Oasis was an English alternative rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991 and continued to perform through 2009. Name changes are nothing new to the band. The original group consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll and they called themselves The Rain.

Oasis - A Nineteen Year Run

"It's rock 'n' roll, man." Liam Gallagher

Oasis was an English alternative rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991 and continued to perform through 2009. Name changes are nothing new to the band. The original group consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll and they called themselves The Rain.

Making hit music

The first change came shortly after the band formed with Noel Gallagher stepping in as lead guitarist and adding his vocals to those of his younger brother Liam. Creation Records signed the group and released their first album, Definitely Maybe in September of 1994. The single Supersonic rated #31 on the UK charts and Live Forever was the group's entry into the Top 10 on UK charts before the album's release in September. It was the fastest selling first album in 1994 and peaked in the #1 spot.

Their second and longest commercially successful album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory was released and has been ranked with the Beatle's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club in popularity on the British Isle while going 4X platinum in the U.S.. The album occupied the top spot on England's rock charts for 10 weeks. As of February 2010 the album has sold over 14 million copies around the globe. Singles Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova sales went gold in the United States while Some Might Say and Don't Look Back In Anger singles topped UK charts.

August 1997 was the release date of the much anticipated third studio album by Oasis. Be Here Now came out at the absolute height of the bands fame and went immediately over 420,000 sales on the first day. Over a million copies had been sold within 14 days and it went on to have a sales tally of eight million worldwide by 2008. The bands fourth album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants was recorded and released in February 2000 without two of the original members, Paul Arthurs and Paul McGuigan and received little fanfare. Gem Archer and Andy Bell were members when the fifth album, Heathen Chemistry, came out in 2003. The album received a very mixed reception with fans ranging from loving it to declaring it the group's worst album. Oasis returned to the charts and fans hearts with Don't Believe the Truth in May of 2005. Reminiscent of the sales of their 1997 Be Here Now their sixth album enjoyed astounding popularity in the first week of sales in both the UK and USA and went on to sell more than 4 million units worldwide by June of 2008. Dig Out Your Soul was the seventh, and last, studio album by Oasis. It was released on October 2008.

Rocky Road

Oasis has experienced a number of rocky situations from day one to the folding of the band in August of 2009 due to the brother's irreconcilable differences.

In 1995 Alan White replaced drummer Tony McCarroll and that same year the group lost a plagiarism suit which resulted in Oasis paying half a million dollars in damages around the single Shakermaker. Zak Starkey replaced White as drummer in 2005. Another lawsuit over the single EP Whatever won Neil Innes a co-writers credit and damages.

McGuigan and Arthurs left the band in 1999 before the fourth album was made and critics noted the loss of the optimistic sound as a result. When Noel Gallagher announced he was leaving the group in August of 2009 there was talk of folding the group. The remaining members have decided to continue under another name. Noel Gallagher is performing solo.

Oasis maintained a strong following and produced music for nineteen years. Their website continues to offer free music downloads, contests, giveaways and advanced notice of performances to their fans on a weekly basis.

DID YOU KNOW...?

• The street on the (What's the Story) Morning Glory cover is Berwick Street in London - famous for its independent record shops.
• 31 of Oasis's songs were included in the Top 1,000 songs Of All Time compiled by UK radio station XFM in December 2009.
• Big Brother Recordings Ltd is Oasis's own recording label.

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