My memory tells me that it was a bright, sunny day, but memory is a fallible thing. One thing for sure, though, is that I was dedicated to rave music and considered myself, in my teenage delusion, a connoisseur with rarified tastes, full of disdain for “commercial” rave music, and preferring Derrick May and Dave Angel. Anyway, on this particular day, my life changed, because Champagne Supernova was playing on a Hi-Fi (remember them?) and I was transfixed. “What’s that?” Oasis. “It’s incredible.” That was 30 years ago. I listened to What’s The Story (Morning Glory) relentlessly, and then Definitely Maybe. Be Here Now was still some time away.
Getting into Oasis opened up a world of other music. I’d read Q magazine every month, and back issues in the school library (many of which were “liberated” and ended up in a huge collection I donated to Oxfam some time ago) and would be entranced at who Noel had ripped his songs off of. I remember during a house party a Best of 70s CD was playing and Oasis’ Cigarettes & Alcohol started and we all looked at each other stunned. Except it wasn’t: it was Get it On by T-Rex. Interestingly, a rave version of a T-Rex song “Children of the Revolution” was already well known to my friend group. A throwback to this article.
I saw Oasis at Loch Lomond in 1996. Four of us went, three of whom worked at McDonald’s. We asked for the day off, and the next day, and were refused. We basically laughed and said we were going anyway, and did. It was an amazing day. I had a sense that we were experiencing something significant, and it was. Weirdly, I clearly remember Dreadzone playing. The Manic Street Preachers got boo’d, something I’d have been happy with then, ashamed at now. Oasis came on, the helicopter noise from What’s the Story booming over the PA, and Liam in a duffle coat came out, kissed Noel, swaggered over to the mic and shouted “Columbia” – my favourite Oasis song – possibly, from a crowded field, the highlight of my teenage years. I saw then again in 2000, at Murrayfield, but don’t remember much. It was in the middle of a binge lasting a few days. I do remember the walk there, it seemed like everybody I’d ever known was on their way there, and the craic was mighty. I don’t think any photos exist of any of us at either of the shows. It’s just the way it was then. Maybe it’s a shame, maybe it’s for the best.
So, when Oasis reformed, I was interested. I tried to get tickets on the day they were released, and failed, like a lot of people. At one stage I considered buying a ticket for the New Jersey show, but with young kids to look after, that would be tricky. Then, as the day approached, I knew I couldn’t miss it. I bought a ticket for almost £300, and made my way there. Unlike 2000, I didn’t see anyone I knew, though I knew a lot of friends were there, in the standing area, partying away. I had a good seat, with a clear view. I missed Cast, caught and enjoyed Richard Ashcroft, and then Oasis came on . . .
They sounded great, and Liam was full of mischief, berating the City of Edinburgh council for comments about Oasis fans (not, it must be said, all that inaccurate). The atmosphere was more like a family friendly rave than a concert. People were smiling, talking, chatting. The Poznan was requested from Liam, and everyone complied. They didn’t play Columbia, and Hello, with its Gary Glitter origin felt a little bit suspect, but the set was filled with the hits and gave people exactly what they wanted, and a little bit more. Noel went a bit boomer dad with an intro to Don’t Look Back in Anger asking if there were any “atheist lesbians” in the audience.
I don’t think this tour will be a one-off. It has been such an incredible success, that I don’t think either warring Gallagher brother will want it to be over after this. But who knows – I didn’t think they’d be split for 16 years. As Noel once said “it’s always hard working with family. But when your family is Liam Gallagher, it’s even harder.”
Getting into Oasis opened up a world of other music. I’d read Q magazine every month, and back issues in the school library (many of which were “liberated” and ended up in a huge collection I donated to Oxfam some time ago) and would be entranced at who Noel had ripped his songs off of. I remember during a house party a Best of 70s CD was playing and Oasis’ Cigarettes & Alcohol started and we all looked at each other stunned. Except it wasn’t: it was Get it On by T-Rex. Interestingly, a rave version of a T-Rex song “Children of the Revolution” was already well known to my friend group. A throwback to this article.
I saw Oasis at Loch Lomond in 1996. Four of us went, three of whom worked at McDonald’s. We asked for the day off, and the next day, and were refused. We basically laughed and said we were going anyway, and did. It was an amazing day. I had a sense that we were experiencing something significant, and it was. Weirdly, I clearly remember Dreadzone playing. The Manic Street Preachers got boo’d, something I’d have been happy with then, ashamed at now. Oasis came on, the helicopter noise from What’s the Story booming over the PA, and Liam in a duffle coat came out, kissed Noel, swaggered over to the mic and shouted “Columbia” – my favourite Oasis song – possibly, from a crowded field, the highlight of my teenage years. I saw then again in 2000, at Murrayfield, but don’t remember much. It was in the middle of a binge lasting a few days. I do remember the walk there, it seemed like everybody I’d ever known was on their way there, and the craic was mighty. I don’t think any photos exist of any of us at either of the shows. It’s just the way it was then. Maybe it’s a shame, maybe it’s for the best.
So, when Oasis reformed, I was interested. I tried to get tickets on the day they were released, and failed, like a lot of people. At one stage I considered buying a ticket for the New Jersey show, but with young kids to look after, that would be tricky. Then, as the day approached, I knew I couldn’t miss it. I bought a ticket for almost £300, and made my way there. Unlike 2000, I didn’t see anyone I knew, though I knew a lot of friends were there, in the standing area, partying away. I had a good seat, with a clear view. I missed Cast, caught and enjoyed Richard Ashcroft, and then Oasis came on . . .
They sounded great, and Liam was full of mischief, berating the City of Edinburgh council for comments about Oasis fans (not, it must be said, all that inaccurate). The atmosphere was more like a family friendly rave than a concert. People were smiling, talking, chatting. The Poznan was requested from Liam, and everyone complied. They didn’t play Columbia, and Hello, with its Gary Glitter origin felt a little bit suspect, but the set was filled with the hits and gave people exactly what they wanted, and a little bit more. Noel went a bit boomer dad with an intro to Don’t Look Back in Anger asking if there were any “atheist lesbians” in the audience.
I don’t think this tour will be a one-off. It has been such an incredible success, that I don’t think either warring Gallagher brother will want it to be over after this. But who knows – I didn’t think they’d be split for 16 years. As Noel once said “it’s always hard working with family. But when your family is Liam Gallagher, it’s even harder.”
⏩Brandon Sullivan is a middle-aged West Belfast émigré. He juggles fatherhood & marriage with working in a policy environment and writing for TPQ about the conflict, films, books, and politics.
There was something pretty special about the music scene in the 90's too.
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