Oasis

Country: England
State: Greater Manchester
City: Manchester
Genre: britpop rock british alternative indie
Lyrics: Oasis lyrics

Biography

There is more than one artist with this name:

1) Oasis were an English rock group, originally formed in Manchester, United Kingdom in 1991. They enjoyed a period of huge success following the release of their first album, Definitely Maybe and during the second, "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", with praise from across the spectrum and the accumulation of several major awards. Many critics have since said this was the peak of their musical career to-date. They cite bands such as The Beatles, Slade, The Stone Roses, The Real People, The Smiths and The Who as influences. Oasis have sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide. To date, they have released 7 studio albums, all to hit #1 on the UK album chart.

The band was comprised of vocalist/songwriter Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Liam's older brother. Included in the group were Andy Bell (formerly of shoegaze band Ride), Gem Archer, and currently no official drummer. The band continued to maintain its original organization of two guitarists, one bassist, drummer, and lead singer until Noel Gallagher's departure in August 2009. Oasis dissolved soon after.

Thanks to the success of their critically acclaimed debut album "Definitely Maybe" and its 18m selling follow-up "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", the Gallagher brothers featured regularly in tabloid newspaper stories, and cultivated a reputation as bad boys. Berwick Street in London was used for the Album cover of (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

At the height of their fame, their 1997 third album "Be Here Now" reached #1 in the UK charts and also became the fastest-selling album in chart history, with almost half a million copies sold on the first day alone. It also reached #1 in France, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Japan as well as #2 in the U.S., just 770 copies short of that week's #1 album. However, the record almost caused the destruction of the band as they experienced an immediate fall in popularity. Stocks Hotel and Country Club in Hertfordshire was used for the album cover for Be Here Now.

After a three-year break they returned with "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" in 2000. Although it was poorly received by critics, it duly gave them their fourth UK #1 album and their fifth UK #1 single with lead single "Go Let It Out". Most of the album was recorded by just Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, and Alan White as Paul Arthurs and Paul McGuigan left shortly before its recording.

A new line-up, containing ex-Ride member Andy Bell and Gem Archer, released "Heathen Chemistry" in 2002, which wasn't well received by the public or the critics. It also hit #1 and contained their sixth UK #1 single in "The Hindu Times", which also topped the Canadian and Italian charts.

Alan White, with the band since "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", left in 2004 shortly before the recording of the band's sixth album "Don't Believe the Truth" with rumours suggesting he lacked commitment to the band. He was replaced by Zak Starkey, son of The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr. "Don't Believe the Truth" was a huge hit both commercially and (for the first time in a long time for Oasis) critically, hitting #1 and winning a Q award for album of the year, beating Coldplay's "X&Y" amongst others. Sales were over 350,000 in the first week alone and have already broken 1,000,000. Their performances live were also their most consistent in years, as Liam completed all shows. They successfully toured Europe, North America (Canada, USA, Mexico), Asia (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore) and Australia (Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne).

Through surviving the loss of founding members and with continuous support from their loyal fanbase, Oasis have managed to outlast many of their Britpop contemporaries. Suede, Pulp, and some other peer groups have split up, or record only infrequently, while Oasis maintain a regular schedule of releases and touring. They released a best of compilation entitled "Stop the Clocks" in 2006.

On the 28th of August 2009, main songwriter and lead guitarist Noel Gallagher announced his retirement from the band due to a row between him and his brother, Liam Gallagher.

The Battle of Britpop A slight setback occured during early sessions for their second album. Original drummer Tony McCarroll was sacked. Noel Gallagher has since claimed that his departure was a result of him not being technically good enough to play on more complex songs. There were also reports of scuffles with the Gallaghers. McCaroll had been angered by the "£1,000 incident", as the band called it, which occurred after Creation advanced them that sum to purchase new equipment. Having already spent £600 of his own money on drums, McCaroll was annoyed to find that Noel refused to spend any of the cash on drum skins and instead bought a new guitar. McCaroll was replaced with quiet Londoner Alan White, whose brother Steve had drummed for Paul Weller and his band Style Council and many others. McCaroll later attempted to sue the Gallaghers over his sacking, citing breach of contract, but lost the suit on a technicality.

Oasis soon had their first UK #1 with "Some Might Say", the first single from their second album (and the only track on the second album to feature McCarroll), in late April 1995. During this period, the British media seized upon a supposed rivalry between Oasis and fellow Britpop band Blur. Noel Gallagher played along, telling The Observer that he hoped Damon Albarn and Alex James of Blur would "catch AIDS and die". He subsequently apologized for this in a formal letter to Melody Maker magazine.

On Monday, August 14, 1995, Blur and Oasis released new singles on the same day, setting up a "Battle of the Bands" that dominated the week's music news. Perhaps in part because it was more cheaply priced (£1.99 vs £3.99), Blur's "Country House" outsold Oasis's "Roll With It" by 274,000 copies to 216,000 during the week. There was also the difference that "Country House" was the lead single for a new album, whereas "Roll With It" was the second single off of "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?". Nonetheless, the supposed rivalry has been exploited and rehashed innumerable times in the British press ever since.

In spite of the loss on the singles charts for "Roll With It", Oasis's second album, "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", became the second largest selling album of all time in the UK.

Demise On the 28th of August 2009 a statement was posted by Noel on the oasisnet website stating "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that 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."

According to a report by the British newspaper the News of the World Liam has vowed to continue with the band despite Noel quitting. However, there was no verifiable contact stated in the article and no official statement has been released by Oasis. Since then, Liam Gallagher has stated in an interview with The Times that Oasis are no more, but the remaining band members will work on something new musically while Noel follows a solo career.

Liam said, "Well, Oasis is no longer. I think we all know that. So that's done. It's a shame, but that's life. We had a good run at it. The thing about Oasis is no-one... we ended Oasis. No-one ended it for us. Which was pretty, kind of... cool. I'm thinking of what the next step is musically, which is all my mind's on."

Official site: www.oasisinet.com

2) Oasis was an American rock band from Marin County, California active in the 1970s. Their sound has been described as psychedelic folk rock, progressive folk and psychedelic pop, characterized by male/female harmonies. With the help of David Crosby of famed Crosby, Stills & Nash, they recorded one album, Oasis, released on the Cranbus label in 1973.

Members Shelly Fox was previously in Cookin Mama, and Stephen Barncard also worked with Chet Nichols and David Crosby. Kelly Bryan had earlier been in the short-lived Grootna, and later played on a couple of albums by Jesse Colin Young.

Between 1971 and 1978 members of Oasis also recorded under the name RJ Fox and completed an album for Atlantic in 1971 which was never released. A double disc collection of Oasis and RJ Fox material was compiled by the Black Bamboo label in 1998. RJ Fox: Retrospective Dreams included the lost LP, tracks from the Oasis album and many others.

3) Oasis is an alias of Omar-S (Alex O. Smith) from Detroit, a deep house / techno producer.

Official Website

4) Oasis was a short-lived English classic group active through 1984-1988 featuring Peter Skellern, Julian Lloyd Webber (later replaced by Audrey Riley), Mitch Dalton, Bill Lovelady and Mary Hopkin. Oasis released only self-titled album and two singles and toured till 1988.