OASIS FAQ
FACTLETS
- Addresses
- Abbey Road Studios
- 3, Abbey Road, London, NW8
- Air Studios
- 214, Oxford Street, London, W1
- Lyndhurst Hall, Lyndhurst Road, London, NW3
- Astoria Theatre
- 157, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2
- Boardwalk
- Little Peter Street, Manchester, M15
- Borderline
- Orange Yard, Mannette Street, Charing Cross Road, London, W1
- Columbia Hotel
- 95-99, Bayswater Road, Lancaster Gate, London, W2
- Corn Exchange
- 3, Parsons Court, Wheeler Street, Cambridge, CB2
- Creation Records
- 109x, Regents Park Road, London, NW1
- Earl's Court
- Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road, London, SW5
- Eden Studios
- 20-24, Beaumont Road, London, W4
- Electric Ballroom
- 184, Camden High Street, London, NW1
- Forte Crest Hotel
- Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2
- G-MEX Centre
- City Centre, Manchester, M2
- Hacienda
- 11-13, Whitworth Street West, Manchester, M1
- Halcyon Hotel
- 81, Holland Park, London, W11
- King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
- 272A, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2
- King's Hotel
- High Street, Newport, Gwent
- Loco Studios
- Plas Llecha, Llanhennock, Caerleon, Gwent
- London Taxi Centre
- Euston Road, London, NW1
- Maison Rouge Studios
- 2, Wansdown Place, London, SW6
- Manchester City F.C.
- Maine Road, Manchester
- Marquee
- 105, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2
- Microdot
- PO Box 11570, London, NW1 7WW
- Mill Studios
- South Street, Ashton-under-Lyne
- Music Ground
- 51, Hillgate, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Oasis Leisure Centre
- North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Oasis Mailing List [UK only]
- 3, Alveston Place, Leamington Spa, CV32 4BR
- 100 Club
- 100, Oxford Street, London, W1
- Orinoco Studios
- 36, Leroy Street, London, SE1
- Pink Museum Studios
- 1, Hesketh Street, Liverpool, L17
- Porter Street Studios
- Dock Road, Liverpool
- Powerhaus, The
- 1, Liverpool Road, London, N1
- Ridge Farm Studios
- Rusper Road, Capel, near Dorking, Surrey
- Riverside
- 57-59, Melbourne Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1
- Rockfield Studios
- Amberley Court, Rockfield Road, Monmouth, Gwent
- Royal Festival Hall
- Belvedere Road, London, SE1
- Sawmill Studios
- Golant, Fowey, Cornwall
- Sifter's
- 177, Fog Lane, Didsbury, Manchester, M20
- Splash Club
- "Water Rats", 328 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1
- Stock's Golf and Country Club
- Albury, near Tring, Hertfordshire
- Tivoli Club
- Brunswick Road, Buckley, Clywd
- Wembley Arena
- Empire Way, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9
- Blur
- An ongoing problem; principally a clash between Noel and Damon Albarn.
- Associated with Blur allegedly being clever and cockney [if Colchester has ever fallen within the sound of Bow Bells]. Seen by Noel as "a bunch of middle-class f***ers trying to play hardball with a bunch of working-class heroes."
- The 'disagreement' started with the media campaign, instigated [foolishly, by his own admission in October 1997] by Damon, in the summer of 1995 to portray Blur as "bigger than" Oasis. The Blur singer ensured that the release date for Blur’s "Country House" single was brought forward to clash with that of Oasis’s Roll With It. Some clever marketing by Blur’s record company [EMI released the single on several formats including two CD singles with extra tracks] allowed Blur to steal the number one spot in the singles chart.
- A national media [yes, TV news, tabloid and broadsheet!] hyped war of words escalated, and culminated in a clumsy gibe from Noel, who wished Aids upon Damon and Alex of Blur. Despite an immediate retraction by Noel during the interview with Miranda Sawyer of 'The Observer', she chose to print the comments.
- Puerile rivalry continued with occasional outbursts from Damon and Noel. There remains an underlying tension.
- The Boardwalk
- Located in Manchester this was the scene of several of the band’s first gigs - both with and without Noel. Also housed rehearsal rooms in the basement. It was in Room Four that much of the early sound of Oasis came together in almost daily rehearsal.
- Bonehead
- Paul Arthurs' nickname came about when he was a young boy. At a time when long hair was the fashion, his parents insisted that his be cut short. A particularly brutal style in those hedonistic hair days earned him the nickname that has stuck to this day. His growing baldness adds to the poignancy of the moniker
- Chords
- Wise Publications have published a number of song books commercially available in the UK. Each of these comes in a number of different versions: rock score, piano/guitar/vocals, etc.
- Definitely Maybe
- (What’s The Story) Morning Glory
- The Other Side Of Oasis
[includes all non-album B-sides, except cover versions and Swamp Song to mid-1996] - Be Here Now
- A number of individuals have also set up web sites on which can be found their interpretation of chords for different songs. Try:
-
Hurcombe
- Martin Pawlett
-
Cast No Shadow
- Shakermaker
- There is also an interactive songbook for (What’s The Story) Morning Glory produced by Europress in CD-Rom form. This can be ordered from them at:
- Europress
- Cover versions
- Cum On Feel The Noize - Slade
- Help! - The Beatles
- Helter Skelter - The Beatles
- Heroes - David Bowie
- I Am The Walrus - The Beatles
- Street Fighting Man - The Rolling Stones
- To Be Someone - The Jam
- You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
- You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away - The Beatles
- First song
- The first song written by Noel is said by him to have been called Badge. Apparently written when Noel was 13, it seems it bore the trademark Noel lyrical style: "And on the badge it says/Wear a badge".
- In the March 1998 edition of Record Collector is a story about an unnamed female friend of Noel's placing an early tape of his songs up for auction. This is allegedly the only copy of these songs in existence, and includes handwritten lyrics to two of the tracks. The songs on the tape are:
- Womb To Tomb
- Baj
- I Am The Man
- England
- I Don't Think So!
- What's It Got To Do With You?
- No Cause For Alarm!
- Have Fun!!
- Prior to Noel joining Oasis, the band had written a number of tracks the names, chords and lyrics to most of which appear to have been lost in the mists of time. However, Paul Gallagher has written that he can recall three songs that were played live by the pre-Noel band:
- Take Me
- Alice
- Reminisce
- Following Noel’s involvement, a number of tracks were written some of which are widely available on bootlegs. These include:
- Better Let You Know
- Colour My Life
- I Will Show You
- Life In Vain
- Must Be the Music
- See The Sun
- Snakebite
- Strange Thing
- Take Me
- In the absence of any commercial release, and consequent copyright detail, it is assumed that these were all Noel Gallagher compositions.
- Later in 1998, a notebook containing lists of songs composed by Noel, lyrics and thoughts on record release dating back to summer 1993 were put up for auction. Details were contained in an article in the December 1998 edition of Record Collector.
- First records
- Noel
- The first record bought for Noel is said by him to have been "The Show Must Go On" by Leo Sayer.
- The first record bought by Noel is said by him to have been "Never Mind The Bollocks" by the Sex Pistols.
- Logo
- Brian Cannon of Microdot was approached to assist with artwork generally. He met the whole of the band for the first time at one of the Sheffield University gigs in autumn 1993.
- Not looking for a logo specifically they saw and liked the look of the Decca logo on early Rolling Stones records in a book of album sleeves.
- Having decided the format of the logo, six variants on the theme were devised. One possible was based on typeface Futura, used by Adidas, but was rejected as the 'a' looked to much like an 'o'.
- The decision went to Helvetica Black Italic, which had also been used on their earlier Union Jack logo.
- The font was available at Oasis logo listed as USA Black, but the site has now disappeared. One slightly inaccurate option is to use italicised Arial Black.
- Motor transport
- Noel
- Noel does not drive a car.
- He did however receive a chocolate-brown Rolls Royce (DEV 851 T) as a present from Creation Records in December 1995, in which he has been chauffeured on occasion by his friend Simon. From time to time he is seen being driven around in a Range Rover.
- In February 1998, it was reported that he had bought an early 60s Jaguar Mk II.
- Otherwise, he has in the past been known to use a scooter. Gone are the days when he could get away with using the train or the tube.
- In July 1999, it was reported he had spent £110,000 on a hand-crafted, convertible Jaguar XK7.
- Meg
- Meg does drive, and it has been reported that until late-1996 she ran around in a decidedly downbeat Mini; though apparently that was then exchanged for a barely more modest C-registration, 12-year old Skoda. She also uses a scooter (N 204 NGK).
- In late 1998 it was reported that she had purchased a Porsche Boxster.
- Liam
- Liam didn't drive a car until late 1998.
- Again he uses one of a number of scooters he possesses; one of which is a 1955 Lambretta (YSU 390) in shades of dark and light blue.
- It was reported in January 1998 that Liam had been seen having lessons with Patsy in a Vauxhall Corsa. And in July 1999 he is reported to have bought a modestly priced Volkswagen Polo.
- Patsy
- Patsy owned a black BMW in early 1998 (J 882 LLT).
- In July 1999 she was reported to have bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
- Alan
- Alan was given a toy Mini Cooper S and a cheque to cover the cost of one at the same Creation Christmas party at the Halcyon Hotel at which Noel received his Roller. It is not known whether he actually bought one.
- Bonehead
- Bonehead drove the band to gigs in the early days in his work van. At one stage this was painted in garish, psychedelic colours.
- Shortly after Noel received his Rolls-Royce, Bonehead bought himself a similar V-registration brown Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.
- More recently it is known that he bought himself a black Aston Martin DB7 for which he bought the registration 'S1 SAO'.
- He also reportedly bought a Jaguar XK7 and, at a recent number plate auction, the registration 'OAS 15' which it is believed he attached to the Jaguar.
- Name
- There have been numerous explanations for the origins of the band’s name. Some ludicrous, some just plain crass.
- But the one that seems to have stuck best, and appears the most likely, is that the inspiration came from the Oasis club in Swindon, a venue at which the Inspiral Carpets had played and which appeared on a tour poster on the wall in Noel’s room.
- Liam saw the name on the poster, liked it, and after suggesting The Rain change their name, this was agreed by Bonehead, Guigsy and Tony.
- P.W. & P.H., dedication to
- This appears on the sleeve of (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
- P.W. is Paul Weller
- Formerly singer and guitarist with The Jam. Hugely popular in the UK in the late '70s and early '80s. From the mod end of the New Wave spectrum that fused pop with punk.
- The band released numerous singles and 7 albums on Polydor Records between 1978 and 1982:
- In The City [1976]
- This Is The Modern World [1977]
- All Mod Cons [1978]
- Setting Sons [1979]
- Sound Affects [1980]
- The Gift [1982]
- Dig The New Breed (live) [1982]
- After the break up of the group came a series of compilations:
- Snap! [1983]
- Greatest Hits [1991]
- Extras [1992]
- Live Jam [1993]
- The Jam Collection [1996]
- Direction, Reaction, Creation [a 5 CD box set containing entire Jam output, including previously unreleased tracks
and a 88-page colour booklet] [1998]
- Later he formed Style Council with Mick Talbot and released a number of singles and 5 albums on Polydor Records between 1983 and 1988:
- Cafe Bleu [1984]
- Our Favourite Shop [1985]
- Home And Abroad (live) [1986]
- The Cost Of Loving [1987]
- Confessions Of A Pop Group [1988]
- After the break up of the duo came a series of compilations:
- Singular Adventures Of The Style Council [1989]
- Here's Some That Got Away [1993]
- Style Council Collection [1996]
- The Complete Adventures Of The Style Council [a 5 CD box set containing 90 digitally remastered tracks, including the previously unreleased album "Modernism: A New Decade", six tracks on CD for the first time, a 112-page colour book with liner notes, lyrics, gig list, discography and rare photos] [1998]
- Paul Weller then went solo and out of favour before finding an audience again with a new album on Japanese label Pony Canyon, before signing to Go! Discs and later, Island Records. Has now released 5 solo albums:
- Paul Weller [1992]
- Wild Wood [1993]
- Stanley Road [1995]
- Heavy Soul [1997]
- Modern Classics: The Greatest Hits [1998]
- He has been an inspiration and then later a muse and friend to Noel in particular.
- Noel played live alongside Weller at the latter's following gigs:
- [?] July 1995 at the Phoenix Festival - I Walk On Gilded Splinters [by Dr John] & The Swamp Song [by Oasis]
- 18th August 1996 at the V96 Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford - Eye Of The Storm [by Paul Weller]
- 3rd March 1997 at The Royal Albert Hall, London - The Poacher & Daytripper [by The Beatles]
- 16th May 1997 at Nomis Rehearsal Rooms, London at a Weller album showcase - Shakermaker & Half A World Away [both by Oasis]
- 17th May 1997 at The Academy, Brixton, London supporting The Charlatans - Shakermaker & Half A World Away [both by Oasis]
- 8th August 1998 at Victoria Park, Hackney, London - I Walk On Gildered Splinters [by Dr John]
- Noel played alongside Weller when they joined Ocean Colour Scene:
- 12th October 1996 at The Hexagon, Reading - Daytripper [by The Beatles]
- Noel played solo acoustic support sets on Weller tours:
- 29th November 1995 at The Academy, Brixton, London
- 30th November 1995 at the Academy, Brixton, London
- - he played a set comprising Wonderwall, Talk Tonight, Whatever, Cast No Shadow, Don't Look Back In Anger & You've Got To Hide Your Love Away [by The Beatles]
- - and joined Weller for an encore of Come Together [by The Beatles]
- 6th July 1998 at Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
- 7th July 1998 at Colston Hall, Bristol
- 9th July 1998 at Pavilion, Plymouth
- 28th July 1998 at Playhouse, Edinburgh
- 29th July 1998 at City Hall, Newcastle
- 30th July 1998 at Sands Centre, Carlisle
- 6th August 1998 at The Centre, Newport
- - he played a six song set selected from Stand By Me, Don't Go Away, Help! [by The Beatles], Don't Look Back In Anger, Wonderwall, Live Forever, To Be Someone [by The Jam], Talk Tonight & Whatever
- They appeared together on the following TV programme:
- 14th April 1995 at White City Studios, London on the Channel 4 TV programme "The White Room" broadcast on 17th April 1995 with Noel on guitar and vocals and Weller on electric piano and backing vocals - Talk Tonight
- They have recorded together:
- January 1995 at Manor, Oxford for the 'Stanley Road' album by Paul Weller with Noel on guitar - I Walk On Gildered Splinters [by Dr John]
- May 1995 at Rockfield, Gwent for the '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' album by Oasis with Weller on guitar and backing vocals - Champagne Supernova
- May 1995 at Rockfield, Gwent for the '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' album by Oasis with Weller on guitar and D harmonica - The Swamp Song
- 4th September 1995 at Studio 2, Abbey Road, London for the 'Help' compilation for a Bosnia charity with both Noel and Weller alongside Paul McCartney on guitar and vocals - Come Together [by The Beatles]
-
- P.H. is Paolo Hewitt
- He is a former highly respected music journalist, and now a writer of music biographies, and one novel, Heaven's Promise.
- Hewitt has been around the band as a friend and confidant since 1994, and wrote the official biography of the band, 'Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis'. He is currently working on a second volume of Oasis anecdotes due for publication in mid-2000.
- Sifter’s
- The record shop patronised by brothers Gallagher for their weekly record obsession when young. Located in Fog Lane, Didsbury, the shop is immortalised in Shakermaker: ‘Mr Sifter sold me songs when I was just 16..’.
- The owner is Peter Howard.
- The Verve
- Originally known as Verve, the band fronted by Richard Ashcroft, has been closely linked with Oasis.
- Oasis supported Verve for six dates in December 1993. More latterly, The Verve - following their re-formation - have supported Oasis in both the US and in the UK.
- A song called Slide Away appears on both Definitely Maybe and Verve’s 1993 album A Storm In Heaven.
- The Verve song A Northern Soul was reputedly written about Noel following his brief sojourn away from the rest of the band during Oasis’ US tour in October 1994.
- Noel’s song Cast No Shadow is regularly dedicated live to Richard Ashcroft; and Noel has confirmed on occasion that his inspiration for the song was The Verve singer.
- Some of the words to Noel’s Setting Sun bear a startling similarity to the chorus of Verve’s single Gravity Grave; "You Shine and You’re Gone, Like A Setting Sun" from "To Me You’re Like A Setting Sun, You Shine and You’re Gone"
- Vocals
- The great majority of songs are sung by Liam.
- Live
- Noel has taken over vocals on a regular basis for a short interlude since the Japanese autumn 1994 tour. He tends to use this to sing accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, light drums from Alan White, and occasional keyboard or harmonica. There have, however, been electric versions.
- Acoustically, he has performed:
- Wonderwall
- Cast No Shadow
- Whatever
- The Masterplan
- Listen Up
- Morning Glory
- Talk Tonight
- To Be Someone [by The Jam]
- Help! [by The Beatles]
- Electrically, and usually with the rest of the band, he performs:
- Don't Look Back In Anger
- Magic Pie
- Recording
- Noel usually performs at least one song on each release:
- These have been:
- Take Me Away on Supersonic
- D’Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman on Shakermaker
- Sad Song & Bonehead's Bank Holiday on Definitely Maybe
- Up In The Sky on Live Forever
- Half The World Away on Whatever
- Talk Tonight on Some Might Say
- It’s Better People on Roll With It
- Don’t Look Back In Anger on (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
- The Masterplan on Wonderwall
- Underneath The Sky on Don’t Look Back In Anger
- Angel Child / Heroes on D’You Know What I Mean?
- Getting Nowhere on Stand By Me
- Magic Pie on Be Here Now
- The Fame & Flashbax on All Around The World
- Interviews
- Noel often performs acoustic versions.
- Liam's absence
- There have been occasions when Noel has had to cover for Liam’s absence:
- BBC Television Centre, Shepherd's Bush, London, 28.11.95 - "Later...With Jools Holland"
- Royal Festival Hall, London, 23.8.96 - "MTV Unplugged"
- Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, IL, 27.8.96
- The Point, Dublin, Ireland, 4.12.97 & 5.12.97
- Wibbling Rivalry
- They're calling it "The Troggs Tapes of The '90s" - Noel and Liam indulging in a spot of G&T-stoked, sibling-on-sibling bickerage.
- The scene: The Forte Crest Hotel, Glasgow
- The date: Around midnight on 7th April 1994.
- The brothers Gallagher, NME's John Harris [later of Q Magazine] and a couple of Oasis "associates" are scattered around a twin room, eager to discuss all manner of topics: the debut single Supersonic, their credible self-belief, and a snowballing reputation for delinquency, founded on a spate of incidents that began when all but Noel were ejected from a ferry bound for Holland.
- The interview was transferred to vinyl and CD singles thanks to bijou indie label Fierce Panda as "Wibbling Rivalry". This achieved the highest recorded chart position in the UK for an interview record: 52.
- Two tracks:
- Noel side: A lot of swearing and cussing
- Liam side: Even more swearing and cussing
- Fourteen minutes of verbal mayhem.
- Read the transcript here
c 1998 Andrew Turner
aturner@interalpha.co.uk
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