Thousands Flock To V Festival Sites

Oasis, The Killers, Lily Allen, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga are among the acts performing at Virgin Media's V Festival this weekend.

Thousands of festival-goers have already descended upon Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Staffordshire's Weston Park to set up camp ready for two days of live music and partying.

Oasis are set to headline the V Stage in Staffordshire on Saturday night and close the festival in Chelmsford on Sunday night, although Gallagher brothers Noel and Liam recently revealed they are not speaking to each other.

Peter Doherty - renowned for his battle with drug addiction - is due to play a solo acoustic set at the Virgin Media stage in Chelmsford on Saturday night, while soon to be Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon is performing on the 4Music stage on Sunday.

The Enemy are also billed to perform over the weekend, despite their guitarist Andy Hopkins being injured after breaking his heel in a drinking game.

Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Elbow, Pixie Lott and Tinchy Stryder are also among the wide variety of acts on the line-up.

Many celebrities are expected to live it up in the Virgin Media Louder Lounge VIP area in Hylands Park over the weekend, enjoying secret acoustic sets, luxury make-overs and spa treatments.

Doctor Who star David Tennant, Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Bank Job star Jason Statham and singer Charlotte Church are among the names tipped to be on the guest list.

Source: The Press Association

On This Day In Oasis History...

"The Importance Of Being Idle" is a song on the British rock band Oasis' sixth album, Don't Believe the Truth, written and sung by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. It was the second single released from the album in the UK, on August 22, 2005, where it debuted at #1. It was also the first time that Oasis earned two successive #1's in the same calendar year. It was written by Gallagher sometime during the summer of 2004, before the band made their final attempt at recording what would become Don't Believe the Truth. He got the title from the Mark Twain book of the same name which he found whilst cleaning out his garage (it belonged not to him but to girlfriend Sara McDonald.)

Musically, as Noel has commented, the song sounds like tunes from two British bands, The Kinks and The La's. In particular, the sentiment expressed is noticeably similar to The Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" and "Dead End Street", and the use of falsetto for every other verse line recalls The La's "Feelin'". The guitar sound is similar also to The La's b-sides; "Clean Prophet" and "Over". It also is a breakaway from the sound of Oasis's latter albums, especially the straight ahead rock 'n' roll anthems of Heathen Chemistry. The keyboard used on the pre-chorus sections was bought by bassist Andy Bell from the auction website eBay.

Noel has said that the lyrics of "The Importance of Being Idle" are inspired by his own laziness. Some of the second verse, with the reference to begging his doctor for "one more line", seems to be referring to an actual event as this resembles Noel's account of how he gave up cocaine in 1998.

Most reviewers acclaimed the track as one of the highlights of Don't Believe the Truth, which itself was widely praised as a marked return to form. The band mentioned in interviews in June that it would become the second single, after the UK Number One "Lyla". The b-sides are Liam Gallagher's "Pass Me Down the Wine" and Gem Archer's "The Quiet Ones."



The promo film was directed by Dawn Shadforth, (whose previous videos include Kylie Minogue's award-winning "Can't Get You Out Of My Head"). Shadforth's film for "The Importance of Being Idle' starred Welsh actor Rhys Ifans and homages the style of early 1960s kitchen sink drama British films, and is set during the build up to a funeral procession in a northern town, with the extravagant undertakers parading the coffin at the video's climax and Ifans playing the part of a high-kicking funeral director. The video is based on the film and play Billy Liar with Ifans playing the role of Billy. Noel and Liam therefore play Shadrack & Duxbury, the owners of the funeral parlour where Billy works. The rest band (Gem,Andy and Zak) make a brief appearance as lazy workers playing cards in an undertaker's office. It was widely acclaimed at the time as being probably the best video Oasis had ever made, not least by the band themselves, who were said to be very happy with the finished product. The video is very similar in style and concept to the music video for "Dead End Street" by The Kinks.

Q Magazine readers placed the song at #1 in a list of 2005's greatest tracks.

The video for the song was voted the video of the year at the NME Awards.

The song is included on Oasis' 'best-of' album Stop the Clocks.

Liam Gallagher's Latest Twitter

Bridlington, top gig, top people ! Live Forever...

Follow Liam on Twitter by clicking here.

Source: www.prettygreen.com

Liam Gallagher On What The Future Holds For Oasis

Other people’s fastidious timekeeping shouldn’t really bother us, but seriously, what the hell kind of a rock n roll star turns up to a photoshoot early? In fact, Liam Gallagher arrives at the Kentish Town studio to meet NME not only early but all on his tod, too. There’s no blustering entourage, no fanfare from gilded, whiskey-swigging cherubim, just Liam, who swaggers breezily across the room, in a way that’s so idiosyncratic, so perfectly Liam, that you could probably get away with flogging courses in it on the merch stands at Oasis gigs.

The distinctive saunter we expected, but the affable pre-shoot natter about the holiday he’s just about to take to Miami with his family knocks us a tad sideways. See, to be in a room with Liam Gallagher is to be in a room with a man who is well aware that he’s one of the coolest things on the planet – but what makes him so unique is that he acts like everyone else there has the potential to be one too. He’s massively self-assured, certainly, but gracious with it. Put simply, Liam Gallagher is not a dick.

Liam is also, of course, set this weekend to headline V Festival for the second time in four years, with what might – OK, almost certainly will – be the last British Oasis shows for some time. That he and Noel have not been getting along of late is no secret (thanks to their respective Internet posts), but while a betting man might have put all his – ahem – pretty green on the older Gallagher going solo, it’s in fact his little brother who’s branched out first. Blame it on the credit crunch, or blame it on a poolside flight of fancy spawned in Los Angeles late last year – we’d advise you to go for the latter – but, as you’re probably aware, Liam has branched out into fashion.

Except, of course, he’d rather you didn’t call it fashion – today he refers to it as the far more utilitarian “clobber”. The name Pretty Green has been lovingly filched from the Jam song of the same name (they didn’t ask Paul Weller’s permission, but he is, apparently, “mad for it”). Under said moniker, Liam has taken it upon himself to put out a line of high quality classics and fastidiously designed blokes’ basics, with a nod to the polished styling of the Quadrophenia mods. Primark it isn’t.

“It’s just natural, innit – you gotta fucking want to look good,” posits Liam, well aware that style and music are closely-related pursuits. “Who wants to look shit?” Well, in the land of Liam, there are obviously quite a lot of folk who settle for just that, including “all that fucking indie horrible smelly lot from Camden”. We ask him to be more specific, expecting to hear the name Doherty trip off his tongue, but he’s keeping his cards close to his chest for the moment. “You know who I mean, all them fucking gypos, rips in the jeans and all that shit.” So what exactly does Liam like? “I like people who look like they’ve had a fucking wash.” We point out that La Roux, who we’ve just shown an unimpressed Liam a picture of wearing a floor-length golden robe, has probably had a wash. “How do you know she’s had a fucking wash with all them fucking curtains on?” he counters.

Back in June a promotional film for Pretty Green appeared online, full of shots of a sharp-looking Liam mooching around Brighton to the soundtrack of hi snarling song “Man Of Misery”. So, who is this man of misery, then? “Ah, it’s me, innit,” he confesses, in a way that verges on the zen-like. You’re a man of misery, we ask, finding it somewhat hard to believe that the sweary, though seemingly contented, chap next to us could have anything to mope about.

“Yeah, all the time.” You seem quite perky, we say. “I am perky, but I have my moments. Every song I write’s about me, man. It’s all about fucking me.”

Now this is where we beg to differ, because as important as Liam is to Liam, someone else is undeniably part of the equation, someone who isn’t even in the room today, but might as well be for the amount of time Liam talks about him.

“I’d love to see our kid wear it,” says Liam, when we ask who he’d like to see sporting some Pretty Green wear. “I gave him some bits and bobs, but I’m sure he threw it in the bin. I only done it to be polite, anyway,” he adds, a touch sulkily. Ah, Noel – we wondered when he’d come up in the conversation. So has your brother told you what he thinks of Pretty Green? “He hasn’t told me what he thinks of anything this year,” admits Liam. “We’ve not got much to say to each other at the moment.”

But you must know him well enough to hazard a guess at what he thinks about it? “Oh, I reckon he fucking loves it and he’s mad jealous of the fact that I fucking pipped him at the post. He’s not gonna say it, though, is he?” You think he’d like to do something similar? “Yeah, fucking right.” What do you think his range would look like? “Pretty Small”, quips Liam, quick as a flash, placing his hands on the ground about 12 inches apart. “What would it look like? It would look like old mans’ gear. He’s got an old man vibe going on, our kid, big woolly jumpers and shit like that and cardigans... Terry Wogan. Val Doonigan shit.”

At 36 years old, Liam has been in Oasis for half his life, so to now embark on a whole new line of business must be rather odd. Obviously not too peculiar, though; it’s hardly like he’s gone and got himself a part-time job answering phones on reception at the Manchester Evening News offices. The worlds of music and fashion have plenty in common but, importantly, neither of them are places for the weak-willed, hence why Liam seems to be relishing the Pretty Green project. Yet what must be weirder than ambling down a new career path is the fact that for the first time since he formed Oasis, he’s pretty much on his own – to all intents and purposes, Pretty Green is Liam Gallagher, solo.

“It’s nice to be able to do it and get involved with it,” begins Liam of branching out on his lonesome, “you know what I mean, without fucking Parker staring down you and fucking giving you dirty looks and tutting.” And there he is again – even though today Liam is well within his rights to have the spotlight all to himself, Noel’s presence looms large, even if, by the sound of their online and Twitter-based war of words, the two brothers detest one another. NME decides to investigate.

Noel’s got his own tour diary going on and he’s been having a few pops at you. “Yeah, I think it’s pretty funny, man.”

Does he ever actually say stuff like that to your face? “No chance.”

Why wouldn’t he? “Because he’s a fucking lightweight and he knows where he’d end up.”

Where would he end up? “On the floor in the NME.”

So he says all that stuff about you and your “man period” and you’re saying stuff back. On Twitter. “Mmm...it’s good, innit?”

Would you say that to his face? “Oh yeah, I’m a lot harder than him... I say it to his face and I say it on Twitter.”

You’re using the Internet as a way to have a conversation. “Yeah, because we don’t travel together, do we... so I never really see him, the only time I see him is onstage and we’re a little busy [at] that time to be fucking scratching each other.”

So you’ve got to use technology... “We don’t have to, we don’t have to, but he says his thing and I’ll...to save the fucking tour imploding...y’know, it’s a lot easier.”

What was the last proper face-to-face conversation you had? “I think it might have been about some fucking shit support band he wanted to play with us and he didn’t ask my permission.”

Who were they? “I’m not telling. So we had a fucking ding-dong in the airport and I think he started crying then – that was it – doesn’t travel with me anymore.”

Do you mind not chatting? He is your brother... “I don’t give a fuck mate. It takes a lot more than blood to be my brother.”

Do you think its going to carry on for the foreseeable future? “Who knows, we just do the gigs and he’ll get out of it and I’ll get out of it and we’ll see what happens. We don’t need to talk, we’re not here to talk. We’re here to make music, play concerts.”

Was there a specific trigger behind the whole not-talking thing? “It just happened. He doesn’t like me and I don’t like him, that’s it. We’re grown men, you know what I mean, and as long as the music... as long as we do the tour, that’s all that matters.”

The tour – a whopping 13-month jaunt across the globe – draws to a close at the end of this month, with V Festival the last UK dates, and it seems it couldn’t have come a moment sooner.

But what happens next? Noel recently commented that the band would all be five years older by the time they make another record. Liam isn’t overly keen on this arrangement. “It it was up to me I’d have six months off and then get straight back in the studio and make records.

That’s what I’m in Oasis for. I’m not here to fucking sit around for five years fucking twiddling my thumbs. We’re not getting any younger, we’ve got the tunes, let’s go and make fucking music.” So, what’s Liam going to do – give it a few months? “Let’s see, let him go home and fucking adjust his bra strap and see.”

But what if said undergarment tinkering doesn’t lead to anything – will Liam have to give Noel a poke if he hears nothing? “I won’t be calling him, man. I’m ready to go – I’ve got my tunes... I’m gonna wait, hear what the manager’s saying and that. I’m up for it, man, I’m ready to go. I could do an album tomorrow.” Liam, you see, has written “shitloads” of “amazing” tracks.

“Loads, mate. I’ve got enough for an album anyway.” Some might say there seems to be a pretty obvious solution to this dilemma – record them solo. Liam’s professed not to want to do a solo music project in the past and today he’s still certain that nothing could convince him, not even his brother calling a half-decade hiatus. “Not interested... I’m in Oasis, I like being in a band.” So if you want to hear Liam’s songs, then you’ll have to be willing to wait, just like Liam. “They’re classics, they’re not trendy or anything,” he explains, “they can come out whenever. They can come out in 20 years, 30 years. They might not ever come out, you know what I mean?”

Sitting next to us in a pair of jeans and the ubiquitous parka, Liam is hardly breaking new ground style-wise. It’s a far cry from the eccentric androgynous flair of an early ‘70s Bowie or even Johnny Rotten in his ripped Vivienne Westwood bondage trousers, but he is just as likely a fashion icon. Why? Because where most celebrated fashion statements in music could only be credibly and successfully sported by their progenitors – think Elvis’ ’68 Comeback Special leather jumpsuit, Madonna’s Jean Paul Gaultier conical bra or Amy Winehouse’s skyscraping beehive – Liam’s look translates. When his style filter down to the masses it doesn’t get any weaker, it gets stronger.

What has always been true about Liam still is – that he could be your brother, your uncle, your rowdy mate with the problem with authority and fondness for effin’ and blindin’ – but, of course he isn’t, because he’s Liam bloody Gallagher. An everyman fashion icon and bloke of the people, his fans wear what he wears and he wears what the fans wear – only the more expensive versions. The male equivalent of Lady Gaga he most certainly is not – the odd leopard-print loafer aside, Gallagher doesn’t do experiementation.

A ‘capsule’ Pretty Green collection is currently available on the website, offering up a selection of monkey jackets, scarves, polo shirts and hats emblazoned with the ‘Rubber Soul’- referencing Pretty Green logo, which is circular because, in Liam’s unquestionable logic, “round things look cooler”. The standout piece from the small first collection is Liam’s own personal fashion pride and joy – the parka. “We started off with the parkas, I’m not into any of these fancy parkas that cost a grand,” Liam explains. At £245, the limited edition Pretty Green version is still more than your average week’s pocket money, but it makes the point of setting the bar high. This is no shonky quality, corner-cutting celebrity sponsored line and, frankly, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Liam’s been working with master tailor Nick Holland and the forthcoming collection boasts a whole host of slick duds, including suede desert boots, made the way Liam likes them – with a square, non-pointy toe.

“They’re just the fucking bollocks, aren’t they?” he says effusively of the mighty desert boot. The range – which is based on a classic black and ivory colour palette – also includes a double-breasted pea coat and ‘60s-style paisley scarves. So, with classy gents pieces of clothing such as these in mind, what should every man have in his wardrobe?

Liam thinks hard... but maybe not too hard. “A blow-up doll.” Um, what about something to wear? He thinks again. “Should have a decent suit, man...” We enquire as who he thinks does a decent suit these days. “I’m not gonna plus anyone now, man, these are the competition.” You see, Pretty Green are going to be putting out a suit, as well, alongside leather jackets, overcoats, Harringtons... there’s even talk of leather sofas – hell, we wouldn’t be surprised if plans were announced for a Pretty Green codpiece.

Things, however, do not bode too well for the possibility of a Pretty Green womenswear range, as we find out when we somewhat naively ask Liam what he likes to see on the ladies. “What do I like to see them wearing? Nothing.” And then when they’re out on the street? “Nothing... naked all the way, man.” Yep, even though he’s using bleedin’ Egyptian cotton on his granddad tops ad cashmere in his polo necks it doesn’t mean that Liam’s gone soft all of a sudden.

While heckling a crowd member at Oasis’ Roundhouse gig in Camden last month, he firmly made his stand on the pointy shoe, and the too-tight jean also got a battering. “I don’t like it, I just don’t like it,” he says determinedly of the fashion menaces. But doesn’t your mate Serge from Kasabian sport that look? “Yeah, but that’s for him,” he reasons, a flicker of a smirk dancing across his face. “I like him ‘cause of other reasons.

He’s been told about the pointy shoes, been told, man.” And what did he say? “He told me to fuck off.” NME wonders if maybe the fella doth protest too much – has Liam ever, we wonder, in the privacy of his own home, tried slipping his feet into something a bit more angular? “No fucking chance... pointy shoes? Nah man – they’re for girls, aren’t they? They’re dangerous, man. Nah, man, they’re fucking not right.”

Hence Pretty Green’s resolutely square-toed boots as well as the straight leg jeans the label are planning, offering an alternative to the skinny style, loathed by Liam. But by far the most intriguing item is the Jedi-style robe the team currently have in development.

“It’s the Elvis vibe,” declares Liam. “It’s when you come offstage, man,” he says, getting up from his chair to demonstrate. “D’ya know what I mean? You just put your fucking coat on, whack it on ad away you go.” What, on top of your clothes? “No man, get a bit naked for a second.”

Nudity, however, is probably not such a good look if you want to nip to down the shops to check out the full Pretty Green line when it’s unleashed into the wild this autumn, especially seeing as it’s going to be stocked in Liam’s favourite shop, the rather fancy Selfridges. In fact, if you get to the London branch early enough, you can often catch Liam browsing the rails before it gets busy, possibly milling with rock n roll tabloid favourites, such as Ronnie Wood and girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova, just like he did the last time he nipped in with the family. “It’s a happening place, man. We said, ‘Hello’, he introduced me to his new chick – she didn’t really say much, but she seemed alright.”

In terms of clothes, then, it all sounds pleasant enough, but something bigger here is happening – or, more to the point, not happening. Liam’s sitting on an album’s worth of songs, but is putting out shirts and coats instead. And Noel? Well, he seems to be willing enough to put Oasis on the back burner once the current tour is over. Frankly, we’re a touch concerned about the health of the biggest band in Britain, but Liam seems to be taking it in his stride. “For the first time in my life I haven’t got a fucking clue what’s going on with Oasis, you know what I mean? It’s pretty confusing but I’m not gonna freak out about it.”

The band have had their troubles before and rumours of a split rear their ugly head every few years, including at the end of their 2000 European tour as well as when their greatest hits album ‘Stop The Clocks’ was released in 2006. In fact, it was recently reported that bookies have been offering two-to-one odds on Oasis breaking up before the current tour is out. We’re going to be keeping our cash in our pockets for the time being, though, because is Liam’s not panicking, we’re not going to either. Anyway, in terms of Noel’s own particular issues, it sounds like Liam might just have a solution in mind. “Maybe he needs to go away and do his thing – he’s obviously not happy, is he...”

We’re somewhat confused, but heartened to hear the concern and, dare we say it, the tenderness, that suddenly appears in his voice when talking about Noel, which sits in stark contrast to the vitriol he was spitting in his direction earlier. So what is Noel’s thing? “Who knows, man, maybe he needs to go and do his solo record... fucking hell, I don’t know, I really don’t know.” Would you like him to do a solo record? “If it makes him happy, yeah, if it makes him happy.” What do you think it would sound like? “It would sound very civilised, I reckon.” Is that a good thing or a bad thing? “Oh, it’s a fucking awful thing – but maybe it’s a good thing for him.” And a good thing for Oasis too? Our fingers are crossed.

Source: NME Magazine Via Manchester City FC Forum

Get a free hat with any t-shirt purchase from Pretty Green by clicking here, and using the following code NME09

Oasis' Noel Gallagher To Play Live With 'Psychedelic' Supergroup

Noel Gallagher is set to join a supergroup for a one-off gig.

The Oasis guitarist will play live with Amorphous Androgynous in London on September 17 at the matter venue, which is part of the O2 Arena complex.

Gallagher will join the band for the launch of their new compilation 'A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble In Your Mind – Volume 2: Pagan Love Vibrations'', which is released on October 26.

Noel Gallagher has been a vocal fan of Amorphous Androgynous, even getting them to remix the Oasis track 'Falling Down', which features on the compilation.

As well the supergroup, the likes of Hawkwind will also be playing live on the night.

The full line-up is:

Live
Amorphous Androgynous featuring Noel Gallagher
Comus
Hawkwind
Cranium Pie
Nick Nicely & The Lives Unlived

DJs
Andy Votel
Gaz Cobain featuring Sitar Freakout

To check the availability of Amorphous Androgynous tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

Source: www.nme.com

Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere

Taken from Noel's tour diary for oasisinet.com

Yes. The massive. How on earth is everyone? All good? Wonderful.

Fuck me, I enjoyed those 2 weeks off. Had some beautiful quiet nights in with Nancy and a couple of truly magical nights out with.. well, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. I will say this though, there was royalty involved!!

Had a few days on the Amalfi coast in Italia. Very nice. Lovely weather.

What else? BUT, OF COURSE!! The football season's started. Me and Burning Natty and various comrades made our way up to Blackburn to see Man City take the first steps of the new revolution. What a day! Must've been 10,000 Blues there. Unbelievable atmosphere. Bit like an Oasis gig.

Talking of which, I'm at Kings Cross Station. Former home of Russell Brand. Catching a train to York. Got a gig tonight at a health spa in Bridlington. A warm up for that V Festival this weekend. If you're coming, I'll see you there. I'll be stage right. Being brilliant.

In a bit.

GD.

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Supersonic Oasis Rock Brid Spa

"Tonight, I'm a rock 'n' roll star and I'm at Bridlington Spa".

It was with his usual reserved demeanour that a snarling Liam Gallagher announced his arrival on stage last night as Oasis rocked the foundations of Bridlington.

Launching into a Champagne Supernova of the band's biggest hits, starting with Rock 'n' Roll Star, closely followed by Lyla, The Shock Of The Lightning, Cigarettes And Alcohol and Roll With It, the Britpop icons delivered a masterplan in excess as they awed the heaving atmosphere of Bridlington Spa.

"Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire," bayed the sweaty, 3,500 capacity crowd, many of whom had queued all night to be within touching distance of their heroes, as the Mancunian frontman looked on impassively, giving nothing away.

"Say that again. In English," he then retorted, before the band spun off into another hit.

This was the smallest date on the band's latest world tour and they seemed to relish the hot, oppressive closeness of the crowd.

The night in Bridlington is how gigs are supposed to be, not separated from the crowd by miles of barriers and burly bouncers.

And, knowing just what a rare, amazing gig the Spa's surroundings would offer, hundreds of Oasis fans had turned up for the event hours before the doors opened.
They wanted to get the best spot in the house for one of the biggest gigs in its history.

Spilling onto the town's roads in the evening sunshine, the waiting crowd ensured the band's hits filled the air well before Liam and brother Noel had probably even got to the resort.

Among those who got to Bridlington early was James Southworth, 25, from west Hull.
He said: "The atmosphere was brilliant, something you don't get before a normal gig at somewhere like a stadium.

"The weather was perfect for being outside, enjoying a drink and something to eat before a gig.

"Then, to see Oasis in Bridlington was simply fantastic."

Another fan of the seaside location was Elliott Muldoon.

The 26-year-old had travelled from Scunthorpe to see his favourite band.

He said: "It was excellent, I had an absolutely great time.

"It is amazing to see Oasis in somewhere like Bridlington.

"The sound was perfect and their performance full-on from the very start.

"The Gallaghers did not let us down.

"It was a really memorable performance and I can't wait to see them when I go to V Festival."

Choosing a trademark Gallagher phrase, Nathan Clarke, 33, of west Hull, told the Mail: "In true Oasis fashion, Noel and Liam were mad for it.

"It is absolutely fantastic to see an act like Oasis in an intimate venue.

"The gig was outstanding and it's been a real coup for Bridlington to get a global act like Oasis."

Source: www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk

On This Day In Oasis History...

Be Here Now is the third studio album by the English rock band Oasis. Released on August 21 1997, the album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's previous worldwide successes with their 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe, and its 1995 follow up (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. The album's pre-release build up led to considerable hype within both the music and mainstream press. At that point, Oasis were at the height of their fame, and Be Here Now became the UK's fastest selling album to date, selling over 420,000 units on the first day of release alone, and over one million within two weeks. As of 2007, the album has sold eight million copies worldwide.
Oasis' management company Ignition were aware of the danger of overexposure, and before its release they sought to control the media's access to the album. Ignition's campaign included limiting pre-release radio airplay, and requesting that journalists sign gag agreements. These tactics resulted in the alienation of members of both the music and mainstream media, as well as many industry members connected with the band. Ignition's attempts to limit pre-release access to the album only served to fuel large scale speculation and publicity within the British music scene.

Artistically Be Here Now failed to live up to the expectations that preceded its release. Although initial reviews were positive, retrospectively the album is viewed by much of the music press and by most members of the band as over-indulgent and bloated. In 2007, Q magazine described Be Here Now as "a disastrous, overblown folly—the moment when Oasis, their judgement clouded by drugs and blanket adulation, ran aground on their own sky-high self-belief." The album's producer Owen Morris said of the recording sessions: "The only reason anyone was there was the money. Noel had decided Liam was a shit singer. Liam had decided he hated Noel's songs [...] Massive amounts of drugs. Big fights. Bad vibes. Shit recordings." None of its songs were included on the band's 2006 "best of" compilation album Stop the Clocks.

Album cover

The cover image to Be Here Now was shot at the Stock Hotel in Hertfordshire in April 1997. It features the band standing outside the hotel surrounded by assorted props. At the centre of the image is a Rolls Royce floating in a swimming pool. The photographer Michael Spencer Johns said the original concept involved shooting each band member in various locations around the world, but when the cost proved prohibitive, the shoot was relocated to the Stock Hotel. Spencer remarked that the shoot "degenerated into chaos", adding that "by 8pm, everyone was in the bar, there were schoolkids all over the set, and the lighting crew couldn't start the generator.

It was Alice in Wonderland meets Apocalypse Now." Despite various meanings people have tried to read into the selection of the cover props, Johns said Gallagher simply selected items from the BBC props store he thought would look good in the picture. Two of the props that had considered thought in their inclusion were the inflatable globe (intended as a homage to the sleeve of Definitely Maybe) and the Rolls Royce, which was suggested by Arthurs. The release date in each region was commemorated on the calendar pictured on the sleeve; Harris said the dating "[encouraged] fans to believe that to buy a copy on the day it appeared was to participate in some kind of historical event."

Tracklisting

D'You Know What I Mean? – 7:42
My Big Mouth – 5:02
Magic Pie – 7:19
Stand by Me – 5:56
I Hope, I Think, I Know – 4:22
The Girl in the Dirty Shirt – 5:49
Fade In-Out – 6:52
Don't Go Away – 4:48
Be Here Now – 5:13
All Around the World – 9:20
It's Gettin' Better (Man!!) – 7:00
All Around the World (Reprise) – 2:08

Singles



D'You Know What I Mean?"
Released: 7 July 1997
Producers: Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher
Chart positions: #1 (UK), #1 (FIN), #1 (IRE), #3 (CAN), #4 (US)



Stand By Me
Released: 22 September 1997
Writer: Noel Gallagher
Producers: Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher
Chart positions: #2 (UK), #5 (US), #2 (IRE)



All Around The World
Released: 12 January 1998
Writer: Noel Gallagher
Producers: Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher
Chart positions: #1 (UK), #1 (IRE)



Don't Go Away" (Japan Only)
Released: 13 May 1998
Writer: Noel Gallagher
Producers: Owen Morris and Noel Gallagher

Last Chance To Vote For Oasis As MTV's Greatest Superstar

1981: The year that saw the demise of Punk, the birth of New Romanticism, the rise of the CD, the death of Bob Marley, and John Lennon’s message for “the world to live as one” top the charts world-wide with the posthumously-released classic, Imagine.

It was also the year a new musical revolution rocked the planet - THE LAUNCH OF MTV.

From the moment Buggles' Video Killed the Radio Star ushered in the world’s first dedicated music channel, nothing would be the same again.

New musical superstars such as Madonna and Def Leppard were introduced and MTV would go on to single-handedly help create and break entire movements like 80s hair metal, hip-hop, grunge, nu-metal and Britpop to name but a few.

But who’s been the biggest act to find global fame, chart success and fan worship since that very launch in ’81? We're asking you to vote for your Greatest Superstar.

You can vote for Oasis by clicking here (sign up required.)

Source: www.mtv.co.uk

Oasis At Bridlington Spa

The setlist from Oasis at the Bridlington Spa, Bridlington Spa. That took place earlier today.

Rock 'N' Roll Star
Lyla
Shock Of The Lightning
Roll With It
Cigarettes And Alcohol
Waiting For The Rapture
The Masterplan
Songbird
Slide Away
Morning Glory
My Big Mouth
Half The World Away
I’m Outta Time
Wonderwall
Supersonic
Live Forever
Don’t Look Back In Anger
Champagne Supernova
I Am The Walrus

Oasis' next stop is at the V Festival,Staffordshire on Saturday.

The bottom picture is of the support act Detroit Social Club.

Chris Tests Patience

Noel Gallagher told the girlfriend of Jet drummer Chris Cester the way to deal wild antics was with "patience and understanding".

"It didn't work out with the girl, so it wasn't the best advice," said Chris, 27.

Jet and Oasis are at the Virgin media V Festival and Noel, 42, is going to see Soundtrack Of Our Lives in London's Scala tonight for a V warm up.

Source: Daily Star

Liam Gallagher's Latest Twitter

For Japanese support and help follow @prettygreenjp

Follow Liam on Twitter by clicking here.

Source: www.prettygreen.com

Kasabian Reject Oasis Tag

British band Kasabian have the local bomb squad's number on speed dial but the new kings of "lad rock" insist their hell-raising days are behind them.

Short-listed for the prestigious Mercury Prize after their third album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum recently topped the charts, the psychedelic rockers flatly reject comparisons to another globally successful all-male British band that also has its fair share of awards: Oasis.

"People say we're going to be the new Oasis, but we're not," Kasabian vocalist Tom Meighan said during a recent trip to Tokyo.

"There is no new Oasis. We can't be Oasis because they've done it. Oasis were giants in the 90s. It's nice when people say it but they're kind of missing the point."

Kasabian supported Oasis in a series of stadium shows in Britain over the summer before flying to Japan to perform at the "Summer Sonic" music festival, but Meighan said this was for the band's own good.

"We played in front of almost a million people in three weeks," said the 28-year-old. "The record was just out so it's the best promotion you can get. You do it, don't you?"

Meighan admitted Kasabian used to be "terrors" on tour and trouble has sought them out in unusual ways: guitarist Sergio Pizzorno found a live World War Two grenade in his garden.

But now Meighan believes the band has grown up, with the critically acclaimed West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum marking a turning point for the musicians who hail from Leicester, England.

Source: www.news24.com

V Festival Weather Forecast

Forecasters are expecting good conditions for this weekend's V Festival, which kicks-off on Saturday.

The dual leg event takes place in Weston Park, Staffordshire and Hylands Park, Essex.

According to current predictions, Chelmsford should see dry and bright conditions on both days, with temperatures reaching highs of 24 degrees Celsius.

The northern site is set to host similarly good weather, although people are warned that some rain could fall on Sunday amid the sunny intervals.

Oasis and The Killers headline the 2009 V, while Lily Allen, Elbow, Razorlight, The Streets, MGMT, The Ting Tings and Keane are also on the bill.

Source: www.yahoo.com

Oasis Busk Duo Asbo'd

A pair of tuneless beggars have been slapped with Asbos to stop them belting out Oasis hit Wonderwall.

James Ryan, 40 and Andrew Cave, 39, infuriated residents and passers-by with relentless renditions of the Britpop classic while begging for money.

Ryan strummed his old guitar while Cave banged dustbin lids – often until 3am in Birmingham's trendy Moseley district.

And the only relief was when the duo occasionally played George Michael's Faith.

But their music-making was brought to an abrupt end this week as Birmingham magistrates handed down a two-year Asbo.

Faith

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council, who brought the action against them with West Midlands Police, said he was pleased with the outcome.

He said: "The duo would continuously play Oasis's Wonderwall.

"There would be Ryan playing the acoustic guitar, whilst Cave joined in with him by banging on dustbin lids or whatever other surface he was stood nearby.

"On rare occasions they broke into George Michael's Faith and we think the money they acquired is believed to fund their drug use.

"This order means Cave has been banned from playing a musical instrument in Moseley whilst Ryan has been banned from playing in Moseley Village.

"Both have been completely banned from begging in England and Wales."

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Oasis Roll Into Town Tonight

Music giants Oasis are ready to rock Bridlington tonight in front of a sell-out crowd at the Spa.

The legendary Mancunian band, famed for anthems including Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger, added the Spa date as a warm up to their appearance at the V festival this weekend.

Hundreds of fans queued for tickets last month, with some even camping overnight, though many left the venue disappointed as tickets were snapped up within minutes.

However, more tickets were quietly released by the Spa this week, much to the suprise of some fans.

Jamie Webber was passing the Spa on Monday when he spotted a queue and was told that more Oasis tickets had been made available.

"It was just pure luck that I was there and managed to get two tickets," said Jamie.

"I do feel sorry for people who queued for hours first time round and got turned away."

Rumours that the Spa had released a further 300 tickets for sale on Monday have been denied by an East Riding of Yorkshire Council spokesman.

He said: "We had a small number of tickets that came back to us through returns which went on sale on Monday."

He explained that it is not unusual for promoters to return a small number of their allocation if extra space is made available either by the sound equipment not taking up as much room as expected or if the band's guest list is shortened.

"The tickets don't come back in a big block so we don't have an exact number of the returns we were able to sell, but it wasn't a massive amount," said the spokesman who added that fans may want to contact the Spa today to see if any further tickets were made available.

Dozens were sold through the online auction website eBay at vastly inflated prices and there were several tickets still available to buy this week over the internet.

Around 3,500 people are expected to enjoy tonight's performance which is a rarity for Oasis who regularly fill football stadiums with tens of thousands of their fans.

The band will be supported by the Detroit Social Club.

Source: www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk

New Oasis Song Appears Online

A new Oasis song has appeared online.

The unidentified track was recorded by a fan during the soundcheck from a show in Hong Kong.

Lyrics for the song

Bye bye my family, I’m leaving
I’m gonna face all the stars in the sky
While I’ll be gone, don’t stop dreaming
Don’t be shy, don’t cry
Cos lazy days and sunny rays that guide me
Back home to where I belongIf God gives me grace
Then he will find me a space
So now I hope I’ll be singing this song

The song, which features just Noel Gallagher can be heard in the video above.

Listen To Oasis At V-Festival This Weekend

Oasis will be headlining this year's V Festival which takes place at Weston Park and Hylands Park.

The band's performance will be streamed online at Absolute Radio's website.

To check out the gigs, click HERE.

The festival appearances will mark a triumphant return to the V Festival for Oasis who headlined previously in 2005.

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Fans in the UK can also watch the full Oasis set live on 4Music as Dave Berry presents live coverage of the V Festival from Chelmsford, featuring live headline sets from Oasis and Keane live.

4Music is available to all digital TV sets be they Freeview, Sky or Virgin.

FAO Liam Gallagher: 5 Tips On Winning A Twitter Feud

In some of the least shocking news of the year, the press is full of reports that…get this…Oasis's Liam and Noel Gallagher don't like each other. In fact, they haven't spoken in months.

But more interestingly, for one of the most Luddite the brothers have become surprisingly tech savvy. Noel Gallager's become a prolific blogger while his lairy little brother Liam has taken his battle with Noel to Twitter.

Though Liam's shown himself to be forward thinking by embracing Twitter, he could do with a few pointers. Here's 5 tips for him on how to win his Twitter feud.

1 Keep the true bitterness to direct messages

If your Twitter feed is unlocked, anyone can read it. Think carefully about what you're willing to broadcast publicly. If you must use Twitter to further your feud, restrict truly vitriolic sentiments to direct messages.

Direct Messages will be kept between you and your nemesis. To write a direct message either press the DM button in your Twitter client or stick a "d" at the front of your message.

2 Don't send barrages of tweets

Sending a stream of tweets about why you hate your brother's idiotic eyebrows or propensity to use Union Jack guitars might make you feel better but it'll irritate your followers. Keep your messages brief and break them up with other interesting content. Maybe tell us about your new fashion label or what it's like to be married to an All Saint. Average, we'd guess.

3 Include other sympathetic tweeters in @replies

If you know there are other people who agree with your opinion of your nemesis and their antics, get them involved. Strength in numbers works on Twitter too.

4 Make sure your message is clear

Avoid @liamgallagher's bizarre approach to arguments. If you don't make your issues with your enemy clear, people won't understand why they should be on your side. Liam's tweets are just confusing – "Just seen photos of the fool on the bill, outside some kebab house". Twitter is a window into your world, keep it clear! Maybe mention the fact that your sibling hasn't written a truly great song since The Masterplan and that he has terrible form when it comes to picking wives and naming kids…oh…on second thoughts people in glass houses and all that.

5 Know when to end the feud or take it to the real world

At some point you're going to have to face up to your rival in real life. For most people this will be in the office or in the local pub. In the case of Liam, this is likely to be on stage at a huge festival. Just have a big scrap and have done with it. You'll give Gordon Smart in The Sun something else to write about besides his abiding love for Kasabian.

Source : www.stuff.tv

Fans Queue Early For Brid Spa Oasis Gig

Oasis fans queued through the night to secure the best spot at tonight's gig in Bridlington.

The Manchester band are playing at Brid Spa, in their third ever East Yorkshire concert.

Attracting Oasis is a huge coup for the venue, with the band's performance sandwiched between big festival appearances in South Korea and V Festival in Staffordshire.

It comes amid reports that all is not well between the Gallagher brothers.

Oasis stars Liam and Noel Gallagher apparently no longer speak to one another, travelling on separate tour buses and only seeing each other on stage.

Frontman Liam is reported in NME as saying: "He doesn't like me and I don't like him, that's it.

"He hasn't told me what he thinks of anything this year.

"We've got nothing to say to each other at the moment."

Instead, the Gallaghers have been exchanging insults via Twitter and their blogs.
The doors open at 7pm for tonight's Oasis gig.

Source: www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk