"Oasis In France"

Oasis are "bang up for it" in France, where they have started recording their new album. Their spokesman said: "They're really looking forward to it. They really enjoyed the rehearsals, which went on for about three or four weeks in England. They were really excited about being together again and about recording, which, alongside playing live, is their favourite thing."

Oasis took a short break for the Tony McCarroll lawsuit, which was settled out of court, and regrouped in France over a peiod of several days two weeks ago, Noel setting off first and Liam arriving last.

While the tabloid papers have stated that the band are in the French Riviera in a magnificent chateau just a few miles from Cannes, Creation Records are refusing to confirm their whereabouts.

Their spokesman said simply: "They are still in France, and the 'chateau' is still a big house. We're not going to acknowledge one way or the other where they are or where they are not, I'm afraid."

It's believed that the band have hired equipment into the "big house" wherever it is, and are open-ended about their recording time.

Oasis' trip to FRance has sparked the usual controversy, with last Friday's Star describing their journey by private planes and chauffeur-driven limos. The group, said The Star, had spent "tens of thousands of pounds" on studio equipment and were being guarded by a security team and closed circuit TV.

The Mirror, only days earlier, had been insisting that Noel had ordered the band to "rough it" in a bid to "recapture the raw energy of their poor and hungry youth". To this end, said The Mirror, Oasis were banned from using private jets, first-class and business-class travel, five-star hotels, champagne and gourmet meals. Noel, Bonehead and Alan White were said to have travelled from Heathrow in economy class and once in France, "climbed into a cramped minibus"!

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c 1998 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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