April 16, 2025
As Oasis prepares for a massive reunion tour, their former critic reflects on the band's early days.
Before Oasis filled stadiums and topped charts, their early shows were anything but promising. Colin Sinclair, who ran the Boardwalk in Manchester in the early 1990s, was one of the first people to see the band live. But he wasn’t impressed. "Some of their louder songs were hard to understand," he said.<br><br>While he could see the songwriting had potential, he thought their stage presence fell flat. He even told Noel and Liam Gallagher that "Oasis" was a bad name, pointing out it reminded him of a high street store and a fruity drink.
Liam’s quiet debut
Liam Gallagher first performed as Oasis’s frontman in 1991 at the Boardwalk. The crowd was small, and the reaction was underwhelming. Lynn Hamnett, the venue’s booking agent at the time, also wasn’t sold on the band. Sinclair recalled someone asking if the band had any real future. "They haven’t a hope. They’re crap," came the reply. No one expected much from them.
A chance gig that changed everything
Everything shifted in 1993. Oasis played a gig at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. It turned out to be a major turning point. Alan McGee from Creation Records happened to be in the crowd. He liked what he heard and signed them shortly after. That moment helped launch their music career.
From underdogs to rock legends
Oasis quickly became one of the biggest British bands of the 1990s. Their debut album _Definitely Maybe_, broke sales records. Follow-up albums, including _(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?_, made them global stars. Songs like "Don’t Look Back in Anger" and "Champagne Supernova" helped define a generation of fans.
Coming full circle
More than 30 years later, Oasis is preparing for a massive reunion tour, expected to earn $70 million. For Sinclair, it’s a moment of reflection. "They proved everyone wrong," he said, laughing at how wrong his first impression had been. As the band prepares to return to the stage, their story serves as a reminder: even the biggest bands can start small and surprise everyone.
In a brand new 30 minute interview, Noel Gallagher returns to Manchester's legendary Sifters Records to tell the story of Oasis' ...
Oasis
Oasis are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. The group initially consisted of Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll .
Oasis
Oasis
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis. After leaving Oasis,
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul Gallagher is an English singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, which he co-founded in 1991. He fronted the rock band Beady Eye from 2010 to 2014,