Oasis History
It started in 1993, and doesn’t look like it’s stopping for a while. Read all about the rise & “fall” of Oasis. Here you’ll find a complete history of the band. Their antics, their ups, their downs.
The Early years
When “Definitely Maybe” was released in 1994 the hype-surrounding Oasis was monumental, it not surprisingly shot to No1 in the UK album charts. But what was surprising (especially to Alan McGee, Creation Records boss) it became the fastest selling album in UK history. The stage was set, Oasis had the UK enthralled, all the shows were sell outs, the singles & album were flying off the shelves, it was time to break America!
Taking America. Definitely!… Maybe?
When Oasis Landed in America it was clear, even the American’s “got it”. Most dates we’re sold out, “Definitely Maybe” had sold over 1million copies. All looked set for a British invasion, but then disaster… Noel Gallagher walked out after an argument with brother Liam – the brotherly rivalry was to prove a tabloid and press favourite. Noel went “on the run” with the tour float, and his passport and was eventually tracked down in a hotel in Las Vegas, where he was persuaded to stay with the band. It was during this time he wrote “Its Good To Be Free”, “Half The World Away” & “Talk Tonight”.
Each Single progressively got higher in the UK charts, with “Supersonic” the debut single released in April 1994 going in at 31. “Shakermaker” released in June 1994 at No. 11, the epic “Live Forever” released August 1994 reaching No. 10 and T-rex “inspired” “Cigarettes & Alcohol” released October 1994 reaching an impressive No. 7. They also released a one off single in time for Christmas 1994 called “Whatever” which reached No.3, not quite the Christmas No.1 Noel had hoped for, but he did insist at the time it would be top 5, and several of his mates cleaned up at the bookies in time for Christmas.
The Tough Second Album
 With the success of “Definitely Maybe” Oasis went back in the studio to record their second album “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory”. With the songs already written in Noels head, it seemed like it would be a case of just turning up to the studio, recording and in a couple of weeks the album would be ready. But as has been widely reported over the years, Oasis like to party, and party hard! Although they would regularly do 18-hour sessions in the studio, and they did work at a phenomenal rate it did almost come crashing down when Noel turned up at the studio to find half of Monmouth playing with his guitars, drinking, smoking and doing drugs. Brother Liam, which Noel didn’t like, had invited them there for a party. It resulted in an intoxicated anger fuelled cricket bat attack on Liam by Noel. Noel decided enough was enough and went back to London for a week until things calmed down.
When Morning Glory was release it got mixed reviews and certainly wasn’t received as the classic era defining anthemic album with which it is now seen. However the buying public loved it, within 4 days of it’s release it sold almost a quarter of a million copies and by the end of the week had sold 346,000, the best first week figures in eight years and only 4000 short of the all-time record held by Michael Jackson’s album “bad”. By the end of 1995 it had sold 1,750.000 copies and by the summer of 1996 it had gone platinum nine times over, marking over 5 million copies sold. Oasis were on top of the world, easily the biggest (and self proclaimed) best band in the world and lets face it they were!
Blur or Oasis?
 Blur or Oasis? That was the question everyone asked each other at school, in clubs, in pubs, even on Father Ted! The nation had gone guitar music crazy and at the centre of it were 2 bands. Blur, cocky middle class boys from London, and Oasis arrogant working class hero’s from Manchester. What happened next though no one had seen since the 60’s when the Rolling Stones took on The Beatles. Throughout their short career Oasis had always made it quite publicly known they didn’t particularly like Blur and Noel in particular really didn’t like singer Damon Albarn & Bassist Alex James quoting in a drunken interview “I hope they die of AIDS” which is a comment he regrets to this day. Whenever the two bands met snide comments were being made, mostly started by Oasis. It had to come to a head and in August it did. Blur originally intended to release “Country House” their single off of their forth coming album “Great Escape” at the end of August, and expecting Oasis to release something a few weeks after. However when they found out “Roll With It” was scheduled for release on 14th August, Blur decided to put their single out on the same day in direct competition. The media hype surrounding the immanent No1 & No2 singles was massive and even appeared on the News at 10. Oasis had the bigger fan base, and were expected to be No 1, when the chart positions were announced Blur just beat Oasis to the top spot.
Despite this media “set back” Oasis were on a upward rise, releasing Wonderwall & Don’t Look Back In Anger two era defining anthems belted out in pubs and clubs and being sung along to in a drunken haze even now. What was to come next was so monumental, so big it was probably the beginning of the end for the superstardom they were experiencing now.
Knebworth – The beginning of the end
Saturday 10th August 1996, Knebworth, Hertfordshire, England. Oasis was about to play to 250,000 people over two nights. The 250,000 tickets sold out in two days, barely 1 in 10 of the 2.6 million applications for tickets were successful. Oasis at Knebworth was the biggest rock event in British history, defining a decade, defining a generation. This was the biggest gig ever to be staged in Britain, and no one could have pulled it off apart from Oasis. With all the hype, the big gigs and massive album sales Noel knew the 3rd album would have to be even better.
Be Here Now
 With the success of the first two albums, the biggest band in the world needed to deliver something even better than the first two. The anticipation of what would be released was immense. Not since the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967 had there been such anticipation for a new record. Queues formed outside record shops on the day of release as 800,000 copies were sold in the UK within 24 hours. The album was an economic success even if it wasn’t a critical success. The album was received with bad review after bad review. Although early media reviews were positive, once the hype had died down, the album was criticised with most of the critics focused on the extensive length of several songs, the heavier sound, and overproduction. Noel defined the album as "the sound of a buncha guys... on coke... in the studio... not giving a fuck." Despite being critisied there are actually some very grown up, brilliant songs on there. With Stand By Me & Don’t Go Away two stand out brilliant songs which wouldn’t look out of place on Morning Glory. The Be Here Now tour was a sell out but dispite the critics slating the album, Oasis were never out of the tabloids. Fuled by Drugs & Alcohol there were several big stories of the tour especially when Liam reportedly punched a fan in Australia.
The End Of Cool Britania
The Britpop movement was over, and Be Here Now wasn’t the critical success Oasis had hoped for. Some say Britpop died when Noel went to No.10 to meet the prime minister, some say it ended when they released Be Here Now and others say it ended when Robbie Williams released “Angeles”. But one things for sure Oasis defined an era, they were the biggest band In the world. There songs even now make pubs and clubs go mad fer all around the world. They ruled the world for 4 years they meant so much to so many people and still do to this day. They sell out stadiums all over the world.
The second part of this article will be up next week so stay tuned.
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