Even people unacquainted with a majority of Oasis’ discography are familiar with “Wonderwall,” the smash hit and secret weapon of every beginner musician with an acoustic guitar. Despite its obvious merit, the song only skims the surface of the band's history and collection of albums. Oasis was formed in 1991 in Manchester, England, and has made history as one of the most iconic and successful Britpop bands of all time.
The first iteration of the group was called the Rain and consisted of guitarist Paul Arthurs, singer Chris Hutton, drummer Tony McCarroll and bassist Paul McGuigan. Soon after, Hutton was replaced by Liam Gallagher, who suggested changing the band’s name to its now iconic moniker. A few months later, the singer's brother, Noel Gallagher, joined the lineup as lead guitarist, vocalist and sole songwriter.
In 1993, the group signed to Creation Records and released its debut album, “Definitely Maybe,” the following year. The album immediately became a chart-topper and introduced the group's clean and accessible sound to the Britpop genre.
Oasis released “(What's The Story) Morning Glory?” in 1995, an album that made history as the best-selling album of the 1990s in the United Kingdom. The record features hits like “Champagne Supernova” and “Don't Look Back In Anger,” as well as the group's most famous track, “Wonderwall.” Around this time, McCarroll was replaced by Alan White after his talents were deemed unfit for the group's burgeoning sound.
The undeniable success of Oasis also led to tensions with other Britpop groups on the rise, most notably Blur. This era also shows early cracks forming in the relationship between the Gallagher brothers which would someday be the group’s downfall. The two were reportedly tense with one another during the recording of their third album, “Be Here Now,” released in 1997.
The 2001 release of the band’s fourth album, “Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants,” was accompanied by the departure of Arthurs and McGuigan. The two were respectively replaced on their instruments by Gem Archer and Andy Bell in time for the album's release. In the same year as the release of their fourth record, Creation Records shut down and Oasis formed their record label Big Brother Recordings.
The fifth album of Oasis, “Heathen Chemistry,” was released in 2002. It was the first record to feature the group's newest members and the first to feature songs not written by Noel Gallagher. “Heathen Chemistry” also marked a continuing decline in the band’s critical reception after the underwhelming response to “Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants.”
White was asked to leave the band just after the group had begun recording its sixth album, “Don't Believe The Truth.” White was replaced in the studio by Zak Starkey, although he was not considered an official part of the band. The album was released in 2005 and was met with the best reviews since “(What's The Story) Morning Glory?” Two years later, Oasis released its seventh and final studio album, “Dig Out Your Soul.”
Throughout the lifespan of the band, the Gallagher brothers were rarely on good terms. From bickering in the studio to abandoning tours after they had already begun, the tumultuous relationship between the two was a major influence on the group as a whole. Additionally, the group was famous for its hedonistic behavior and lifestyle while on tour. A summation of these factors, along with the group’s steady decline in the early aughts, led to a slight lack of surprise when Noel Gallagher announced his departure from the band in 2009.
The songwriter’s exit from Oasis led to the death of the band as it was known, but the remaining members continued under the name Beady Eye until 2014. After the split of the final lineup, both Gallagher brothers pursued solo careers with occasional collaboration from former band members.
The music industry has been without Oasis for nearly 15 years, but the hole left by the celebrated group is soon to be filled with a reunion tour. Aug. 27, Noel Gallagher posted to Facebook a black and white photograph of him and his brother along with a statement: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”
The band’s website confirms the Oasis Live "25 tour will reach Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin, as well as “other continents outside of Europe later next year.” This announcement is a dream come true for countless ‘90s aficionados and grants concert-goers the opportunity to watch one of history's most eminent bands make history all over again.
