I have posted this before, and yes, it is long. But it does answer the question posed. I do have a PDF version that includes a few pictures and such, if you want it, PM me.


Oasis is. . .
Like parents who chirp in your ear throughout life, Oasis has left an irreplaceable mark on mine. Over the past fifteen years many of the most important moments of my life are marked by an indelible song or lyric or album. As their latest, and last, effort (Time Flies: 1994 – 2009) is hitting the market I find myself reflecting more upon what they have meant to my family and me. I never met them, they don’t know me, but even so, they remain a special member of my world. The following are just a few quick reflections on their impact in my life.

1995ish (Age: 12) - My earliest recollection of Oasis is simply Wonderwall. My older brother was a rock fan during the nineties, and as a result, many of my musical tastes reflect those that he had during that time. I am sure that I had heard tunes off of Definitely Maybe prior to the release of Morning Glory, but it was obviously just a passing listen. I can’t recall the exact time or place when I first heard it, but I do recall vividly for the first time in my life thinking that I had just heard complete brilliance. I must have listened to that track some thousand times over the next couple of years. From there an Oasis fan had been born. Like everyone else on the planet, I loved Morning Glory, and became acquainted with Definitely Maybe on a more personal level then before. To me Oasis was a sound that I could digest with the pleasure of eating a bowl of ice cream: cool, smooth, and delicious.

The next moment I can remember hitting me hard was their debacle of an acoustic set played for MTV soon there after in which Noel was forced to sing lead for the set because Liam had a “sore throat.” I was taken back by a band that could play their tunes as successfully as they did fully electric with the use of a simpler, quieter set up. Distinctly songs like Hello, Round Are Way, and The Masterplan jumped out of the television at me as being stellar songs. An appreciation for b-sides grew out of the set. However, living in the U.S. during the pre-internet era made it next to impossible to get a hold of any of them. I would be forced to wait until The Masterplan album was released later in 1998.

Summer 1997 (age: 14) – Earlier in the year I was informed that my dad had switched jobs and that we would be moving far away from where I had grown up at to that point. The idea of leaving everyone I had grown to know so well and starting over elsewhere was a little bit intimidating to be completely honest. We were set to move the first week of August, and as a going away gift a couple of my friends gave me a copy of the recently released D’You Know What I Mean? Something about the chorus made leaving a bit more bearable. All my people right here right now, d’you know what I mean? The new single I thought was epic and couldn’t wait for the Album release later that same month. We moved and Oasis was the only thing that went with me.

High school was interesting mostly due to the fact that I was living in Texas and was the only Oasis fan, other then my brother, which I knew at the time. Naturally I took it upon myself to educate everyone around me as to the quality of Oasis. Unfortunately, I was unable to convert too many people to way of seeing things. This being said, I still kept up with all things Oasis. Over the next few years I compiled a collection of video clips of the band online. Being the pre-YouTube era made this task next to impossible. Like everyone I made good use of Napster until they were shut down. I was able to get every b-side, and a number of classic live performances as well. By the time Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants came out in 2000, there was no turning back. Oasis was part of who I was at the time. One of my most vivid memories is the artwork used at the time on the official Oasis website. It was an image taken from the Who Feel’s Love video. Being a graphic designer I still recall the amazing imagery of the silhouettes against an orange sky.

Summer 2002 (Age: 19) – The band that had defined who I was and inspired me throughout my teen years was set to release another album on the eve of me leaving home yet again. Being a religious family it was mine to serve a two-year mission for my church. The short story is that I would be apart from my family, my music, and my life for those two years. As one can imagine, I was a bit scared and uneasy at the thought of so much separation. In early July came the comfort I was looking for in the form of the Heathen Chemistry album, and more specifically the song Stop Crying Your Heart Out. I must have had that album on repeat from the moment I bought it until the day I left for two years. Once again, I found solace in the music that had defined me to that point. I found it easier to move forward hopeful for the future instead of dreading it. I was able to internalize Heathen Chemistry and for two years it helped me carry on with my head held high because I know that ultimately joy comes from within.

2005 (Age: 22) – Late in the previous year I met my now wife and we hit off pretty quickly. When it came time for Don’t Believe The Truth to be released all she knew about Oasis was that I kind of liked them. At the time I must have been listening to a lot of other artists, so it was a surprise to me when she came around the house one day with a freshly bought copy of the album. She wanted to get to know my likes better, and that was a good place to start. The upbeat joy that comes across on that album made it the perfect background to my summer of love, as we were married in late August 2005. Are summer was filled with Lyla, Love Like A Bomb, Part Of The Queue, and Let There Be Love. I couldn’t have been any happier. Or so I thought.

Someone convinced my mum that it would be a good idea to score my brother and I tickets to see Oasis as they passed through Texas for the first time since 1997 on their current tour. I was beside myself with excitement at the prospect of seeing them live for the first time. As is life, we were scheduled to take in a performance in Houston on September 25, 2005, but that show was cancelled after Hurricane Rita struck the gulf coast on the 22nd. Naturally I was crushed. A life long dream had been snatched away by the weather, literally! I moved on assuming that at some point down the road maybe I would be privileged to catch a show. Come the following year I caught word of a new date for the gig and a venue change to a much smaller site. When tickets went on sale there was no way to secure any due to the heavy demand for the show. A couple of days before the show I was lamenting the fact that I had lost my chance to catch the band while in Texas when I made a passing search on eBay. To my surprise a fellow was selling two tickets that his daughter and son-in-law couldn’t use, and at their original price as well. Without thinking about whether or not I could afford the tickets I pounced on them and snatched them up. After a moment to catch my breath I called my wife and confirmed that we would be all right without the cash it took to get the tickets. My wife was also gracious enough to allow me to take my brother along side instead of her. Long story made short, on March 28, 2006 I was finally able to see the band that had meant so much to me, Oasis! At the time I had no idea that concert would ultimately be the last Oasis gig ever played in Texas, and I was fortunate enough to amongst the few people able to be there. For weeks afterward my brother and I would random look at each other and say, “Hey man, we saw Oasis live and it was freakin’ awesome!” Those were truly great days indeed.

2008 (Age: 25) - Later that year (2006) my wife and I picked up and moved to San Antonio so that she could finish up her degree in Applied Mathematics. While living there we hit some tough times for the two of us. I was working myself to death to pay our bills and we didn’t take the time off necessary to keep our flame burning the way it should be. By the time 2008 came around I was personally “hung in a bad place” and had no idea how to get out. My wife would encourage me to keep moving along, but things just didn’t seem to flow how I guess I thought they would in my head. At one point things had deteriorated to the point that I felt trapped and wanted an exit strategy. One Sunday morning my wife got up and headed off to church, I then packed a few things, grabbed my guitar, wrote a quick note, and walked out the door. I didn’t have any real plan ahead of me. I just walked until I found myself in the midst of a vacant couple of lots in the middle of a bunch of trees. I was hidden from the outside world and I paused for a moment to think about the decision I had just made and the effect it would have on my wife and I. At some point sitting there, while my mind was tumbling over these things, I pulled out my MP3 player and started it up on shuffle. Someone must have known something I didn’t at the time, because the first two tracks to come across were Don’t Look Back In Anger and Stop Crying Your Heart Out. I fell to my knees and wept like a little child. Nothing could be so bad as to deserve abandonment. I picked up my gear and headed straight home before my wife returned. At first she didn’t even realize that I had ever left, but later we discussed the situation and started the long process of rebuilding what we had so carelessly destroyed over the previous year. May I simply say thank you Oasis. We are now happier then ever and loving life.

Shortly thereafter Dig Out Your Soul was released and I found myself falling in love all over again with everything surrounding a new release. While I personally feel that this last effort is really only half of a good album, I still jam it out on a regular basis. Additionally I find myself reflecting heavily over great tunes like Falling Down and I’m Outta Time. For me it doesn’t get any better then The Turning. Oasis hit the nail on the head when they dropped this track. It is shear brilliance in music.

August 2009 (Age: 26) - As time has passed I have found great pleasure in listening to the many demos and live gems that one can find on YouTube regarding Oasis. But then the news comes down that Noel has walked away and called it quits, again! Like most fans I figured he’d be gone for a few weeks, maybe months, but then ultimately he would return to the band that he worked so hard to raise to immortality. With the announcement of Time Flies I knew, like everyone else, that it was actually the end of an era in music. Over the last few months I had the chance to create a fictitious digital magazine for distribution on the iPad. As I study to become a graphic designer, I found it enjoyable to work on something that has meant so much to me over the years. As I had the opportunity to look back over the years it is true what they say: Time Flies.
End

What Oasis song means the most to you personally and why?

I think DM and MG will still be considered as two brilliant albums, whereas the others will be nearly forgotten. Aditionally, the people will remember The Gallaghers' rivalry, fights and "outrageous" statements and behaviour...

I guess Knebworth will appear in some reports of the band, too.

Do you think Noel was embarassed by Liam's live-voice as time went on?

That's a very tough one. 1997 is edgier, 1994 is very young. I'm going to split the difference and say 1995-1996, especially during the There and Then DVD he was at his sublime best. (1997 if push came to shove though).

What does Oasis mean to you?

Of course, Noel regards Falling Down as one of the best songs he has written in a long, long time So without a doubt FD
The Turning and/or SOTL and/or Bag It Up and/or IOT would most certainly also stand a chance.

Top 5 songs to play to someone to get them "into" Oasis (preferably without DLBIA/CS/WW?

I think fucking in the bushes for the simple fact that the first second, the first hit on those drums gives me chills as I instantly remember the night I saw them at the wembley stadium.

Do you think it's now 'cool' to hate oasis?

Liam's 96 MTV performance, they had the chance to prove all the doubters wrong in America that night but Liam decides to muck around and act about 10. Kinda all went downhill from there.

Are you a fan of the bands 90s look or their modern Paul Weller/Mod inspired look?

DBTT - I'd make it NEVER see the light of day as its shite!

Do you reckon Noel will have a nother kid in the next few years?

I prefer liam's version, i think his voice suits it more. Next Question: Do you regret anything? For example not going an oasis gig for whatever reason, like i regret going heaton park so late as it was shit at the back

I have stolen the odd little thing from Liam and Noel. ;D

Like, I often say "fabulously offended", after Noel's interview on the Frank Skinner Show.



;D


What's your favourite set list from all of the tours?

Knebworth, Barrowlands 01, and Finsbury Park 02.


It seems to me that since the Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants tour, Noel seem to do more songs during the set (which is great) but they tend to be spaced out too much - and Liam is forever going back and forth off and on stage.

This annoys me, Noel should do his four songs like this... his first two after the 7 or 8 Liam songs at the start of the gig - and then the other two (Don't Look Back In Anger, usually, and one other) at the start of the encore.

Do you agree? ;D

It's getting better people and Angel Child.

Which long lost Oasis song would you like Noel to pull out for his solo shows this year?