by dogonwheels on Tue Jul 15, 2003 11:40 pm
I used to absolutely love them. They were just the right band at just the right time in 1994 and they did give the music industry the kick up the arse it needed. I was with them from very early on and used to look forward to every new release eagerly. When a band is on that kind of form and you already know you are going to love all the tracks on the B sides before they even came out. I already had Supersonic and Shakermaker and heard that the next single was Live Forever. I can still remember hearing it on the radio the first time. After the first few seconds I knew it was the new single and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. I can remember rushing into town the day it came out as soon as the shop opened. I got Definitely Maybe the day it came out and saw them that week at The Hacienda for an album launch gig. The tickets were £7 originally and I paid £25 outside ( I bet the stub would sell for more than that on Ebay one day). I saw them again at Manchester Academy the day before Whatever came out. One of the best nights ever. The hottest band in the country at the peak of their power. Went to the club night over the road afterwards and later on while walking up Oxford Road Noel and his girlfriend were walking on the other side hailed a black cab which stopped just where we were stood. He came over and shook all our hands and thanked us for coming to the gig.
The records just kept coming, Some Might Say another four classic tracks.
I even met Liam at Manchester Airport once. I had gone to pick my mum and dad up off holiday. I went with my auntie to get them and I think the flight was delayed for about an hour so we ended up parking the car and going for a drink and then waited in the arrivals part. I saw Liam sat there and new it was him so I just went up and said hello. He was surprisingly very friendly and pleased to talk as I was so interested in what the band were up to next. I must have spoke for about ten minutes before he had to go but he shook my hand and was very pleasant.
Up till early 96 I would have to say they were my favourite band but things just changed and I can see Wonderwall as the turning point. They just didn't seem the same after that. They just became too big, too arrogant and not my band anymore.
After this came Be Here Now which no one really could admit to loving. Without the ridiculous amount of guitar overdubs underneath there is a few pretty good tunes but every track is so overloaded that it is ridiculous.
With each and every new release I just found myself disliking them more and more and being more drawn to the likes of SFA, B+S, GZM etc.
I saw them again at Bolton reebok Stadium a few years ago as someone had a spare ticket. I've never seen a band going through the motions as much. The ground was full of complete knob heads rolling around in pools of their own vomit and I just thought I don't want to be a part of this anymore.
I saw them on TV the other week and they just sounded like a pastiche. Liam's voice has gone terrible. Their interviews with Noel are still interesting and funny but I think now Liam just comes across as a bit of a tit. Maybe you just grow out of things. I will probably play the first two albums and the early B'sides occasionally for a bit of nostalgia but I don't think I'll be to bothered about hearing any new material.
Your obsession gets you known throughout the school for being strange, making lifesize models of The Velvet Underground in clay.
(check out the britpop edition of Mojo where the beans were spilt by Justine Frischmann about her and Damon's addictions)
