Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher (lead vocals, tambourine), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar), and Tony McCarroll (drums). Upon returning from working as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets, Liam’s older brother Noel (lead guitar, vocals) joined as a fifth member, finalising the band’s core line-up. During the course of their existence, they had various line-up changes, though the Gallagher brothers remained as the staple members.
Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993 and released their record-setting debut album Definitely Maybe (1994). The following year they recorded (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) with drummer Alan White, in the midst of a chart rivalry with Britpop peers Blur. Spending ten weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? was also an international chart success, and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. In addition, it stands as the fifth best-selling album in the UK and the biggest-selling album in the UK of the 1990s. The Gallagher brothers featured regularly in tabloid newspapers for their disputes and wild lifestyles. In 1996, Oasis performed two nights at Knebworth for an audience of 125,000 each night, the largest outdoor concerts in UK history at the time. In 1997, Oasis released their third album, Be Here Now; becoming the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. However, its popularity declined quickly.
McGuigan and Arthurs left in 1999 as Oasis released Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000). They were replaced by former Heavy Stereo guitarist Gem Archer and former Ride guitarist Andy Bell. White departed in 2004, replaced by Zak Starkey and later Chris Sharrock as touring members. Oasis released three more studio albums, Heathen Chemistry (2002), Don’t Believe The Truth (2005) and Dig Out Your Soul (2008). The group abruptly disbanded after the departure of Noel in August 2009.
As of 2009, Oasis have sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.[1] They are among the most successful acts on the UK Singles Chart and Albums Chart, with eight UK number-one singles and eight UK number-one albums.[2][3][4] The band also achieved three platinum albums in the US. They won 17 NME Awards, nine Q Awards, four MTV Europe Music Awards and six Brit Awards, including one in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution to Music and one for the “Best Album of the Last 30 Years” (for (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?). They were nominated for two Grammy Awards.
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