doh! the band who turned down...Noel Gallagher

On December 21, 1988, a young musician wandered into Mill Street Studio, South Street, Ashton-under-Lyme to audition as vocalist for a local band. He could sing, admitted the band's keyboard player later, but "he wasn't the kind of singer we were after". Instead, they asked if he'd consider being their roadie.

During soundchecks and after gigs, the band would notice their new friend singing songs he had written, though nobody paid nuch attention. Come May 1990 the band in question, the Inspiral Carpets had scored a number 2 album with 'Life' but their profile swiftly declined and their only subsequent success was 'Dragging Me Down', a single which reached number 12 in 1992. Meanwhile, their roadie, Noel Gallagher, went on to find a sympathetic ear for his songs with Oasis.

Beta Band interview comments

The Beta Band - a rock band with a DJ's self-effacement who sound like a folk troupe recreating vintage house records on acoustic instruments - arrived at the end of 1997 and immediately captivated their contemporaries. They were the new "groups' group", Noel Gallagehr citing them as an influence on the next crucial steps that Oasis will take (Gallagher's favourite track: She's The One)

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c 1998 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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