Today is the birthday of Clint Boon, organist for the Inspiral Carpets, who was born in 1959 in Oldham, England. Along with the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays, the Inspiral Carpets emerged as one of the seminal bands in England's musical revival of the late '80s and early '90s -- a psychedelic, happy dance sound that predated the current electronica boom. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of frontman Stephen Holt, guitarist Graham Lambert, Boon, bassist David Swift and drummer Craig Gill. The Inspiral Carpets' psychedelic, danceable sound brought singles such as "Plane Crash" to life; Holt was replaced by the ominous-voiced Thomas Hingley before they recorded their debut.

Life came out on the independent Mute label (Depeche Mode, Easure), earning attention by way of the band's bowl-cut hair and Boon's garage-rock Farfisa organ. The band formed its own label, Cow Records, making waves with its slogan -- "Cool as Fuck." Life went to #2 in Britain; its follow-up, The Beast Inside went to #4. The Inspiral Carpets' third album, Revenge of the Goldfish was distinguished by Lambert's surfed-up guitar melodies. The band's most recent release, Devil Hopping, came out in 1994. Other birthdays: Toby Pipes (Deep Blue Something), Jacob Ceniceros (Nu Flavor), Anita Doth (2 Unlimited) and Irving Washington (Portrait).