about their time as a failed indie star, have you fancied writing about your time as an indie star?
Probably would be funny and entertaining if you knew me, but offensive if you didnt.
Do you ever get recognised as a former indie star?
Not really.
What was the weirdest fan thing that happened to you whilst you were an indie star?
A fan once asked me advice on bananas North Korean or Lybian? in a north Manchester suburban branch of Asda on 9 May 1991.
What were the reasons behind your bands split and were you glad they did so?
Good question, we got dropped from our label. It somehow felt the life of the band had run its course. Sad but glad, I guess.
What have you done post indie stardom?
Event management and concert promoter work. We've reformed a couple of times to do some shows, its always good fun but hard trying to get it togther due to everyones family and work commitments.
Do you miss the ‘old days’ of indie stardom? and are you still in contact with your former band mates?
No and yes.
Nostalgia seems to be fairly decent box office at the moment. Have you joined the boom of reformations / would you consider ‘getting the old band’ back together?
We try to but see above answer.....
There also seems to a current vogue of playing albums in their entirety, what do you think the attraction to the bands for doing this?
Probably one day.
Finally how would you want your former band to be best remembered?
13 class top 40 singles, 4 great albums and a rocking live band.
March 2011