October 3rd 1995 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent
Don’t be fooled by the ticket, this concert got cancelled and rescheduled to 3rd October.
Sometimes, you get concerts where you can say “I was there”. Well, I didn’t get tickets we were after for the gig we were after (Granby Halls, Leicester on November 17th 1995). These were the days when you had to ring up straight away to book tickets and go on redial if you didn’t get through.
I got through after about 10 minutes and asked for 4 tickets for Granby Hall…….sold out…OMG, not since U2 Longest Day had it been this difficult! I asked for London tickets, these had sold out too. So I had to go for a different tack….”What tickets have you got left?” – She had Bournemouth, Stoke and Blackpool.
Well, I knew Bournemouth and Blackpool would be a pain to get to, but I knew roughly where Stoke was, so Stoke it was 4 tickets and just hope someone would want to go with me (with the back up that this was the hottest gig of 1995 so the ticket touts would be out in force).
Now…..where the hell is Stoke Trentham Gardens!!!
Everyone wanted to go!! This was a big deal. Oasis had played The Princess Charlotte early in their career, but I’d not heard of them at that point. The first album had been a great success (Definitely Maybe) and the second album was released on October 2nd, the day before this rearranged concert, so we were listening to it while driving to the venue!! Drummer Giggsy had pulled out with exhaustion and Tony McCarroll sacked, which I think was reason for the change of date, which was great to hear the new album, but such was the brotherly tension in the band it felt like they were splitting up already (aided by wild press rumours and spats with Blur).
So the band tonight was Liam (Vocals and Tambourine/Maracas) and Noel Gallagher (Vocals and Guitar) , Scott McCleod (Bass), Alan White (Drums), Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (Guitar and Keyboards) and Gem Archer (Guitar)…..
Stoke on Trent was only an hour up the M1 and A50 but it felt longer as the world seemed to be honing in on Trentham Gardens. One thing you always hope when you follow a band is that you get to see them in a small venue before they make the jump up. This was small and very full.
The first time I became aware of Oasis was from “Live Forever” (3rd single after “Supersonic” and “Shakermaker”) and the hits just rolled off the band after that….”Cigarettes & Alcohol”, “Whatever”, “Some Might Say”, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, “Roll with It” – Everything was a hit.
We were about half way back for this gig, it was heaving with sweaty, testosterone filled boys……some girls, but predominantly Oasis were appealing to the fellas at the time. As the firs few songs played there was a mad rush to get to the front, which we didn’t join in and after around 5 songs, we started to see those who were out of their depth coming back exhausted already!
With only two albums out, it was easy to predict what songs were coming, but I’m informed it was the first time Oasis had played “Champagne Supernova” live, so we were very privileged.
The band got a great write up in the NME that week.
Liam was strutted around the stage that he owned acting with disdain to the crowd, but everyone (including Liam) knew it was all for show. The whole band sound was refreshing with 4 guitars playing along together, giving a great sound. The Beatles influence is in there, but so are there many lore musical influences merged in one place and with the unique vocals of the Gallaghers, the sound was fantastic.
The crown went mad for “Cigarettes & Alcohol” with the encore finally finishing on The Beatles “I Am the Walrus” and guitars left on stage playing feedback until turned off and the crowd had to disperse. We were dripping wet and hadn’t moved much. We were there!
Set List
- The Swamp Song
- Acquiesce
- Supersonic
- Hello
- Roll With It
- Shakermaker
- Some Might Say
- Rockin’ Chair
- Slide Away
- Round Are Way
- Cigarettes & Alcohol
- Champagne Supernova
- Encore: Don’t Look Back in Anger
- Live Forever
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
- I Am the Walrus (The Beatles cover)
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