Time Flies… 1994-2009
April 1994 it begins.
Effortlessly, the classic singles, ‘Supersonic’ and ‘Shakermaker’ provided a tangible feeling that something was happening; then came ‘Live Forever’, where we saw a young Liam Gallagher nailed to a chair in that bizarre video and somehow the notion that one of ours could again excite, incite and not to mention, sell millions of records was very real. They virtually reignited an ailing industry and revitalised the global music scene. They did this by becoming “the most complete pop group on the planet”. They knew it too; as Noel Gallagher, the band’s principal songwriter, simply explained, “We’re not arrogant, we just believe we’re the greatest band in the World.” His younger brother who went on to become one of the ‘greatest frontmen of all time’, once remarked, “There’s Elvis and me. I couldn’t say which of the two is best.” Oasis owned attitude, and noise and confusion often followed. Early on, Noel said, “All I know is that the gigs are selling out and we’re probably gonna get in loads more trouble on this tour.”
It was this kind of self belief and ambition that flung the world open to Oasis. From their landmark ‘arrival’ performance at T in the Park in 1994 to the now legendary gigs at Maine Road, a weekend of history-making at Knebworth, world famous venues that included sell out shows at Madison Square Gardens and the Hollywood Bowl, and stadiums from Wembley to River Plate, Argentina and beyond, as well as just about every single festival here and abroad, Oasis rapidly grew but never lost their high cool. How many bands manage that – and why? Undoubtedly, millions identified, aspired, shared the dream of the boys from Burnage making very, very good. Their outspokenness and the very real relationship of Noel and Liam kept us enthralled and amused. At times, it provided real drama, but nevertheless the humanity shone through more often than not. Oasis entertained on every level. At every concert tens of thousands united to sing along to, be moved by, be energised by and reminisce with this incredible set list – a definitive chronicle of a generation, national anthems, a series of musical lunar landings. Remember whose eyes you were looking into when you first heard ‘Wonderwall’? Who had their arm around you during ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’? Who did you steal a glance from during ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’? Mosh with to ‘Lyla’? Who did you want to ‘Live Forever’ with? And why did it all work so well, for so long, all around the world, for so many people? For a time, they did change the way we walked, we talked, the way we dressed. For Oasis it was always so simple. Liam Gallagher comments, “I’m totally proud of everything we’ve done. I liked the crazy times and the not so crazy, I liked it all, man.” And Noel Gallagher sums it up by saying, “The fact that we kept it together for so long is testament to our love of the music. It’s from the heart.”
