Q&A With Alan McGee

We sent a Q&A to Alan McGee a Scottish music industry mogul and musician famed for founding the independent Creation Records label which ran from 1983 to 2000.

Hows Things Alan?
Good I'm a house dad and loving not dealing with idiots.

Did you ever have dreams as a child of being in a band and becoming a rock star?
I was in a band for real till 21, 'Biff Bang Pow' was a hobby band with Dick Green.

You will mostly be remembered as the man who discovered Oasis, are you satisfied with that? or do you feel there's still more that you would like to accomplish?
Bringing up my daughter really, and I like doing Death Disco and running clubs and DJ'ing but that's a hobby.

Other than those on your label, Is there a band from your time at Creation that you'd wished you'd have signed?
The Stone Roses.

Apart from the albums Oasis released on Creation, what's your favourite album the label released?
Probably Trashmonk 'Monalisa Overdrive' an absolute classic, I released late 1998.

What do you think about Heavy Stereo's first album?
Good better than people think it is.

Do you wish Ride had stayed together longer?
Yes I loved them.

What is your favorite moment of the 90's?
Getting off drugs.

What are your memories of Primal Scream when they were signed to Creation?
All good we drifted apart as we got older, I got sober but I like their new single.

If they ever Make a film about your life who would play you?
Sean from The Vortex an Indie band from Manchester, I love that bloke.

Have you ever thought about writing a book about your experiences with the music industry?
They want me to, so I probably will.

If you could name a band Dream Team - who would be in it?
Oasis 'Definitely Maybe' line up.

When you first saw Oasis perform did you ever imagine that one day they would become a defining symbol of Rock 'N' Roll?
No.

What do you think is the best song Noel's ever written?....and did he ever give you a song where you thought "my god that's shit"?!
Don't Look Back In Anger, I never really got 'Gas Panic', but i love him the way i love Neil Young and I don't love everything he's ever done.

We know you consider Noel a genius, but what do you think about Liam's songwriting?
Getting really good, I really liked the 'Meaning Of Soul' Liam is a one off they broke the mould, he's a dude.

What do you think of the albums Oasis have released since leaving Creation?
I really like the new one.

Who were worse to manage Oasis or The Libertines?
I never managed oasis I signed them to my record company, on The Libertines no comment.

Will Oasis ever be inducted into the 'Rock n' Roll' Hall Of Fame?
Should be, they deserve it.

If you had to choose....Would you rather have signed Oasis and nobody else. Or have signed all the other acts but not Oasis?
No i really only listen now to Oasis from the Creation days, none of the other music turns me on in 2008.

Are you still in contact with any of the original members?
Bonehead is a mate and Noel we have a text relationship with, when I see Liam it's cool, Guigsy I haven't seen for years as Tony McCarroll.

Is there anything you'd change if you could have the Oasis period again?
No glad I left when I did, I was burned out and had to go and do my own thing which i enjoyed.

Special thanks to Alan for taking the time and effort to do this for the site, it's most appreciated.

For more information on Alan visit his MySpace page here.

Source: www.stopcryingyourheartout.com

Tales From the Middle Of Nowhere

Taken from Noel's tour dairy for Oasisinet.com

Hola.

We've finally made it to Mexico. That day of press in LA was great. All of us went into Indie 103 see that Sex Pistol Steve Jones. He's fuckin' great, Jonesy. We had a top laugh. The show descended into farce when he ran an impromptu competition to win tickets to come see Oasis next week. Fuckin' funny.

Sven-Göran Eriksson's coming to the show tonight! Can't wait.

We seem to have lost Ricky Hatton in a sea of Guinness. Fuck knows where he is. Hope he makes it.

Well up for this tonight. 22,000! SOLD OUT!! It only holds 16,000!! AY, CARAMBA!!

In a bit.

GD.

Source: www.oasisinet.com

New Oasis Photobook Launched In London

Paul Slattery tells NME.COM about their early days on the road.

Oasis photographer Paul Slattery launched a book of rare photographs trailing the band in their early years prior to and following the launch of first LP 'Definitely Maybe' in London last night (November 26).

The snapper marked the occasion by laying on a small exhibition of his work from 'Oasis: A Year On The Road' at the Gibson Guitar Studio while the band's debut album was played on repeat.

From March 1994, Slattery had total access to the band as they criss-crossed the globe during their speedy ascent, which saw them going from playing small club gigs to sold-out arenas.

"The first gig I saw them play was in the 100 Club (in London) but within six months they were playing big theatres and I just thought, 'Shit, they're going to go all the way'," he explained.

"But I didn't realise they were going to do it so quickly though. Within a year they were playing Sheffield Arena to 10,000 people."

Slattery first hooked up with the band at Eden Studios in west London through mutual friend and band engineer Mark Coyle.

"I took a case of beer down there and I had unfettered access to the band," he said. "It was unbelievable because when you see a great band like that you just become a teenager again. I lost 30 years in one year."

The photographer, who shot the band in black and white, went on the road with them to Japan and the US, where he snapped a comical shot of Bonehead and tennis legend John McEnroe.

Slattery recalled: "There is a great picture of McEnroe in the book with Bonehead, who's pulling a funny face. He was always great to work with because he was like the clown prince of Oasis.

"When things were shit Bonehead would be the one that would go, 'Come on you fuckers, we're a rock and roll band we're going to have fun'. He kept people's spirits high."

But the snapper's favourite shot in the book and moment with the band depicted Liam Gallagher leaning into the crowd at a gig in Nagoya in September 1994.

He recalled: "Every single one of those pics has a story but I must admit that's the best. It was an amazing night and there was something special happening with the crowd.

"It was the first time I've ever seen them do an encore, and everybody at the end of that gig was just in tears."

As Oasis got bigger and access became more difficult Slattery stopped shooting the band, and has never worked with them since to this day.

"By that time things were getting difficult and it was harder to deal directly with Noel (Gallagher) because very few people had mobile phones in them days so I couldn't just call him up," he explained.

"I've not done anything with them since because I've always had that philosophy that I like to see bands when they are small and hungry - that's the excitement, and that's what rock and roll is all about."

Source: www.nme.com

Win A Chance To See Oasis In New York

US FANS: MAKE A PLAYLIST FOR OASIS AND WIN A TRIP TO SEE THEM IN NEW YORK

Oasis will be playing in New York at Madison Square Garden on December 17th, and you can enter to win a trip for two to fly out and see the show and get a hotel room for the night! All you have to do is create a MySpace Music profile playlist with all Oasis songs picked from their entire discography on MySpace Music . Then post a comment on Oasis' MySpace page about your playlist. One winner will be chosen at random for the two tickets to the show, the hotel accomodations, and the flights!

The contest is over on December 7th, and the winner will be notified soon after. This contest is only open to MySpace members in the US as they are currently the only territory with the music player.

For details check out the band's myspace page here.

The View: We Took Inspiration From Oasis Debut Definiely Maybe For New Album

The View used Oasis album Definitely Maybe for their inspiration while recording new material.

The Same Jeans hit-makers made their latest album with Owen Morris, who has famously produced for The Verve, Ash and The Paddingtons among others.

And he played the Oasis classic to the Dundee upstarts to remind them of the high standards they need to achieve to make sure they repeat their early success.

The four-piece made pop history when they became the first Scottish act to go straight to No.1 with debut Hats Off to the Buskers in 2007.

And the rockers are hoping to make it a double when they release their follow-up Which Bitch in January.

Kyle said: "We had a copy of Definitely Maybe in the studio and Owen would line it up for comparison.

"He threatened to sack the guy who was mastering it because he couldn't get it seven per cent louder."

But extra volume was the least of The View's concerns while laying down tracks in Welsh studioMonnow Valley.

The band had to contend with midnight river rafts and thrones made from speakers.

In his quest to take musicians - frontman Kyle Falconer, guitarist Pete Reilly, bassist Kieren Webster and drummer Steven Morrison - back to the top spot, Owen brought in crazy measures in his quest for perfection.

Paying tribute to the band's chosen album title, Owen superglued a witch's hat to his head for six days during the recording process.

The producer, who worked on Oasis hit albums Definitely Maybe, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) and Be Here Now, eventually removed the plastic hat with scissors.

Owen also has custom-made thrones made for singers Kyle and Kieren to sit on while singing their new tracks.

The band avoided a latenight dip when Owen lashed together a raft for the boys to venture down river on, before it came to a sticky end.

The rockers survived though and guitarist Pete told NME: "I'm an only child and, to me, the experience of being together with these people, this family, is worth more than the music."

The View are currently at the tail end of a mammoth 37-date UK tour and fans have been lucky enough to hear new tracks such as One-Off Pretender, 5 Rebbeccas, Glass Smash and Shock Horror.

Kieren said: "We put a lot more thought into the music. It's much more melodic.

"This time, we only had a couple of tracks completed and did a lot morewriting in the studio. It was a new experience for us and we came out with a few absolute crackers."

Source: www.dailyrecord.co.uk

New Interviews And Acoustic Performance With Oasis From US Radio

Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer and Andy Bell stopped by 98-7FM in LA and you can listen to the interview and live acoustic performance of 'I'm Outta Time' again by clicking here.

Indie 103.1 Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols had a relaxed chat with the boys on a number of various topics you can listen again by clicking here.

Oasis In Mexico City Setlist And More

Last nights setlist from the Sports Palace , Mexico City, Mexico.

Fuckin' In The Bushes
Rock 'n' Roll Star
Lyla
The Shock Of The Lightning
Cigarettes & Alcohol
The Meaning Of Soul
To Be Where There's Life
Waiting For The Rapture
The Masterplan
Songbird
Slide Away
Morning Glory
Ain't Got Nothin'
The Importance Of Being Idle
I'm Outta Time
Wonderwall
Supersonic
Don't Look Back In Anger
Falling Down
Champagne Supernova
I Am The Walrus

Watch a video of Wonderwall from last nights show here.

Did you go to last nights gig or future gigs or even past gigs?

Send in your pictures to scyhodotcom@gmail.com and I will add them to tour archive.

Photo Credit: ramiroasis

Vote For Oasis At The Shockwaves NME Awards 2009

The Shockwaves NME Awards are back and only your votes can decide the winners.

Vote now to decide the nomination shortlists to be unveiled in January.

You'll also be entered to win tickets to the Awards ceremony in London and the NME Big Gig, headlined by The Cure.

Click here to cast your vote for Oasis.

The Outs! Win A VIP Trip To Any Oasis Gig In The World

It has been posted on several South American Oasis forums that 'The Outs!' cover of 'Bag It Up' that the boys did for the NME Songbook Competition, has won first prize competition and was picked out by Noel Gallagher.

The prize is a VIP trip to any Oasis gig in the world.

See more of 'The Outs!' oasis covers here.

Noel Gallagher: "You Have To See Us In A League With The Rolling Stones"

On the eve of Oasis' tour with Ryan Adams, the songwriter talks drugs, violence and the secret to his success.

Oasis are celebrating the holidays by hitting the road for a North American tour, which kicks off December 3rd in Oakland, California. There's much to be festive about: the band put out their finest album in a decade in Dig Out Your Soul and guitarist/songwriter Noel Gallagher has fully recovered from being attacked on stage in Toronto in September.

You've said yourself that you don't really need hits in America. Why do you still tour here?
I like the vastness of this country. In between each city when you're on that tour bus some of the stuff you see is stunning. It just took me awhile to understand the corporate nature of the music business over here. I never really understood why I would have to get up at nine o'clock in the morning, go down and see the guy who owned the local record shop and meet his fucking wife and fat kids.

What do you think the band has offer to an American teenager who is seeing you for the first time?
Nothing. Don't come and see us if you're expecting anything. I can't offer anybody anything apart from the music that's coming out of the speakers. And if they listen to that and they find some meaning in the songs, good for them.

OK, so you're not a spokesperson. What does the band have to offer?
Power. Musical power. Volume. Impeccable shoes. I speak for myself, by the way.

You and your touring partner Ryan Adams are both pretty opinionated guys with healthy egos. Do you get along?
Well, I'm pretty and he's opinionated. I got a lot of respect for the man. He's a great guitar player. He's a little eccentric. He wears stripy socks and platform shoes, but not everybody's perfect. I wouldn't be on tour with him if I didn't like him.

What did you find out about that guy who attacked you in Toronto?
Nobody knows why he did what he did. There's a legal case going on so they tell me I'm not supposed to talk about it. I'm sure the footage on YouTube says enough.

Has that kind of thing happened to you before?
No. I've never been violently attacked. Maybe by my girlfriend a couple of times when I stayed out later than I should've.

How did it affect you, other than...
Other than the fact that I got three broken ribs and I had five weeks off? Do you mean I wake up sweating in the middle of the night and think the guy stood over me? That kind of shit? Oh, no, not in the fucking slightest. It's a meaningless act. Something always happens to me on Oasis tours. I was in a car crash. If it's not that, it's getting fucking busted. If it's not that, it's coming down with some ancient fucking disease that's not been got by anybody for the last 600 years.

Is there something in particular that you'd like to achieve with this tour?
Five million dollars. Besides that, not really.

Have you pulled out any songs that you haven't played in awhile?
Yeah. "Slide Away," "The Masterplan," "Supersonic." We're not going to turn any new people on to Oasis. Oasis is a band that you either get it or you don't. Everybody knows who we are. You have to see us in league with the Rolling Stones now. Everybody's heard of the Stones, everybody knows what they sound like, everybody knows what they do. You either go because you like it or you don't. It's easy.

There was a time when the band didn't seem to be enjoying themselves in concert that much.
Well, I'm not sure about that. There was a few years where I really should've traveled the world with my girlfriend and shit like that but we decided to carry on putting out records. But I love being on stage. It's the one place where there's no bullshit. Don't get me wrong: It looks like I'm having a bad time. But that's because I'm not a fucking asshole that feels like I have to talk to the crowd every two minutes or put on a big smile or run up and down the stage like an idiot. I like to play that guitar. I have to stare at it while I?m playing it because I'm not very good at playing it.

What gets you off at a show?
If I'm singing well and I'm playing well, then that's enough for me. Obviously there are nights where you go off stage and think, "Well, that was a bit fucking shit" because there were technical problems. But I can assure you this: I am fucking brilliant every night I go out there. I could give a fuck about anybody else in the band. They look after themselves. But I am always cooking on a solid eight-and-a-half out of 10.

What do you do to do that?
I'm afraid I was born with it. It's not something you go out to Wal-Mart and buy. "Can I buy some brilliance please?" They don't sell that shit over the counter. You either got it or you don't.

How do you get back the high that drugs gave you?
Drugs brainwash you into thinking you can't survive without them. I was never in a mess mentally or physically. I have the constitution of a large ox. If anything, it was the people that I had surrounding me that were very uncool. I never needed to be on drugs. I just wanted to be on drugs because it was fucking brilliant. But then there came a point where I didn't want this anymore. So I wanted to be straight. And then there comes a point where you maybe want to be somewhere in between, which is where we're at now I think.

That you're able to take them occasionally and it's fine?
Well, I wouldn't say I take them at any point. But when I gave them up I gave up drinking and everything. But now I drink like a fucking fish and I smoke like a chimney. I've always been a magnificent drunk. I've been told by hundreds of people I'm actually a better person when I'm drunk.

Source: www.rollingstone.com

Catch Oasis On 98-7fm LA

EDIT just found out it's US ONLY

The band are currently out in North America for their dates in Mexico, USA and the re-scheduled Canadian gig.

The band have stopped by 98-7FM in LA and you can listen to the interview at midday Wednesday(PST) (8PM UK) or online at their website along with Liam co-hosting the show 'The Rewind at Noon'.

Check it out HERE!

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Oasis - Book Launch Invitation – "A Year On The Road" by photographer Paul Slattery

Please find an invitation to a special Oasis book launch of "A Year On The Road" by photographer Paul Slattery.

This book of rare Oasis photographs follows the band in their early years prior to and following the launch of Definitely Maybe.

Wednesday 26th November 2008 at the Gibson Guitar Studio

29-35 Rathbone Street, London. W1T 1NJ – www.gibson.com

Source: Email from www.gibson.com

For more information about the book click here.

Oasis T-Shirt For For £5 With Free Delivery

Oasis - Logo - Play Exclusive (Black - T-Shirt)

Play.com have a Oasis T-shirt for £5.00 with free delivery to the UK.

Click here for more details.

Oasis World Tour Continues In Mexico Today

After a short break the Oasis world tour continues in Mexico later today.

26.11.2008: Mexico City - Sports Palace (Palacio de los Deportes)
28.11.2008: Guadalajara - VFG Arena Mexico
29.11.2008: Monterrey - Arena Monterrey (SOLD OUT)

The band then head to the USA and Canada for the following dates.

03.12.2008: Oakland (USA) - Oracle Arena
04.12.2008: Los Angeles (USA)- Staples Center
06.12.2008: Las Vegas (USA) - The Pearl
08.12.2008: Denver (USA) - Broomfield Events Cener
10.12.2008: Minneapolis (USA) - Target Center
12.12.2008: Chicago (USA) - Allstate Arena
13.12.2008: Detroit (USA) - Palace Of Auburn Hills
15.12.2008: London (Canada) - The John Labatt Centre
17.12.2008: New York (USA) - Madison Square Gardens
19.12.2008: Camden (USA) - Susquehanna Center
20.12.2008: Washington (USA) - GMU Patriot Center

Tickets are still available for all US tour dates visit the official site here for more details.

Are you going to any of the above gigs send in your pictures to scyhodotcom@gmail.com and I will add them to tour archive and use them on the site.

Inside This Months Guitar World Magazine

In the new issue of Guitar World magazine, there is a three page interview with Noel Gallagher.

Noel Gallagher Interview For Norwegian TV

Interview with Noel Gallagher for Norwegian TV.

Dizzee Rascal Wants To Work With Oasis Despite Jay-Z Comments

Rapper wants Noel Gallagher for new project

Dizzee Rascal has said he wants to work with Noel Gallagher – despite the Oasis guitarist's opposition to Jay-Z playing Glastonbury this year

Speaking to BBC Radio 1, the British rapper said he did not believe Gallagher was against hip-hop.

"I don't think he hates hip-hop. Maybe he just felt a way about Jay-Z being at Glastonbury or hip-hop being at Glastonbury. He's into music," said Dizzee Rascal. "There must be some hip-hop over the years that he must've liked, or Liam. They're party animals, so somewhere they must've enjoyed some hip-hop track."

Dizzee, who collaborated with Arctic Monkeys on the track 'Temptation Greets You Like A Naughty Friend' in 2007, added that he was now keen to combine his and the main Oasis songwriter's talents.

"Yeah [I'd still like to work with Noel]. That's another thing to me like working with the Arctic Monkeys," he said. "Obviously they're [Oasis] older and they set their bar from earlier."

Source: www.nme.com

Oasis’ Fallen Empire

Earlier this month, Noel Gallagher opined that he abhors comparisons to a certain outfit from Oxford. "The biggest criticism that the music press has against us is that we're not Radiohead," the Oasis guitarist told Plavi Radio in Zagreb, Croatia. "Correct me if I'm wrong, they've been making the same record since Kid A, have they not?"

Aside from his rather surly disposition, Noel's chief character flaw has always been a dearth of self-awareness. It's essentially why Oasis' aesthetic has evolved very little since those budding early days of bar chords, root notes on bass, and 4/4 drumbeats. It's why, somewhere right now, Noel is talking glowingly about the Beatles. And it's why the group hitched its wagon to Britpop — a cultural movement that centered on the dizzying rebranding of England — despite the noted lack of an Anglocentric tinge to Oasis' canon. While Britpop contemporaries were achingly provincial (hear the social and generational malaise captured on Blur's Parklife, or the claustrophobic, smutty elements of urban life portrayed in Suede's self-titled debut), Oasis was relatively unconscious during an extraordinary stirring of national consciousness.

Sure, the band had the necessary gestures down pat: singer Liam Gallagher famously spouting, "It's the greatest flag in the world — we're here to do something about it!" during his first visit to the Creation Records offices; Noel Gallagher playing a guitar emblazoned with the Union Jack at a 1996 show at Manchester's Maine Road stadium. However, penetrate that slick production work, pare away those fat melodies and overlapping guitars, and, well, you get some truth: The Biggest Band Since the Beatles was all style and — short of those legendary mountains of cocaine — no substance.

Post-Britpop, the vacuousness only deepened. Releases like 2000's Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and 2002's Heathen Chemistry further proved that the depth of Oasis' genre-mining related to its lack of focus. Nicking from countless English predecessors (T-Rex, the Kinks, the Stone Roses, etc.) wasn't enough of a sin; now Oasis was keen on making it all sound lumbering and banal.

Which brings us to Dig Out Your Soul, the group's eighth studio album and possibly the final nail in Oasis' pine box. Aside from "The Shock of the Lightning," where Liam cements his status as the most skillful vocalist ever at pronouncing long vowel sounds ("Love is a time macheeeeen/Up on the silver screeeeen"), and the poignant "I'm Outta Time" (Britpop's end theme if there ever was one), Dig Out Your Soul lacks any of the melodic verve and scuffed menace typical of the band's early efforts.

"Waiting for the Rapture" and "(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady" plod along underneath Noel's stock chord progressions and flat vocals. "Bag It Up" is a blues-bar stomp that's largely forgettable; it's then poorly rehashed later as "The Nature of Reality." And of course, no Oasis record would be complete without the Gallaghers' aimless nostalgia for You Know Who. Some instances are subtle: The opening drums to "Falling Down" are a nod to "Tomorrow Never Knows," while the coda to "The Turning" cribs from "Dear Prudence." Others border on idolatry, like the insertion of a John Lennon soundbite into "I'm Outta Time."

That spacious guitar-and-drum sound, those big rhymes and anthemic choruses — they're here once more, Oasis still reaching for a pop grandiosity the group will never quite grasp. When Britpop was at its heady peak, the NME's Steven Wells made waves by panning the cultural movement, saying it was posturing typical of a faltering empire folks no longer gave a shit about. Fitting, really, because the same could be written of Oasis and Dig Out Your Soul.

Source: www.sfweekly.com

New Court Date Set In Assault Of Noel Gallagher

Daniel Sullivan, the 47-year-old man from Pickering who was charged with assaulting Noel Gallagher in September, has a new court date.

Scheduled for his first post-bail court appearance today, Sullivan is now scheduled to be back in court for another hearing Dec. 16.

The charges stem from an incident at the Toronto stop of the Virgin Festival at Toronto Island Park, when a man leapt on stage while the headlining British band were performing their hit song "(What's the Story) Morning Glory."

The incident became seen far and wide after footage was uploaded to Youtube.com.

Source: www.thestar.com

Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere

Taken from Noel's tour diary for oasisinet.com

Now then, it's been a couple of weeks. How's things?

Been in that Las Vegas for the last couple of days. Me and wots'iz'name were carrying Ricky Hatton's belts out for his world title fight against Paulie something-or-other. A great, great night. What a buzz! The atmospherics at Ricky's fights are unbelievable.

Met David Beckham for the very first time and I can tell you he smells magnificent!!

Fuck me, we had a proper drink up afterwards. Felt like a lump of shit yesterday though.

On the way to LA today. Got to do a couple of days of press then fly down to Mexico. Few gigs there. Back to the States for 3 weeks touring.

It's good to be back.

In a bit.

GD.

Source: www.oasisinet.com