A Short History of Oasis

During the eighties independent music seemed to be based on intellectual ideas. This was true in both America and Britain. Although bands were noisy and sometimes aggressive they were shot through with angst and disappointment. Indeed angst and disappointment appeared to be the bedrock for all kinds of alternative music. However something was about to happen that would ultimately change all this.

The change all started when Creation Records boss, Alan McGee came across a brash guitar band from Manchester that thought of themselves as the best band in the world, even though they hadn't even released a record at that point. McGee had a history of signing guitar bands, for example My Bloody Valentine, but during the late eighties there seemed to be a drought in terms of quality guitar bands who were offering up something slightly new and invigorating. But when the label boss attending a standard gig night at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow in the summer of 1993 this was all to change. Oasis had muscled their way on to the bill after the show had been double booked and as McGee watched the five unlikely lads race through their in-yer-face retro rock he realized he had found something rather special. Of course, The Stone Roses had helped open the retro-guitar door for Oasis, but had messed up their big chance at world domination after a great debut album when their follow up album was delayed for so long after label wranglings about recording rights. The Roses' success, though, had galvanized a young guitar roadie from Manchester - Noel Gallagher. The would-be singer-songwriter learned that what was central to a bands' success, and what had been missing from alternative guitar bands for so long, was the gang mentality, the united front of the band. The Roses had this. The working-class gang, in it together, all-for-one and one-for-all. As Oasis came off stage after the show that night McGee was waiting for them, with contract in hand. It really was that quick.

When Oasis released their debut album, 'Definitely Maybe', it was so obviously good that the world of the alternative guitar band immediately had a new ground-zero. Every song on the album was full of great tunes and catchy hooks. Gallagher had made sure their songs referenced some of the finest guitar bands that had gone before them. They had a bigger sound than all their contemporaries. When the songs had been recorded they had been played live in the studio by the band. This meant sound leakage, which in turn meant the needle was firmly fixed in the red. When the album was finally mixed it was made sure that the overall volume of each song was that bit more than what was normal. So when Oasis finally made it to radio their songs jumped out of the playlist due to their sheer volume when compared to the songs by other bands.

The album's opening track was 'Rock'n'roll Star', and it set the scene for every recording Oasis have ever made. It made listener feel good, it was cocky, and it was catchy. The killer track on the album was 'Live Forever' with an amazing drum sound to drive it, and a call to arms for every 18-25 year old the world-over, who indeed felt that they would 'Live Forever'. But the list of great songs went on and on. 'Up In The Sky', 'Columbia', 'Bring It On Down', 'Cigarettes And Alcohol', 'Supersonic', 'Shakermaker'. All had the Oasis blueprint of loud, brash guitars and great sing-a-long catchy tunes. It was like they were a new Sex Pistols but with less anger and more arrogance.

As with many great guitar bands, the debut album is always the best and for Oasis it was no different. Their second release, '(What's The Story) Morning Glory', is a fine album but couldn't live up to the sheer excellence of their debut. There were still fine moments like 'Cast No Shadow', 'Some Might Say' and the love-it or loathe-it 'Wonderwall'. The album also includes 'Don't Look Back In Anger', sung by Noel. It has personal and reflective lyrics and hinges on the line 'please don't put your like in the hands of a rock and roll band', but he can't bring himself to let his idealism get the better of him and ends with the payoff 'least not today'.

Oasis have gone on to record some fine songs and pretty good albums, including 2008's 'Dig Out Your Soul'. Liam Gallagher has shown that he is one of the great front-men of his generation, if not the face of that rock generation. Yet they have somehow become taken for granted, never seemingly reaching the heady heights of their initial releases. However in mid-nineties Britain they fitted perfectly. For that moment, critical thought and socially defined reality are suspended as love, joy and positivity took over. For that they must be thanked.