"All Back To Mine"

It's been said - by Luther Vandross, probably - that the eyes are a window on the soul. But, if it's unflinching insight you're after, your record collection is a far better place to look. Go on, have a fIick. Large Shed Seven collection? Underachiever. New Anal C*** album? Arrested adolescent. Anything by The Corrs? Cloth ears and/or fanatical masturbator. It's not pretty, is it? If Channel 4's new series "All Back To Mine" lacks the predatory instinct to delve that deeply, it does, via a selection of their favourite vinyl, seek to illuminate the characters of, and the complex musical influences at work in, everyone from Pete Waterman to Massive Attack's Daddy G.

Already, in its Radio 1 incarnation, several programmes old, "Ail Back To Mine" is the brainchild of 37-year-old Sean Rowley. Despite an unpromising start - redoubtably athletic, he swam the Channel (!) in the early Eighties - this vinyl-junkie is a veteran of London’s meeja'n'music economy. He's better networked, in fact, than the phone systems of many Third World countries, and it's not a great surprise that Noel Gallagher recruited Sean, who also DJed at Knebworth and produced the documentary series "Mad For It", to appear on the that spirit was carried over into the cover of "(What's The Story?) Morning Glory": "I remember going home and thinking, 'Oh, f***ing hell, what have I done? I'm about to appear on the cover of one of the biggest-selling albums of our generation. I'm going to spend the rest of my life being haunted by people going, "Aren't You the bloke on the front of the cover?"' But, luckily, it's a very blurred image. I would like to add that I've never got a shag out of being on the cover."

It was Sean's involvement with The Heavenly Social, however, that inspired "All Back To Mine". If The Social was born out of people generously, and enthusiastically, sharing the gems in their record collections, that spirit was carried over into the early hours of Monday morning too: "Invariably you'd end up back at [names various industry undesirables] and everyone always had a f***in' tremendous record collection. To me, it was almost the pay-off of the night."

If he could previously have been accused of picking subjects from the Social’s orbit - Weller, Gallagher, The Chemical Brothers - Sean’s TV run is significantly broader. If you’re hoping to spot that long-forgotten Motley Crue single in someone’s collection though, you’ll be disappointed. "Remember, we’re celebrating people’s record collections. We’re not knocking them." Luckily, given that mission statement, "All Back To Mine" doesn’t degenerate into "Sean’s Showbiz Pals" - on the evidence of the opening show at least. And, while it may lack bite, it does boast some smart archive footage (albeit accompanied by patronising info-boxes) and some surprisingly honest moments. You see, even pop starts drop their guard when they’re raving about music.

on Noel Gallagher

"We all know Noel because it’s well documented, so you don’t really scoff at the idea of the Sex Pistols sitting next to Burt Bacharach. But that’s an amazing thing, because that really show’s where he’s coming from - because it’s about attitude as well. He’s such a top bloke (laughing). If he believes in it, he’ll shout it from the roof. And, hopefully, that’s the thread that runs throughout. We require of that of everyone we do, that they’re passionate."

by Tony Naylor

"Have Drugs Become Uncool"

in an article about use of drugs in music

Drugs used to be cucmber-cool, but as Messrs Barlow and Pellow discuss their "drug-hells" and Shaun and Brett claim to have kicked their habits, we ask what's happening...

...someone who did try to open up the dabate was Oasis' Noel Gallagher. "Drugs are like having a cup of tea," he claimed, as he gave a sugarlump a blow-back. Noel was respodning to the sacking of Brian Harvey from East 17 (who reckoned Ecstasy had made him a "better person"), at a time when tabloid attention was focused on druggy pop stars. And his words profoundly influenced the acceptance by the powers-that-be (the tabloids, ex-prog rock guitarist Tony Blair et al) that drug use was now widespread and commonplace.

The thing is, now Noel says he's given up drugs, too. In January, he said: "I just wasn't gonna do drugs anymore. It wasn't doing my health any good, and I couldn't focus on anything. By April last year, I thought, 'if this carries on, I'll be dead by Christmas'."

And Liam's off the booze (apparently), so there's been a shift of emphasis by the tabloids from rock stars to wider establishment figures. The question of whether a rock star does or does not do drugs is no longer relevant (have the Chemicals done chemicals? etc). Indeed, it's often in the job description....

Aerosmith live...Noel comments

On Black Crowes/Aerosmith's 'Toxic Twin Towers Ball' at Wembley Stadium, London on 26th June 1999, Noel comments in response to the query, 'Is this Oasis' new, big rock direction?':

"Oh no, I've always liked The Black Crowes. I've got all their records, apart from 'Amorica', which wasn't very good...or was it the one after that? I've never seen Aerosmith and I don't know much about them really. Stereophonics? I've never seen them live either, so it's a chance to get out there and see 'em. Anyway, it f***in' beats going to Glastonbury, d'you know what I mean? There've been a thousand robberies or something. It said on the telly this morning. At least they can't blame me for them!"

tabloid tales

Patsy Kensit, The Sun says, is setting all the trends in the Oasis camp. Her pregnancy with "hell raiser Liam's child" has apparently got broody Meg Mathews' "body clock ticking loudly". She too is expecting a baby! And Oasis' record company Creation aren't denying it either.

The paper predicted that the "wailing Gallagher" is due in January, making him or her a "millennium tot". A close pal said: "Noel and Meg are absolutely delighted. It wasn't planned, but they're overjoyed. Thankfully, most of the new Oasis album is complete, so Noel will be able to devote his time to looking after Meg."

Liam too has been "waiting hand and foot" on his pregnant wife, if The Mirror is to be believed, and has "put most of his outrageous antics behind him". But that "close pal" isn't convinced that means the boys have chnaged their ways. They joked: "They're both still mad for it - or rather dad for it." Arf!

The next day, The Sun supposedly spoke to Noel about the happy event. It claimed he told them "exclusively": "We found out about it just before going on holiday to Italy recently, so it made the trip extra special. We have a lot to plan for in the new millennium, what with a baby being born and a new album out at the same time." It claimed that the baby is actually due in February, four months after Liam and Patsy's.

Meanwhile, dad-to-be Liam was spotted carrying a bag, but not just any old bag. It was in fact a copy of "a black sixties-style number" that was presented to The Beatles by British European Airlines. He denied that is was full of nappies, and allegedly toldd an "onlooker": "It's full of ping-pong balls!"

The Star reported that the Oasis stars have brought feng shui experts into their "plush North london pads" to ensure that "good energy flow freely", so that their unborn children grow in a "peaceful atmosphere". Meg is supposedly "into oriental philosophies" and Patsy is said to be "especially keen" to get "calming benefits" from the art. It also claimed that Meg is "furious" that Noel has spoken out about her pregnancy. The Mirror reported that she has decided to be "less active with 2-Active", her company which organises showbiz events, and is cutting down on her working hours.

Meanwhile, the papers report more reminiscing at a classic rock'n'roll photo exhibition, on London's Strand. Meg Mathews, Noel Gallagher, Sadie Frost, Bobby Gillsepie, Underworld and Daisy Donovan joined in...

...and at the Versace party at Claridge's were Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit amongst others.

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c 1998 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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