Craig Gill, the longtime drummer of influential indie band Inspiral Carpets, has died at the age of 44. Gill was also the founder of the Manchester Music Tour, which celebrated and preserved the musical legacy of the British city.
No cause of death has been reported. Inspiral Carpets relayed the news Tuesday morning via social media, and Carpets keyboardist Clint Boon called Gill “the beating heart of the Inspirals in more ways than one.”
Liam Gallagher quickly chimed in on news of Gill’s death, tweeting: “Stunned by the news of the death of Gilly my heart goes out to his family and band members LIVE FOREVER LG x”
Gill joined the Inspiral Carpets as a tenager in the ’80s, and according to Radio X, “played on the classic early EPs (Planecrash and Trainsurfing) and all the way through the band’s huge success during the ‘Madchester’ period, including their Number 2 1990 debut album Life.”
See the Inspirals full note below.
With the Manchester Music Tour, Gill provided a first-hand look at the city’s storied legacy, and his tours visited sites like Ian Curtis’ grave and the Salford Lads Club. Just last year, it was commended at the Greater Manchester Tourism Awards.
Featured photo by Lee Boswell via Manchester Music Tours.
Band statement. pic.twitter.com/vIQ7XQSt1O
— Inspiral Carpets (@inspiralsband) November 22, 2016