TIMELINE | Oasis

(HERE’S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY

FEW BANDS IN HISTORY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY THEY’RE “BIGGER THAN GOD” OR “BIGGER AND BETTER THAN THE BEATLES,” but for a fleeting moment in the mid-'90s, Oasis convinced themselves and millions of fans that they were. Reacting to the sour, downtrodden vibes of grunge, they rose up to carry the Britpop movement on their shoulders. Led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, Oasis became beloved as much for their outrageously colourful and controversial behaviour as their celebratory anthems.

Alcohol, cocaine and egos got in the way of their momentum, and infighting between members would jeopardize both the band's success and their chemistry, but through all the trash-talking, fist-fighting and hostile personnel changes, Oasis built a legacy that's as fascinating now as it was during their 18 years together. In October, the production team behind the Oscar-nominated Amy will release the documentary Supersonic, which chronicles the first three years of Oasis's career.

1967 to 1987 Noel Gallagher is born in 1967 in Manchester to Irish parents; younger brother William (Liam) is born five years later. From a young age, Noel and Liam are forced to share a bedroom, which establishes a lifetime of squabbling. Children of an alcoholic father, they get into trouble at school; after he's expelled, Noel is confined to the house; out of boredom, he picks up the guitar.

Noel begins work for British Gas; he injures his foot at work and takes a less physical job working in the storehouse, which he later nicknames “the Hit Hut” after writing three songs from Definitely Maybe on the job.

1988 to 1991 On his 21st birthday, Noel sees the Stone Roses and James, where he meets Inspiral Carpets guitarist Graham Lambert. The band's singer, Stephen Holt, leaves and Noel auditions to replace him, but, according to Lambert, “his voice didn't fit.” Instead they hire him as the band's roadie.

Liam's keen on a local band called the Rain, made up of Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan (bass), Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (guitar), Tony McCarroll (drums) and Chris Hutton (vocals). Guigsy later tells Mojo, “[Hutton] was a twat. We sacked him.” The band invite Liam to audition and he's hired immediately. Liam suggests they change their name to Oasis.

Oasis make their live debut at the Board- walk in Manchester on August 18, 1991 and Noel is in attendance. He later tells Q, “I know I've said they were atrocious, but they weren't that bad. They came offstage and he went, ‘ What did you think?' ‘ You're alright, but you've got no tunes.' And he comes back with, ‘ Well, it's more than you ever fucking did — you've got loads of songs and you're sat on your arse being a roadie.'”

At the band's next rehearsal, Liam asks Noel to become the band's manager, but instead he demands to take over lead guitar and songwriting. Guigsy recalls the experience to Mojo: “Everybody knew he was into playing guitar, but he'd never been in a band in his life. Then he said, ‘Right, I'll be in charge.'”

1993 On May 31, Oasis hire a gold-painted, '70s tour bus with some mates and drive up to Glasgow, where they are to play a gig. Upon arrival they learn they aren't on the bill. In attendance to see headliner 18 Wheeler are Creation Records boss Alan McGee and Teenage Fanclub's Gerard Love.

Oasis convince the promoter to let them play four songs, and they impress McGee so much that after talking to them — when Noel brags that he's written more than 50 songs, when in fact they just have six — he offers them a record deal on the spot. Oasis show interest, but their manager Marcus Russell holds off. McGee becomes obsessed with the band's demo, Live Demonstration, and begins playing it for everyone in the Creation camp.

Despite McGee's best efforts to keep them a secret, other labels discover Oasis. Both Go! Discs and U2's label Mother show interest, but Russell signs a six-album deal with McGee through Sony International, which includes Epic for America and a licensing deal with Creation in the UK.

1994 In February, the band are scheduled to play their first gig outside of the UK in Amsterdam, supporting the Verve. During the cross-channel ferry trip, members of Oasis and a group of Chelsea FC supporters proceed to drink the boat dry. The two sides begin to have a “massive punch-up” and Liam, Bonehead, Guigsy and Tony are locked up in the brig; they are eventually deported back to England.

They go to the idyllic Sawmills studio on the riverside in Cornwall to continue recording. With Noel and the band's live sound engineer Mark Coyle producing the sessions, they try to replicate the band's guitar-heavy live sound to tape. On the recommendation of Johnny Marr, Russell calls in Owen Morris, who's engineered records by Electronic and The The. The first order of business for Morris is to strip away all of the guitars that Noel laid down. The band's debut single “Supersonic” is released on April 11 and charts at #31 in the UK; Noel admits it was written in the time it takes to listen to it.

Their followup, “Shakermaker,” is released in June and charts at #11. The New Seekers

accuse Oasis of jacking the melody from their 1971 hit song, “I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing,” originally written as a jingle for Coca-Cola. Oasis are forced to pay $500,000 Australian to the original songwriters. Asked about the lawsuit, Noel tells the press, “We only drink Pepsi from now on.”

Noel and Owen Morris finish the final mix of the album, which is released on August 29. Definitely Maybe becomes the fastest-selling debut album in UK history, and goes on to sell more than 15 million copies worldwide. The album's success rescues Creation Records, which is £2 million in debt.

1995 Oasis win Best Newcomer at the BRIT Awards and the press begin focusing on an Oasis-Blur rivalry, despite the two bands showing respect for one another. In NME, Noel and Blur frontman Damon Albarn appear with arms around each other, while Blur guitarist Graham Coxon kisses a befuddledlooking Liam.

The band throw a party at London's Mars Bar to celebrate a number one single. Liam confronts guest Damon Albarn, who later tells NME, “I went to their celebration party, y'know, just to say ‘ Well done.' And Liam goes, ‘Number fookin' one!' right in my face. So I thought, ‘OK we'll see…'”

Liam and Tony McCarroll get into a fight in a Paris bar. McCarroll is sacked by Marcus Russell over the phone. Noel explains that McCarroll was let go because “he wouldn't have been able to drum the new songs,” although it's reported that Noel has been trying to oust him for two years. McCarroll is replaced by Alan White, whose brother Steve drums for Paul Weller. MTV asks Noel about the change in drummers, to which he replies, “Drummers are really smelly, useless, horrible, talentless losers. Fancy having a job where you bang things all day. Orangutans do that, don't they? Drummers do it and get paid loads of money for it. Sack 'em all.”

Oasis announce their next single, “Roll With It,” will be released on August 14. Blur move up the release of their single, “Country House,” to the same date, inciting “The Battle of Britpop.” The media begin to fixate on the showdown, with NME hyping it up as the “British Heavyweight Championship.” Blur win the battle, outselling Oasis 274,000 to 216,000, but not without controversy. A barcode error on the Oasis single was discovered after it went to shops, which prevented all sales from being accounted for. Oasis also had their single priced higher, while Blur had two different versions at a cheaper price.

In an interview with The Observer, Noel utters the words, “I hate that Alex and Damon. I hope they catch AIDS and die.” The press has a field day with the comment. He later retracts it and adds, “As soon as I had said it, I realized that it was an insensitive thing to say, as AIDS is no joking matter, and immediately retracted the comment.”

( What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is released on October 2; the album isn't received as strongly by critics as Definitely Maybe was. Melody Maker's David Stubbs complains that the album sounds “laboured and lazy.”

The album sells 342,000 copies in its first week, breaking the UK sales record. It will spend the next ten weeks at #1 on the UK albums chart and go on to sell over 22 million copies worldwide. Oasis become the face of a newly established “lad” culture that begins to influence everything: music, fashion and attitude.

1996 At the BRIT Awards, a very antagonistic Oasis win for Best British Album, Best British Video and Best British Group. When INXS frontman and Oasis fan Michael Hutchence presents them with Best British Video, Noel accepts and says, “Has-beens shouldn't be presenting awards to gonna-bes.” When they accept for Best British Group, Liam taunts fellow nominee Blur by singing a version of their song “Parklife” he calls “Shitelife.”

The Sunday Times gets the quote that the world has been waiting for. “It's really important to be bigger than the Beatles,” says Noel. “I think we're better than the Beatles. And we've only done two albums. They ain't the best band in the world — we are.”

Oasis are scheduled to film an MTV Unplugged show in London, but Liam pulls out at the last moment due to a sore throat. Noel sings all of the songs while Liam watches from the balcony, smoking, drinking beer and ceaselessly heckling his band. One week later, Liam walks out of Heathrow Airport just as Oasis are to depart for their U.S. tour. He reportedly tells The Sun, “I am Oasis. I started the fucking band. I'm mad for it, but I have to move house. I can't go looking for a house in America while I'm trying to perform to silly fucking Yanks.” The rest of the band decide to go without him, but he eventually shows up for some dates.

1997 In an interview with NME, Noel is asked, “Do you think Oasis are more important to the youth of today than God?” Noel replies, “Now that is a loaded question. I would have to say, without a shadow of a doubt, that is true. I would hope we mean more to people than putting money in a church basket and saying ten Hail Marys every Sunday.”

Be Here Now is released on August 21 and sells 424,000 copies in the UK in its first day, the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. Early reviews are positive, but over time Be Here Now is remembered for being the self-indulgent, over-ambitious, bloated and drug-fuelled effort that killed off Britpop.

The album's cover photo — which features the band outside an 18th Century mansion and a Rolls Royce inside a swimming pool — itself costs the band approximately £75,000 to produce. “You can't just turn up at a hotel and put a Rolls Royce in a swimming pool for nothing,” record sleeve designer Brian Cannon tells The Big Issue.

1998 to 1999 While watching the World Cup in June, 1998, Noel suffers a panic attack, which have become a regular thing. He calls a doctor, who doles out some advice: give up drugs. He follows the doctor's orders and later tells Behind the Music, “I just stayed in bed for a couple of days. I was actually surprised at how easy it was. It was no big deal for me. I just stopped doing it and that was the end of that.”

In 2009, he tells Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that up until 1998 he imagines he must have spent £1 million on drugs. Noel issues an ultimatum to Liam, demanding that he too stays sober, and eventually the singer agrees.

Oasis release a compilation of B-sides called The Masterplan on November 3. Noel later tells Mr. Hyde, “From '93 to '96 every song I wrote was a classic — I thought it'd last forever. If The Masterplan had come out instead of Be Here Now, we may have won the Nobel Peace Prize. I think we'd have saved the world, the songs were that good.”

In April 1999, Oasis begin recording their fourth studio album at Château de la Colle Noire in Montauroux, France with Mark “Spike” Stent producing. In August, Bonehead leaves the band, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Noel shares his thoughts with the NME: “It's hardly Paul McCartney leaving the Beatles.” Just weeks later, Guigsy also leaves the band. The remaining members of Oasis hold a press conference in London to address the two departures and assure fans “that the future of Oasis is secure. The story and the glory will go on.” Adds Noel, “We were a bit shocked at first, but we just have to get on with it. We've got to keep going because I, for one, don't have any money left.”

Heavy Stereo vocalist/guitarist Colin “Gem” Archer is worried that Oasis might now split up; unbeknownst to him, Noel is looking to recruit him. Because he doesn't play on the album and isn't an official member, at first he is only paid a standard session musician wage of £85 per gig.

Oasis bring in Andy Bell, former guitarist for Ride and Hurricane #1; he's never played bass before, but he receives encouraging words from Liam: “If he can play the guitar, he can play the fookin' bass.”

2000 to 2001 The Gallaghers start off the new millennium by launching their own label, Big Brother Recordings Ltd. On February 28, 2000, Oasis release Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, which includes “Little James,” the first Oasis song written by Liam. It debuts at #1 in the UK and sells over 300,000 copies in its first week. Over the years, both Gallaghers defend the album, but in 2011, Noel tells Chuck Klosterman, “We should have never made Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. I'd come to the end. I had no reason or desire to make music. We'd sold all these fucking records and there just seemed to be no point.”

Oasis head into Wheeler End Studios to begin working on their fifth studio album. Noel tells NME that Liam is delaying the process. “I was really happy with [the album] until recently, but I'm fucking livid now,” he says. “I finished my bits three-and-a-half months ago, and then we handed it over to Liam, and he's done nothing.”

2002 to 2004 Heathen Chemistry is released on July 1, 2002, and marks a return to the

meat and potatoes, anthemic rock’n’roll of their first two albums. In January 2004, Alan White leaves Oasis. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr and drummer for the Who, is recruited as White’s replacement.

2005 to 2007

Noel teases the band’s sixth album, telling Radio 1’s Jo Whiley, “The finished album is my favourite one of the last four. Because we’re all contributing to the songwriting, there’s a different feel to it. In fact, the only songs that sound like Oasis are Andy Bell’s, funnily enough.” Don’t Believe the Truth is released on May 30, 2005, four weeks after iTunes accidentally leaks it by selling it early in Germany.

In January 2007, Noel tells NME about plans for the band’s next record. “All the tunes I’ve written recently have been on the kind of acoustic side, you know? But for the next record I really fancy doing a record where we just completely throw the kitchen sink at it. We haven’t done that since Be Here Now. I’d like to get, like, a 100-piece orchestra and choirs and all that stuff. I think since Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, we’ve been trying to prove a point of just bass, drums, guitar and vocals and nothing fancy. But I kind of like fancy! I’d like to make an absolutely fucking colossal album.”

2008

Noel reportedly puts his Ibiza home on the market to escape his newest neighbour, sad-sack singer-songwriter James Blunt. An anonymous source reveals to The Sun that “Noel has been going to Ibiza every summer for years. But he’s fed up of hearing James Blunt bang on about Ibiza like he owns the place. It’s taken the charm out of it for him so he’s put his villa up for sale. It’s close to Blunt’s place, and [Gallagher] says he can’t stand the thought of Blunt writing crap tunes up the road.”

In September, during a performance at V Festival in Toronto, Noel is pushed from behind by a stage invader and falls hard on his monitor. The attacker then lunges for Liam but he is tackled by security. Noel suffers three broken ribs but finishes the gig before being taken to hospital. Footage of the attack goes viral online and Oasis are forced to cancel a number of concerts.

Dig Out Your Soul is released on October 6, 2008. Zak Starkey leaves the band and rejoins the Who; he is replaced by Chris Sharrock.

2009 to 2010

In August, Oasis are forced to cancel their V Festival performance in Chelmsford after Liam suffers a reported bout of laryngitis, but Noel later reveals it was a hangover. The following week in Paris, the brothers get into a fight backstage. Liam reportedly tries to take Noel’s head off by swinging a guitar at him, then throws a plum at Noel. That night Noel posts a message on the band’s website that he is done with Oasis: “It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.”

In October, Noel announces he is embarking on a solo career. Liam reveals that he’s also been writing songs with some of his former band’s members, telling MTV, “I’m feeling a million percent confident that they could be better than Oasis.”

In February 2010, Oasis are presented with the honour of Best Album of 30 Years at the BRIT Awards for ( What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. Liam accepts the award, thanking Bonehead, Guigsy and White for being “the best band in the fucking world,” but refuses to mention Noel. He then throws the microphone and award into the crowd. A stage manager has to plea with fans to get the mic back so Kasabian can perform.

In May 2010, Liam reveals that his new band is called Beady Eye, featuring former Oasis members Andy Bell and Gem Archer on guitar, and Chris Sharrock on drums.

2011 to 2012

Liam accuses Noel of stealing Oasis songs for his solo album. Speaking to Contact Music, Liam says, “I’ve heard his fucking new record ‘cos I fucking sung on half of it. When I was in America for Dig Out Your Soul he swiped some off, because he obviously knew he wanted to do a solo album. He knows. The people know. And I know.”

On February 28, Beady Eye release their debut album, Different Gear, Still Speeding. It receives fairly positive reviews and reaches #3 on the UK album chart.

On July 6, Noel holds a press conference to announce his debut solo album, as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; it’s released on October 17, 2011, debuts at #1 on the UK album charts and sells almost twice as many copies as the Beady Eye album.

In November 2012, Beady Eye begin work on their second album with TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek. Liam tells Live Magazine, “Even though I love Beady Eye, I’d prefer to still be in Oasis, because that was my thing. Oasis was my life.”

2013 to 2014

On June 10, 2013, Beady Eye release their second album, BE. Despite leaning toward a more experimental sound, the album doesn’t fare much better with critics than its predecessor. On October 25, 2014, Liam posts on Twitter that Beady Eye have split.

2015

Noel releases his second High Flying Birds album on February 25. Chasing Yesterday debuts at #1 on the UK album chart. Rumours of an Oasis reunion begin to heat up when Noel talks about his regrets over breaking up the band with BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley. “Leaving Oasis — that was a horrible night [in Paris, 2009],” he recalls. “I knew that it was going to be a decision that would follow me around — there’s still not a day where I don’t read something about us getting back together.”

2016

Liam starts off the year denying he is making a solo album on Twitter, writing, “Solo record are you fucking tripping dickhead im not a cunt.” The production team behind the Oscar-nominated Amy announce they’ve made a new career-spanning Oasis documentary titled Supersonic (out October 2 in select theatres and October 31 on DVD).

In August, Liam announces that he will release a solo album on Warner Brothers, tweeting, “It’s official I’m a cunt.” More importantly, Liam remains hopeful that his old band will reunite. “I believe Oasis will sail again and it’ll be glorious,” he says. “If it’s really about the fans, Noel, let’s do it — because they want it. One year. Tour for a year. We’d smash it. My bags are still packed from my last tour, so I’m ready.”