Mancunian icon and Inspiral Carpets star gives masterclass to Salford music students

Clint Boon has delivered an inspiring talk to University of Salford students about breaking the music industry in Greater Manchester, equipped with anecdotes starring all the era’s favourite artists.

An audience of hopeful musicians filled Peel Hall at the University in Salford on Friday, where Clint shared conversation with Director of Music, Tim France.

From hiring a young roadie Noel Gallagher to curing hangovers with Shaun Ryder, Clint offered an insight into his youth with some of Madchester’s finest exports.

A discussion about his career and outlook on life steered the afternoon, often being broken-down with comedic tangents from the musician and DJ’s past. He finished by taking questions from the audience of students.  

Clint has been to the University of Salford multiple times before. Long before he started giving advice to students, he attended a gig at Maxwell Hall.

Clint said: “The next chapter is why I’m here. I’ve spoken to students at Salford before and I want to be able to pass on any knowledge I can. For me also I want to raise awareness and maybe help raise funds for the re-development of the iconic Maxwell Hall. I came to the Hall in 1985 to watch New Order supported by The Happy Mondays.

“I remember being blown away by how good the Happy Mondays were. They were like no other band I’ve ever seen. They looked like completely normal lads. I fell in love with the band and got to know them quite well, they’re still some of my best friends.”

The University of Salford has revealed a multi-million pound plan to completely redevelop Maxwell Hall as part of the £800m Salford Crescent masterplan, to create an iconic 21st Century venue for new and emerging talent as well as well established artists looking to reconnect with the rich cultural heritage of Salford and Greater Manchester.

The redevelopment of the university’s Maxwell Hall will feature a large auditorium, with the aim of it becoming a 'cultural hub' for Greater Manchester attracting high calibre acts to help put Salford back on the music venue map.

When asked who some of his favourite Salford acts were, Clint replied: “Peter Hook is always very vocal he is from Salford. And a couple of The Hollies were from here, Graham Nash was a Salford lad and went on to be part of Crosby Stills Nash and Young who were one of the biggest American bands of all time.”

Clint is no stranger to sucess and over the years his hard work has earned him a legion of fans, or the ‘Boon Army’ as they liked to be called.

“Tenacity is really important,” he said. “And I’ve always said follow your soul and not your wallet. It’s okay to have a punk mentality – you don’t always have to follow what the establishment tells you.”

Clint will soon be leaving XS Manchester, a station he has grown fondly of over the three years he has been there, with twelve years at XFM/Radio X before that.

“I’ll miss the station, I’ll miss the people and I’ll miss what we’ve built. We became a real Manchester-centric station that supports new music, the food and drink culture and local charity. In my time I’ve never seen a radio station that embraces the city as much,” he said.

The next chapter for the Manchester icon will involve focusing on his new podcast, Clint Boon +1, which is being recorded at local creative space The Yard. Clint’s first guest is his old friend and fellow broadcaster Mark Radcliffe.