Inspiral Carpets bring Mancunian grooves to Leamington

Then they drifted apart, dropped by their record company and discouraged by personal differences before regrouping in 2003 for sporadic tours.

Now the Inspiral Carpets are reunited with their first lead singer, reinvigorated and with their first new songs in 15 years ready for release.

With the Stone Roses also reformed, the Oldham psychedelicists will support Happy Mondays later this summer as the nation prepares to fall back in love with Mancunian grooves, but first they are coming to Leamington’s Assembly on March 22.

For bass player Martyn Walsh the tour and new single You’re So Good For Me proves the band have maintained their identity and the work ethic that kept them going through hard times. He said: “It shows a band of elder statesmen can come back and make a little bit of a racket and still be 100 per cent independent. We’re not restrained by anybody. We’re doing what we want to do, when we want to do it.”

The Inspiral Carpets formed nearly 30 years ago when singer Stephen Holt teamed up with guitarist Graham Lambert, but found its sound with the introduction of Clint Boon and his Farfisa organ, and fame after singer Tom Hingley replaced Holt and Walsh joined in 1988.

Singles This is How it Feels and Saturn Five married thoughtful lyrics with surging tunes, but the band drifted apart in the late 1990s after being dropped from record label Mute.

The Inspirals got back together in 2003, but Hingley left in a twitter tiff - since patched up - in 2011.

Since the first split Walsh has written music for computer games and adverts, and in projects DC10 and Spartak has harnessed studio techniques he learned from Berlin house DJ Paul Van Dyke to collaborate with singers over the internet,

Nonetheless he says there is still nothing like the chemistry he feels with the Inspiral Carpets onstage, but doesn’t want a ‘Madchester’ revival to spill over into nostalgia for a ‘scene’ he feels never existed.

He said: “I don’t want to be looking back all the time. That’s one of the reasons we’re keen to be seen as a fully functioning band. We’re in the studio, we’re doing things.”

With new material recorded, Walsh said the band are happy to play songs from any period.

He added: “Ultimately we’re in the entertainment industry; you have to give people what they want.

“We’re very aware that when people come out and see us they don’t want to see some overindulgent show, but we’re excited about the stuff we’re doing. We’re a lot more energised as a band. We’re really confident. We know we can put on a good show.”

Inspiral Carpets will play at the Leamington Assembly on March 22. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets cost £18.50.