Being their No 1 fan changed my life
By Nick Webster

TO their millions of fans, Oasis are the greatest rock band in the world, their songs the soundtrack for a generation.

But when Kevin McCarthy says the Mancunian group changed his life, he really means it.

"I know it sounds corny but if it wasn't for Oasis, I wouldn't be where I am today," says the 30-year-old. "For me, they are much more than a band - they're a way of life."

When he first heard the band back in 1995, he had no qualifications, scraped a living buying and selling pallets and harboured no ambition to change his lot.

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But today, he's a website designer with his own successful IT business - and it's all down to his devotion to the Gallagher brothers.

Kevin's life changed for ever when he flew to America to see Oasis play in Philadelphia. After the gig, he struck up friendships with some of their US fans and promised to stay in touch.

But it was easier said than done. "Simple things like emailing people were beyond me then," says Kevin, who is separated from his wife and lives in Bedwas, near Caerphilly, South Wales.

"I'd left school without any qualifications and I didn't even know what email was.

"When I bought a computer I had to call in someone to show me how to use it. They charged scandalous money so I signed up at college and got qualifications in IT." Kevin discovered a flair for web design and started up his own business.

He named it Empire PCs in tribute to the 2000 Oasis album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants - the cover shows the band jamming on top of the Empire State Building.

But his obsession with the Britpop kings doesn't stop there.

"I'd like to find someone who's as big a fan as me," says Kevin. "I started off just following them - now I'm on all the guest-lists. I've been to America three times to see them. I got mobbed once when some fans thought I was in the band. I must've seen Oasis play more than 50 times.

"My shop and house are a shrine to the band. I've got all the albums and loads of memorabilia - I've got one of Noel's personalised plectrums, and hundreds of unseen photos.

"I always take photos whenever I meet the band. I don't give them away or copy them so they're one of a kind. I'm not just into it for the music - these are collectors' items. And when I go they'll be an inheritance for my boys, Jake and Wesley. That's what it's all about.

"My parents were into The Beatles when I was a kid and if my old man had collected their memorabilia it'd be worth a bomb today."

In the front room of his terraced house, the Gallagher brothers look down from every wall. Photos of Liam and Noel - some with Kevin and his sons, Jake, 13, and 10-year-old Wesley - vie for space with framed gig tickets and posters. Pride of place goes to an original 60s poster of The Beatles - the band that inspired Oasis. There is more memorabilia in the kitchen, the bedroom, landing and stairs, yet most of his amazing £20,000 collection is hidden away in boxes.

"My most prized possession is a picture of Noel hugging my youngest boy when he was only five," he says. "We went to see them recording a radio session in London. Noel had fixed it for me to go on the guest list.

"Back in 1996 I had video footage of a show Noel was interested in. He'd played with Paul Weller at Newport Leisure Centre, knew I had the video of it and wanted a copy.

I WAS going to London anyway so I dropped it off at his home, Supernova Heights. When I got there, Kate Moss and Noel's ex-wife Meg Mathews were sat on the step sipping champagne.

"Noel gave me a demo disc of one of their albums and the number of their record company. He said any time I wanted to get on the guest-list, I should give it a call."

Kevin's most recent trip to see Liam, Noel, bassist Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer was to Cornwall, where they were recording their new album Don't Believe The Truth at the Sawmill Studios.

He says: "I checked into my hotel and Noel was in the foyer. We had a chat and he told me to go and see Liam and the boys in the pub.

"I wouldn't say we were mates. But they know who I am, they're happy to let me take pictures and they're always very friendly.

"When they were recording Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants in 1999 they went to the South of France. I went out as well for a little holiday and to get some pictures.

"When I found Christian Dior's chateau near Cannes where they were staying, Liam was walking around the grounds just strumming away on a guitar.

"I pitched my tent outside the chateau and then Liam came over with a bag full of bottles of lager.

"He's a top man. He's always the first guy to give his chair to a lady. Where the nasty, arrogant Liam people talk about comes in I don't know because I've never seen it. He's a rock star and he knows it, but he's a real gentleman.

"I've kept every newspaper and magazine article they've appeared in since the day they started - it's cost me at least £3 a day.

"If Oasis are on the front of a magazine in America I'll try and get it. Anything to do with Oasis I'll collect. Everything is then dated, boxed and stored.

"I've actually got the first ever magazine they were in with Liam on the cover. Believe it or not, it was printed here in South Wales.

"I spent years searching for it and then a mate brought the original master copy round for me when the printers closed down. That was excellent.

"My friends and family understand what I do. A lot of my mates play in bands and are very music orientated.

"Some people play golf, but I'm not into that - I'm into Oasis."

His top 10

1 Gas Panic!

2 Stop Crying

Your Heart Out

3 Champagne Supernova

4 The Importance Of Being Idle

5 Rockin' Chair

6 Slide Away

7 Cast No Shadow

8 The Girl In The Dirty Shirt

9 Let There Be Love

10 Idler's Dream

How to be a superfan

Kevin's top tips that got him on a roll with Oasis..

1) Make sure you're passionate enough about the object of your fandom - after all, it's going to take over your life

2) Be prepared to devote all your spare time and put lots of effort into your hobby

3) Make sure that memorabilia doesn't take over your home

4) Find a website which tells you everything, in this case visit www.oasisnet.com

5) Be prepared to spend a lot money pursuing your hobby all over the globe


i wish i was madferit. this guy is probly on this site