One of the then unknown bands that opened for The Verve at the onset of their success was the like-minded, Britpop agitators Oasis. The band started as The Rain (either named for rain or the Beatles song) with neither of the Gallagher brothers. If you believe the exiled, original singer of the group, The Rain were already locally successful and built the blueprint for the Oasis sound the brothers would eventually take credit for, but the other three founding members were dissatisfied with his singing and sought a replacement. Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan (bass), Tony McCarrol (drums), and Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs recruited acquaintance Liam Gallagher who very quickly took leadership of the band and had the band's name change to Oasis, a name he got from a poster on his wall. His brother, Noel, was a guitar tech and aspiring songwriter and rock and roller. He attended Oasis's first concert in support of Liam in August 1991. The band was unspectacular but adept and gave Noel the notion that he could make them spectacular.
Noel Gallagher joined the band under the conditions that he would play lead guitar, would write the songs, and be the effective leader of the outfit. Noel's energy and creativity were such that all involved invited him to be just that. All of a sudden there were songs, there was attitude, and there was simplicity: basic British rock and roll. Oasis got there first break in 1993 on a happenstance meeting with talent scout and Creation Records co-owner Alan McGee. McGee was so impressed with Oasis's live performance that the band were signed to an unlikely six record deal four days later.
Oasis built up a buzz around them. Their live shows were electric and music journals heralded the young as a band to watch. By the time they released their third single in the middle of 1994, Oasis had broken into the Top 10; all in preparation, of course, for the release of their debut Definitely Maybe which went straight to the top. The album was immediately a landmark. It noted the change in the music scene setting aside the British indie movement of the late eighties in favor of the return to form of positive, reckless, and classic rock and roll. They'd eventually be grouped into the Britpop scene when they were much more universal, garnering a prominent worldwide popularity. The Gallagher boys led Oasis through this new wave with their heavy partygoing and tabloid-ready antics. They were violent, reckless and often plastered (particularly Liam) but they were Rock 'n Roll Stars.
Here is the discography surrounding Oasis's debut album:
Unreleased Boardwalk Basement / Real People Demos (1992 demo)
Live at Club 57 (1992 live bootleg)
Live Demonstration Tape (1993 demo)
Live at The Tramway, Glasgow (1994 live bootleg)
Supersonic (1994 single)
Live on The Mark Lemarr Show (1994 radio spot)
Live on Radio 1 Evening Session (1994 radio spot)
Shakermaker (1994 single)
Live at Glastonbury Festival (1994 live bootleg)
Live Forever (1994 single)
Secret Gig at The Borderline Club (1994 live bootleg)
Definitely Maybe
Live in London (1994 live bootleg)
Live at Club Quattro, Nagoya (1994 live bootleg)
Cigarettes & Alcohol (1994 single)
Live at The Wetlands, New York (1994 live bootleg)
Whatever (1994 single)
Interview (1994 interview)
"Cigarettes & Alcohol" by Oasis
1994 Oasis Interview
Pass the Headphones!!
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