MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS:

MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS:

reading in the library

with Norman Warwick

Noel and Liam Gallagher, two of rock music’s most polarizing figures, unknowingly changed the course of British rock forever in the mid-1990s. The brothers and bandmates were catapulted into the mainstream following the surprise success of their albums Definitely Maybe and What’s the Story Morning Glory?

Oasis, comprised of the Gallagher brothers, guitarist Paul Arthurs, bassist Paul McGuigan, and drummer Tony McCarroll, helped usher in a new era of chart-topping acts within the U.K. Their sudden fame coincided with a string of public feuds and headline-making statements from both Gallagher siblings. The music they made together as Oasis continues to influence artists and spark discussion, decades later.

From a look back at one of their most iconic gigs to a deep dive into a formative album, there are several Oasis books every music fan should read.

Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis

Music journalist Paolo Hewitt documents his time spent accompanying the band on Getting High, The Adventures of Oasis offers a revealing look into the often chaotic lives of the Gallagher brothers, seen up close during their rapid rise to fame.

Oasis’ Definitely Maybe

This installment of Bloomsbury’s ongoing 33 1/3rd series takes a deep dive into the creation and impact of Oasis’s influential 1994 album, Definitely Maybe. Author Alex Niven gives context to the musical movement spurred by the band’s debut record, which arrived at a time of intensive societal transformation for the band’s home country.

Supersonic: The Complete, Authorised and Uncut Interviews

The band hand-curated this comprehensive and insightful collection of interviews, offering a surprisingly authentic look into their often turbulent career. Released in 2021, Supersonic: The Complete, Authorised and Uncut Interviews looks back through the years while not glossing over some of the Gallagher brothers’ most controversial moments.

Oasis: Knebworth: Two Nights That Will Live  Forever

In 1996, the group performed two dates in the green fields of Knebworth, England, drawing more than 250,000 fans. That weekend of live shows, now ranked among the group’s most important concerts of their career, is documented in this impressive 2021 compilation. Through a collection of intimate, rarely-seen photos, readers get transported back to a moment that helped signify Oasis’ prominence in modern music.

Noel Gallagher – The Biography

Noel Gallagher (see our cover) is as well-known for his singer-songwriter talent as he is for his controversial, outspoken statements and his tempestuous relationships. Noel found worldwide acclaim with Oasis and influenced the musical style of a generation. At the forefront of the Britpop movement in the Nineties, Noel was responsible for writing some of the big anthems, including ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, ‘Supersonic’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’. Even his b-sides were influential, with ‘Half the World Away’ being used as the theme for The Royle Family. At their peak Oasis were playing sold-out concerts to over 200,000 people. But what is the truth about the boy from Manchester? How did his relationship with his father affect him? what caused the public and personal rivalry with fellow Britpop band Blur? Why has he always had such a turbulent relationship with his brother and front man of Oasis, Liam? Is the band over for good this time? This book maps out Noel’s story from the beginning. It takes you from his dysfunctional upbringing in Manchester to the man we know now. Throughout his teens Noel regularly truanted and it was during this time that he started to teach himself to play the guitar. While working in construction he began to write songs and after acting as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets, he joined his younger brother Liam’s and Oasis and set them on the path to glory.