Microdot Competition

Here is a chance for you to take part in a new Microdot competition - Answer the following three questions correctly to be entered into a draw. Prize will be a numbered copy of the Microdot portfolio book (currently retailing for £85).

1. What event is depicted for 1994 in the Microdot website homepage movie?
2. Which piece of work on the site is described as 'Not strictly a Microdot project'?
3. What was the first ever Microdot album sleeve design?

All answers are contained within the website. www.microdotcreative.co.uk

All entries to be submitted before closing date of 24th of July.

All answers to be sent to brian@microdotcreative.co.uk

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

On This Day In Oasis History...

On June 24th 2005 Oasis played at the Tweeter Center in Boston USA, above are a few videos from the show.

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

Ask Liam - Allie Dickinson

Ask Liam: Today's question from Allie Dickinson.

Please, please, please can we have some girl stuff may-be just a t-shirt..........or two .

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

On This Day In Oasis History...

On June 23rd 1995 Oasis played at the Glastonbury Festival, above are a few videos from the show.

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'Time Flies... 1994-2009' - Oasis' Eighth NO. 1 Album!

Oasis' complete singles collection 'Time Flies... 1994-2009' entered the UK album chart at number 1 on Sunday, selling four times as many as the second best selling album of the week.

It is the band's eighth number one album (the fifth of the past ten years) and has the highest first week sales of any album released this year!

It was also confirmed by the OCC (Official Charts Company) that 'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is the 900th number 1 album in the history of the UK's official album charts, the first being Frank Sinatra's 'Songs For Swingin' Lovers' back in 1956!

We'd like to say a big thank you to all the fans for their continued support!

Source: www.oasisinet.com

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Russell Brand 'Inspired' By Noel Gallagher

It may not be the most flattering homage, but Russell Brand has said his portrayal of the arrogant, wild and obnoxious rocker Aldous Snow in new flick was inspired by his friend Noel Gallagher.

Speaking to ShortList Magazine, Brand said of his Oasis front man pal: "He tells you stories and you think, 'Oh my God, you decadent lunatics.'

"Tales of when there was still money in the music industry and they were all carrying on. So there are no direct references, but Noel is someone I have in mind. Mostly because Noel Gallagher doesn't care.

"Most people say, 'Oh I don't care what people think about me.' He actually doesn't. You're like, 'Don't say that! You'll ruin everything you've worked for,' and he's like, 'Don't f*cking care, say what I want.'

"The way he sees it, as long as he can play guitar, people will always give him 10 quid and he'll be all right."

However, when asked if he’d made use of any other Gallagher characteristics, Brand explained: "No, just the attitude. Because if I nicked some personal anecdote from Noel's life about robbing houses in Greater Manchester I don't see how that would have helped the plot, to be honest."

The comedian also confessed he would love to be a real life rock star: "Yeah, it was like sanctioning a part of yourself you're always embarrassed about.

“Part of you thinks, 'I could be a rock star, couldn't I? Let me prove that by dancing along to Deep Purple.'

"It sanctions that kind of conduct, which normally takes place in bathrooms, like all good masturbation should.

"But it felt good, it was a good exercise for me."

Read the full interview in ShortList Magazine, out on Thursday.

Source: www.mirror.co.uk

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Oasis Triumph In Britpop Rematch

Oasis have triumphed over Blur after the battle of Britpop was re-staged, 15 years on.

The two bands were famously locked in conflict as they raced for the No 1 spot in 1995 with Blur's Country House winning out.

But now a poll of listeners for the launch of new station Absolute Radio 90s has found that Oasis's Roll With It is actually the most popular track after all these years.

Source: The Press Association

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First Live Tape Of Oasis Up For Sale

A piece of Manchester music history is up for grabs on Thursday – when the first ever recording of Oasis goes under the hammer.

Auctioneers Christie's are offering the cassette, which was captured at legendary Little Peter Street venue The Boardwalk in 1992.

It features five songs from the band's second-ever gig - the first with Noel Gallagher at the helm.

Christie's say the tape is the first 'live' recording of Oasis in existence and have set an estimate of £4,000 to £6,000.

Former music promoter Dean Hanley is selling the recording.

He was given the cassette by a desperate Noel at offices on Mount Street, in a bid to promote the fledgling band.

Dean made some demos from the tape and sent them to record labels to no avail. However, he did manage to secure Oasis a support slot for Peter Hook's off-shoot band Revenge.

Other than an early version of Columbia, which appeared on the classic first album Definitely Maybe, none of the tracks that feature on the recording were released.

There is also one song recorded in the studio.

The cassette, labelled in blue ballpoint pen and fluorescent green marker by Noel is offered without any reproduction rights.

It captures the four-piece around two years before they shot to fame.

Christie's say the band sound heavily influenced by fellow Manchester legends The Smiths and The Stone Roses.

They add that the Beatlesque chord changes that later became an Oasis trademark and Liam's 'yet to completely mature voice' it is 'still recognisably Oasis'.

The band were spotted by Scottish record label boss Alan McGee around a year after the recording in 1993.

He signed them up and their first single Supersonic, released a year later, set them on the way to success.

Millions of record sales followed, along with seven albums.

Last June they played sell out shows to huge acclaim at Heaton Park.

But in August the band announced they had split, with the final straw said to be a row between Liam and Noel backstage before a gig in Paris.

Source: manchestereveningnews

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What's The Best Number 1 Single From Oasis?

This month the poll in the right side menu is for the best Oasis UK number 1 single.

The choices are

Some Might Say
Don't Look Back In Anger
D'You Know What I Mean?
All Around The World
Go Let It Out
The Hindu Times
Lyla
The Importance Of Being Idle

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Lionel Messi Inspired By Oasis

The combined skills of Ghandi, Kofi Annan, Nelson Mandela and Terry Waite would struggle to broker peace between the warring Oasis brothers.

But Lionel Messi - the planet's most special footballer since Archie Gemmill - reckons he can smooth the volatile diplomatic minefield between Noel and Liam Gallagher.

The little wizard has spent the World Cup receiving a masterclass in Oasis from his Argentina team-mate, Manchester City star Carlos Tevez.

And the Barcelona Lord has fallen in love with the band, vowing to do everything in his power to get them back together if the Argies win the World Cup. Messi said: "Ever since he has been playing in Manchester, Carlitos has told me how great Oasis was. I kept promising I would listen to them, but I never got round to it.

"On the plane on the way to the World Cup Carlitos made me listen to their first two albums. I have to say I wasn't expecting much but it is some of the best material I have ever heard. They are absolutely amazing.

"Their songs are incredible. I would have to say Supersonic and Live Forever are my favourites. I have been listening to their stuff on my iPod dock in the hotel room, on the way to the matches and in the dressing room. I can't believe it's taken me all this time to finally listen to them.

"I've been watching their live performances on YouTube and they look like they'd be amazing to see in concert.

"I asked Carlitos if we could go and see them in Manchester or London in concert, but he told me they have split up.

"I showed the rest of the boys in the Argentina squad their stuff and I promise you, everybody absolutely loves it.

"A few knew a couple of their songs but for most of them it was their first listen.

"We have agreed that if we win the World Cup we want to fly them over to Argentina for our celebration party.

"We just need them to name their price."

I'm sure Noel would enjoy a spot of chin-stroking contemplation about that after an early afternoon bag of Monster Munch.

Argentina boss Maradona is a fan of the Man City supporting boys too. He met them in Buenos Aires back in 1997, months before he was sentenced for shooting journalists.

It would take an act from the Hand of God to repair the biblical scrap between the most famous feuding brothers.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

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Bonehead On Life After Oasis

He has been there and done it. Lived the rock 'n' roll dream with the biggest British band of the past two decades.

But Paul Arthurs, better known as Bonehead, who walked out on Oasis in 1999 declaring "there was no fun in it any more", is starting again with The Vortex, a Manchester five-piece that merges rock guitars with dance.

Alan McGee, who discovered Oasis, described the guitarist's new outfit as "set for big things... setting the controls for the heart of the northern anthem as if Kasabian never existed."

You can make up your own mind when they play The Maze in a couple of weeks.

Indie guitars and dance – are you reviving Madchester?

"No. There are full-on guitar lines, they're big songs but we use a lot of dance samples and loops. We have a girl on backing vocals. I get a Screamadelica/Primal Scream vibe off it."

Isn't it hard playing the pub circuit after 250,000 people at Knebworth in one weekend?

"It's a joy. Something like Knebworth was amazing, every boy's dream. But I like being on the road, going back to basics. I missed that with Oasis. It's what I've always loved about being in a band."

Is it better for you not being in the shadow of Noel and Liam, having greater control?

"I wouldn't say control but I've developed a lot more of my playing. I have got more freedom. It's got an energy I feel Oasis were lacking, at the point that I left, anyway. It's more edgy. I'm really enjoying it."

What happened with your previous band The Seers?

"We did all right, we did a lot of gigs but it fizzled out."

Are people still asking you about Oasis at the gigs?

"It used to be 'why did you leave Oasis?' but people have got over that. All I get off people is pure love. They respect me for what I did in Oasis and they're respecting what I'm doing with The Vortex. They do come to the gigs out of curiosity but when I come off stage they want to know about The Vortex."

Are you a better musician now than a decade ago?

"A lot better I think. I'm learning loads more in the studio. I'm a lot more hands-on these days."

Aren't you fed up of hearing new bands trying to sound like Oasis?

"I don't know if they're trying to sound like Oasis but they're influenced by us and that's not a bad thing."

When will The Vortex release an album?

We're finishing it now. We're paying for it ourselves. So by the end of summer we'll have one ready. We've got interest (from record labels) but we're just getting on with it"

What is your take on the Oasis split?

"I was sad it happened how it did, ending with a fight. I look forward to hearing their solo stuff. I just hope what Noel and Liam come out with is as good as I expect it to be."

Source: www.thisisnottingham.co.uk

I HAVE SCANS FOR THIS ARTICLE IN MY INBOX, I WILL PUT THEM IN THE COMMENTS A LITTLE LATER.

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

Noel Gallagher On Oasis' 'Time Flies'

Oasis have topped the charts once again this weekend with an album that brings together the band's 27 singles for the first time.

Time Flies 1994-2009 beat off competition from the soundtrack to TV series Glee.

Listen to Noel Gallagher talking about the making of the collection using the player below.

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

Liam And Noel Gallagher On Roll Of Famous

Peter Kay will have his name permanently etched on to a new “eco” art installation at Manchester Airport.

Work has already begun on a glass-covered walkway which will feature the names of the North West’s most famous people and places.

The Bolton comedy legend will be one of hundreds of names ‘hidden’ in a giant wordsearch as part of the walkway which is being built to link terminals one and three.

Designers are hoping that people using the walkway will try to solve the puzzle, which aims to celebrate the best of Greater Manchester and pay tribute to its heritage.

The design will also help the airport in its bid to be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2015 by using third generation LED lighting to cut energy consumption by about 40 per cent, airport bosses say.

Other famous names will include Manchester’s Oasis stars Liam and Noel Gallagher and indie group The Stone Roses.

Source: www.theboltonnews.co.uk

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

Oasis Singles Collection Is The Best Selling Album This Week

Oasis have scored the UK album chart's 900th number one this week with their Time Flies... singles collection LP. The first being "Songs For Swingin' Lovers" by Frank Sinatra in 1956.

Oasis who split up last year, were given their eighth album triumph in their illustrious career, selling almost four times as many copies as Glee's Journey To Regionals, which was also a new entry in second place.

Below are the top ten albums in full:

01. (-) Oasis: 'Time Flies... 1994-2009
02. (-) Glee Cast: 'Glee: The Music, Journey To Regionals'
03. (-) Michael Bublé: 'Crazy Love'
04. (8) Glenn Miller: 'The Very Best Of Glenn Miller'
05. (7) RAF Squadronaires: 'In The Mood'
06. (2) Alicia Keys: 'The Element Of Freedom'
07. (15) Billy Joel: 'The Piano Man: The Very Best Of Billy Joel'
08. (5) Lady GaGa: 'The Fame Monster'
09. (14) Plan B: 'The Defamation Of Strickland Banks'
10. (13) Mumford & Sons: 'Sigh No More'

'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.

Listen Again To Noel Gallagher On TalkSport

Noel Gallagher appeared on TalkSport again last night (19 June) and spoke about England's woeful performance against Algeria listen to the interview here.

Some extracts from the interview:

"It was bad, it was bad. You don't mind England playing not well but when it's so bad... its almost like they had never played together before."

The player he wouldn't have started against Algeria: "Aaron Lennon. I'm just not having him, he's good at running in a straight line really fast, and that's about the end of it."

Joe Cole not being used so far: "Why bring Joe Cole if you're not going to use him? If he doesn't play Joe Cole against Slovenia, that is just a ludicrous decision to bring him because he could have brought somebody else, he could have brought Adam Johnson."

Does he blame the Manager or the players: "He is a great Manager, hands down. There are six players in that team: theres Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Ashley Cole.... em... alright, theres four... they are pretty decent, like John Terry, fine, he's alright, you know, they are probably world class players, they've played Champions League finals and all that, they know what they're doing. I don't think you can say, "Its the Manager", because we've been through all that, you know what I mean?, we've got the Manager, the players we see week in week out and they're great, and I just think its the whole... its the England "thing", innit, do you know what I mean? I dono, maybe the weight of expectation from the media, and the fans is too big."

Rooney's criticism of the fans: "I think he was probably speaking for the team. I've got to say I've never booed anybody at a football match, I've left a couple of times." "I don't blame him for that but I reckon that's probably an underlying feeling within the team themselves, is like, you know, "We don't kinda need this", do you know what I mean? And whatever anybody says, booing is counter-productive - you're booing after the match, whats the point of all that, do you know what I mean, those lads go out there and they try their best, the booing is.. I don't know... its all people from Halifax, anyway, do you know what I mean?"

His optimism for the final group match: "The body language of those players coming off that pitch last night and the body language of the interviews I've seen today, if they can pull it out from here, I'd be staggered." "Slovenia have got a great chance of qualifying for the second round for the first time ever and all they've got to do is to stop England scoring, now, lets be frank, its been pretty easy so far." "England from 1 to 11 are pretty good, from 12 to 23 we're in trouble."

Why he prefers watching the matches at home, rather than in pubs: "If I go to a pub, I end up getting me picture taken for the first 45 minutes, and all that jazz..."

Thanks as always to Dougie.

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Oasis: What's Your Story? - The Fans

This is the last of the fan stories.

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Win Oasis Goodies

Here is another opportunitie to win an Oasis-branded Wowee One speaker unit, click here for more details.

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Ex Oasis Man Bonehead Doesn't Look Back In Anger

From playing in front of 250,000 people at Knebworth to the 140-capacity Cellars at Eastney, life has come full-circle for Bonehead.

Founding member and guitar player in arguably the world's biggest indie band, he's now joined a new group and plans to hit the road hard to get them a name as big as his old one.

In the late 1980s, Bonehead – real name Paul Arthurs – started a band called The Rain with his mates in Manchester.

He went on to recruit Liam and then Noel Gallagher. The band went on to become Oasis and Oasis went on to found Britpop and achieve worldwide chart domination.

Ten years after leaving Oasis, Bonehead's back with a new band – The Vortex – and he's coming to The Cellars at Eastney.

'It's something that I always missed,' reveals the 44-year-old multi-instrumentalist.

'Reaching that pinnacle of playing to a quarter of a million people at Knebworth was beyond what we ever dreamed we could do, but – personally – I did miss the intimacy of turning up to gigs in a van, rather than a limousine with four security guards, and getting up-close and personal with the audience, you know, sitting at the bar with them afterwards. That's what I really love about being in a band and it's great to be back doing that,' he continues, apologising for munching on a sausage sandwich.

Bonehead still lives in Manchester with his wife, Kate, and two children, Lucy (whose middle name is Oasis) and Jude. He's been married to Kate for 'god knows' how long – 'since before Oasis'.

Bonehead was the bedrock of his former band. He was the one who would jump in to split up the fights between Liam and Noel and it was his front room which featured on the cover of the band's debut album, Definitely Maybe.

It was also his van that transported the band and their equipment around when they started out – a spray-painted van with no key that started with a screwdriver kept under the seat.

Everyone in the area knew about the van, and the screwdriver, and Bonehead would spend his weekends wandering Moss Side in search of his van, after some gig goer nicked it to drive themselves home.

These early days were a far cry from Oasis' eventual megastardom, but Bonehead missed the simple life.

He says: 'It was difficult being in a band with a profile like that. A lot of people don't realise how busy you are. You might get six days off a year.

'Part of the reason I left was because I wanted some time to see my family and watch the kids grow-up. But that wasn't the only reason.

'For me, the spark in Oasis had died out. I wasn't enjoying it as much. Something had gone, something had fallen flat. I just didn't feel I could carry on and finish that album (the band's 2000 release Standing
On The Shoulder Of Giants] and then go out around the world to promote it.

'You can't be a member of Oasis and not give 100 per cent. But you can't leave Oasis overnight either, legally or emotionally.

'For me, it was just time to go. It was not an easy decision, but I don't regret it, I just look back and think what an amazing time I had.'

Bonehead has plenty of tales of good times with the band, as you can imagine. But it was Liam that he was closest to.

'We just got on, We were best mates within the band,' he explains.

When Noel wrote a song called Bonehead's Bank Holiday with the intention of Bonehead singing lead vocals for the track, Liam lent his support, but it all ended in a drunken stupor.

When I ask him about it, Bonehead scoffs at the idea of him being drunk.

'Drunk? I was leathered mate! Liam had to hold me up.

'Noel came to me and said "I've written a song called Bonehead's Bank Holiday". I said "I like the title", then Noel told me "the twist is you're singing it".

'I'd never sung a note in my life and he just said "yeah, there's the words. There's the tune..."

'So Liam was like "I'll tell you what, you and me'll go to the pub for some Dutch courage". Sixteen pints of Strongbow cider later, we were beyond capable,' Bonehead laughs.

'I've still got about three hours of out-takes. It's probably the funniest thing you'll ever hear in your life.'

Bonehead and Liam's alcohol-inspired chanting can be heard in snippets on the final recording, but Noel re-recorded the lead vocals.
When I ask if he ever misses any aspect of Oasis, he says he's not bothered about the fame and fortune.

'I suppose you miss your mates,' he admits.

'I spent 10 years with them, seeing them most days. You miss being round the same circle of people,' he continues, then quickly adds: 'But it's not like I sit there at night getting sad about it.'

Bonehead is still friends with his ex-bandmates, but he sees them very rarely these days.

'I bumped into Noel a few years ago at the Manchester v Cancer gig and I've met up with Liam a few times in London. I saw Alan a few months back too,' he explains.

So how did he feel when the band he started eventually split in August?

'It was always on the cards but I was sad that they would be no more and particularly sad that it ended in a fight. I guess that's par for the course with them.

'I'm looking forward to hearing what both of them are going to come out with. It can only be a good thing for music in general. It's going to be an exciting thing,' he beams.

Bonehead has no regrets about leaving the band when he did. He explains: 'If I was to get hit by a bus tomorrow, wherever I end up, I would think "I did what I set out to do... and more". I just hope I can achieve the same degree of success with The Vortex as I did with Oasis.'
When we speak, he's in a Manchester studio recording an album with his new band.

'We're funding the recording ourselves,' he explains. 'We're just recording the final bits, tidying it up, today. We're going to start mixing next week.

'We've got some serious label interest in the pipeline, but nothing definite I can announce at this stage.

'Realistically, the album's likely to be released in the new year,' he confides.

Bonehead says that The Vortex are similar to Oasis musically.

'In terms of big anthemic choruses and loud crashing guitars, there's not a lot of difference. But there's a dance element to The Vortex as well. It's not far off Primal Scream because we've got Jackie (Heather Small and Cotton Club backing vocalist, Jaxx) on backing vocals, which gives it a sort of Denise Johnson feel.'

He also says that the band's dynamic is similar to that of Oasis.

When I ask him if life's more harmonious in his new band, he replies: 'Oasis was nothing but harmonious, though, of course, there were the well-publicised spats between Noel and Liam.

'The Vortex has a really similar feel people-wise. The vibe reminds me of the feeling of Oasis in the early days. It's one of the things that drew me to The Vortex.

'I loved the music, of course, but I jumped at it when they asked me to join because of the camaraderie.'

Bonehead met his new band through its bass player Nick Repton, who was friends with some of Bonehead's colleagues, for a show on BBC Radio Manchester.

After appearing as a guest performer with the band a few times, in January 2009 they asked him to join full- time and he 'jumped at it'.

The band recently acquired a new frontman, John Mackie. Bonehead says: 'He was pretty established around Manchester as a solo singer-songwriter and he's a really amazing frontman. He looks and sounds great on stage and he's a top boy.

'He completed the band and kicked us all up a gear.'

When The Vortex arrive at The Cellars at Eastney tomorrow night, Bonehead says: 'You can expect them to blow your head.

'A lot of people come down to gigs because they're familiar with the band from MySpace or they've read a review or heard about us from someone who's seen us before. Some come out of curiosity – they say "it's Bonehead. Let's go".

'We always get out front and talk to people after the gigs and they say "I didn't expect that".'

The Vortex will be blowing even more heads when they embark on a mammoth touring schedule in September and release a couple of singles around Christmas time.

'We're taking it a step at a time,' says Bonehead.

'We're doing it the old school way. We just want to chip away and see what comes of it. Just get out and be heard – that's the plan.'

See The Vortex at The Cellars at Eastney from 8pm tomorrow. Tickets cost £11 on the door or £9.50 in advance from the Cromwell Road Box Office or (023) 9286 6249. You can also catch them at Soul Cellar in Southampton on August 20.

Source: www.portsmouth.co.uk

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Noel Gallagher Thinks 'It's All Over For England' After Drawing At World Cup

Former Oasis man laments the national team's performance against Algeria.

Noel Gallagher thinks "it's all over" for England's Fifa World Cup campaign, after they drew 0-0 with Algeria earlier tonight (June 18).

Featuring as a guest on James Corden's World Cup Live chat show, the former Oasis man also passed judgement on the England manager Fabio Capello.

"Before tonight everyone really respected him," Gallagher said. "But he's kind of turned into some kind of silly wizard".

He added: "If they couldn't beat Algeria tonight I cant see them beating Slovenia. Slovenia are going to need to draw that game to go through, so they've got something to play for, it's all over."

Despite thinking England won't progress from the group stages at the tournament, Gallagher did reveal that when the national team were knocked out of the 2002 World Cup by Brazil, Oasis' single 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' made the group a lot of money.

"We knew when it was picked as a single it would be released at the time of the [2002] World Cup," he explained. "We thought 'we [England] are bound to get knocked out to this', 'Kerching' I said."

Set to head to Johannesburg to watch the final regardless of whether England make it, Gallagher will hope he can influence the result after claiming he was Italy's lucky mascot for their successful World Cup campaign in 2006.

Source: www.nme.com

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Watch Noel Gallagher On James Corden's World Cup Live

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