TALKING to Inspiral Carpets frontman Tom Hingley, a whole host of issues crop up.

From why the X Factor’s domination of the Christmas Number One is bad for British business, to what was really behind the recent threat of possible postal strikes.

Tom has a well-informed opinion on them all.

He’s a writer and a lecturer but most importantly for a certain generation of music fans, he is one of the “names” from the legendary Madchester scene of the late Eighties and early Nineties.

From 1989 until 1995, he fronted the cult indie band, the Inspiral Carpets, and wrote some of their biggest hits, including Bringing Me Down, Saturn 5 and This Is How It Feels.

Born and raised in Oxfordshire, he moved to Manchester with his band, Too Much Texas, in 1984 and promptly got involved in the local music scene by getting jobs at the legendary club, the Haçienda.

“I collected glasses,” he reveals. “Even back then, there was a buzz about the place. You knew there would be films about that time. We wanted to be where it was happening and that was the place.”

His association with the Inspirals started on a John Peel session for Radio One, when his band played on the same programme as the Inspirals.

He adds: “I found a copy of their original single and looked up the address of their record label. I went along to see if they would sign our band, which they did, but then the Inspirals left the label and I left my band to join the Inspirals.”

His successful audition to the band meant very different career paths for both Tom and a certain Noel Gallagher, as the latter also applied for the post of Inspirals lead singer.

“He wasn’t right for the band and he hasn’t done too badly out of it,” Tom laughs.

More recently, Tom has released a number of highly-acclaimed solo albums, including last year’s Thames Valley Delta Blues, and continues to tour extensively all over the world.

This Friday, he plays the Bull, in Crouch Street, Colchester, from 10pm.

He says: “There will be some old Inspirals stuff, some of the solo material and even some old blues covers.”

For more information on Tom, go to www.tomhingley.co.uk