In the world’s biggest band, every week offers its own new dose of pandemonium.
Festivals. Fights. Flings. Flights.
When you’re a rockstar, each seven-day period is more intense, thrilling and exotic than the last.
That’s why no two pages in the story of Oasis are the same.
Throughout the nineties and noughties, this group of Mancunian rascals were overindulgent, grandstanding superstars who practised what they preached; living a hard and fast lifestyle that served as a perfect visual accompaniment for their self-produced soundtrack of roaring guitars and crashing symbols.
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But in their two decades at the top, no week of Oasis mania was ever more definitive than this one: The first seven days of October.
This was the week that propelled the band beyond the island of tea and scones onto the international stage. And it was also the week that would ultimately mark the end.
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It all started on October 2, 1995.
The scene was set for Britain’s most exciting up-and-coming band to justify the hype – as Oasis’ sophomore album, What’s The Story (Morning Glory)? was carefully placed on shelves around the UK.
Once those store doors opened, nothing was ever the same again.
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What’s The Story was snapped up by more than 345,000 fans in its first week – spending 10 weeks at number one in the UK charts.
One glance at the tracklist reveals why.
Roll With It, Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Some Might Say, She’s Electric, Champagne Supernova.
The record was packed with anthemic earworms created to stand the test of time – enjoying constant airplay, analysis and mimicry for twenty-five years and counting.
When What’s The Story landed in shops, Oasis achieved superstar status.
Fast-forward almost exactly thirteen years, and another similar scenario was unfolding.
It’s October 6, 2008, and for the seventh time in history, legions of Oasis supporters are swarming to stores for a another new release – an album the group has titled Dig Out Your Soul.
Fans didn’t know it at the time, but they’d never queue for an Oasis album ever again.
Dig Out Your Soul signalled the end.
In the same week the world watched Oasis swagger into the spotlight, we would also soon hear their swansong.
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An epic 18-month promotional tour of Dig Out Your Soul proved to be the tipping point for the two Gallagher brothers.
The pair had quarrelled over the cancellation of a show at V Festival (Liam citing laryngitis, Noel calling bullshit and said his brother had a hangover) before pulling the plug on a performance in France seconds before stepping out on stage.
By the time they’d reached the Rock En Seine festival in August 2009, tensions were as high as they’d ever been, with the two siblings already travelling separately to shows.
Just before the Paris gig, a blazing row culminated in Liam “wielding a guitar like an axe”.
The pair were interrupted by a sudden knock at the door that cut through the chaos: It was their five-minute warning to prepare for the gig.
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Instead of using these 300 seconds to make his way to the stage, Noel spent them inside his car.
It was during those few moments he decided that was that.
Oasis was done.
A message on the band’s website, written by Noel, eventually appeared stating: “It is with some sadness and great relief…I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.”
And that was that. The band was gone, and the two brothers remain at loggerheads a decade down the line.
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Rumours of a reunion have been a weekly occurrence in the eleven years ever since, but a reconciliation has always been just out of reach.
The post-Oasis years have given birth to bands Beady Eye and High Flying Birds, and whilst there’s never really been any sight of a sincere olive branch, Noel has seemingly ignored impromptu tweets by Liam asking to give things another go, if only for a one-off gig.
The band’s’ closer, Dig Out Your Soul, is often lost within the footnotes of Oasis trivia today; bundled beneath the glory days of What’s The Story, origin tales of debut Definitely Maybe, and the drug-addled anecdotes of Be Here Now.
But DOYS is sort of remarkable in how it holds up as such a solid piece of work despite the growing turbulence going on behind the scenes.
Fittingly, the very last words to appear on an Oasis album are “soldier on” – an apt description of the brothers’ fruitless attempts to persevere through an upcoming tour fraught with tension; which would ultimately bring about the band’s demise.
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You could frown at the Oasis timeline and spend hours trying to decide which dates to circle as being the most definitive moments in the band’s history.
But no single week is more fascinating than this one.
This was when we got the best and last of Oasis.
In ‘95, the leap to glory. In ‘08, the unknowing goodbye.
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IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena
Danny Jones
Cult favourite frontman Joe Talbot of IDLES fame is set to for an eye-opening sit-down interview as part of AO Arena’s ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series.
The lead singer of the politically-charged post-punk band will be joining the in-conversation event opposite BBC 6 Music host and popular radio host, full stop, Chris Hawkins.
Having often drifted into hardcore, art rock and even spoken word at times, Joe Talbot and co. have become known for the cutting lyricism and insightful songwriting in general, so we can only assume that diving into his own musical influences will be just as riveting.
Joining his fellow audophile on stage at the city’s legendary live music and entertainment venue this November, Talbot and Hawkins will be running through the tracks that quite literally helped create the musician we know today.
According to the AO, the arena will host an in-depth chat with the provocative 41-year-old artist as he walks Chris Hawkins through “the most important musical chapters of his life, his stunning musical journey from resident DJ at one of Bristol’s hottest clubs, through to headlining Glastonbury festival.”
It is quite the career he’s had when you break it down.
They go on to promise “raw honesty and trademark wit” as Joe reflects on the record, acts and cultural moments that shaped him as a young performer before breaking onto the scene with IDLES.
As for the ’10 Songs That Made Me’ series itself, it may be what it says on the tin, but most interestingly, being in the crowd and hearing it from each different group/individual changes the experience entirely.
“More than a story of success—it’s a journey of resilience, passion, and community”, they go on to add. “Expect an evening of candid conversation, unexpected anecdotes, and deep dives into the music that has not only defined Joe’s career but also resonated with millions around the world.
If you’re fans of the band or Talbot, in particular, you’ll already know they’re great orators; plus, if you caught even a small clip from his own fledgling Oh Gatekeeper podcast, you’ll know he loves nothing more than diving deep into tunes that shape not just the audio landscape but people at their core.
Just casually getting the lead singer of The Strokes on for in the first season, as you do…
On a personal note, we’ve watched the IDLES x Grammy Museum interview on multiple ocassions at this point, and know how much artistry there is behind everything they do.
The same goes for Talbot, specifically – there’s no doubt about that.
If you’re interested in being part of the audience for Joe Talbot’s in conversation event with Chris Hawkins as part of ’10 Songs That Made Me’, tickets for the date at AO Arena on Tuesday, 25 November are live now, and you can grab yours via Skiddle right HERE.
Last but not least, special mention goes to the interviewing expert himself, whose recent chat with Tim Burgess about The Charlatans getting back into the studio is also well worth a listen.
Tune in to 6 Music from 1pm today, @Tim_Burgess is my very special guest and rumour has it that we might get to hear a brand new Charlatans track… pic.twitter.com/vzoGDnvS7G
Wet Leg announce huge outdoor gig in Manchester as part of landmark live dates
Clementine Hall
Isle of Wight five-piece Wet Leg have announced their biggest headline shows to date, announcing a trio of huge outdoor gigs, including one right here in Manchester at Castlefield Bowl.
The multi-award-winning indie and alt outfit rose to fame back in 2022 with iconic tracks like Chaise Longue and Wet Dream, packing out stages at Glastonbury not long after releasing their critically acclaimed debut album.
Becoming their second consecutive number one in just as many attempts, moisturizer, is equally as fun and fabulous as the first – we cannot wait to hear it live in these.
Comprised of two lead singers in Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, Ellis Durand on bass, drummer Henry Holmes and guitarist Joshua Mobaraki, this lot can make plenty of noise.
And as you can see, to make things even better, they’ll be joined by Leeds’ very own English Teacher as the main support act at each one of the landmarks shows.
As for their down south show, they’ll also be playing Alexandra Palace Park down in the capital to round out this run of live dates next summer.
It goes without saying that we’re obviously buzzing to see them become the latest name on the lineup for the 2026 Sounds of the City series, with a hometown hero also joining the ranks as of this month:
Wet Leg are in good company when they rock up to Castlefield Bowl.
Set to play the Bowl on Wednesday, 8 July, before heading to Leeds and then London for consecutive nights, we’re sure you’ll see them playing tonnes more big stages throughout festival season.
Tickets for all three of Wet Leg’s confirmed dates for 2026 go on sale this Friday, 31 October from 9:30am, and you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We reckon this one will be a real ticket scramble, so we wouldn’t mess about if you want to bag yourself a ticket; in fact, given that all of their live shows this year sold out, we know it will…
The Manc -
6th October 2020 
