You and I are gonna live forever…..
Oasis: Knebworth 1996
Growing up I was a huge Oasis fan. To the point that even now, should I bump into someone I knew from school (a good twenty years ago) they might say “do you still like Oasis?!” – so well known was my enthusiasm.
Or am I basing that opening paragraph on ONE person saying it to me that ONE time and thinking about it logically I tend to avoid anyone I ‘kinda know’ in Asda as I hate small talk and making pointless, polite conversation. But regardless…….I still loved Oasis.
Admittedly, in 1996 I was ten years old. So I wasn’t part of the ‘generation’ that this documentary features heavily on. Late teens and early twenties, drinking beer, smoking fags and getting messed up in a field. That would have been terrible parenting. No, in 1996 I was just getting into Oasis (but happily, getting messed up in a field would follow later in life – WAZZOOOOOOOO!).
In any case, I had to go and see this film. I don’t listen to Oasis much anymore but because they were such a huge part of my life and for so long, I’ve got this kind of…..persistent love, nostalgia and loyalty to them. I won’t hear a bad word against them and silly people who say almost unintelligible remarks like ‘they were shit’ or ‘Blur were better’ have no idea what they’re talking about silly silly people.
At one point, Oasis WERE the best band in the whole world and what’s so great about documentaries like Knebworth 1996 (and 2016 ‘Supersonic’ which I reviewed here) is how they highlight just that – how great Oasis were. Yeah it didn’t last forever, it didn’t even last a decade – feuds and mediocre albums filled the gaps of what once was pure ROCK & ROLL but let’s forget all that and concentrate on the good times.
Like what Oasis meant to their fans and how they were so instrumental to the Britpop scene of the 90s. Oasis signified, at one point, an entire culture for an entire generation and within this film we get to see their biggest and most famous gig of all time – Knebworth 1996, where a quarter of a million people turned up to see one band play. FOOOOKIN ‘AV IT!!!!
It was WELL worth watching in the cinema, despite sitting near an irritating man who felt it necessary to narrate everything extremely loudly as though I or anyone else was interested in his analysis. Note to annoying man – none of us were interested. Other notable occurrences include: I ate a giant hotdog (I mean it was huge) and we heard someone shouting the C word because he’d dropped his popcorn. I found that funny – not that he’d dropped his popcorn but C word usage so loud in public. But – and yes I do quote Craig Fairbrass in ‘Rise of the Footsoldier 3: The Pat Tate Story’ – THIS IS HOW WE DO THINGS IN ESSEX. If memory serves he was messing someone up with a fire extinguisher in that scene.
ANYWAY. Oasis: Knebworth 1996 was excellent. Almost emotional to be honest. With commentary from the band itself, a bulk of the narration was also made by fans – people who had actually been there. Their stories of getting tickets, making their way there by coach or car or walking through a ditch. Some guy who found out his girlfriend was pregnant that day. Another who got given Liam’s tambourine. Some, more outrageous stories like blagging a limo ride with Kate Moss and many, many MANY horny girls talking about Liam. On the whole it was relatively tame and wholesome but judging by the sweaty faces you can imagine a few liveners might have been had.
The musical footage itself was brilliant. Watching it in the cinema with the big screen and the big sound made a difference and by the time we got round to watching the second night I was finding it hard to physically restrain myself and not stand up to start singing and dancing. I loved seeing Noel and Liam young and in their element and before they hated each other. Well technically I think Noel hates Liam but they don’t talk anymore and it’s sad. My boyfriend and I also had fun dissecting which was the best night and more importantly which was the best outfit for Liam (he wore Patsy’s drapey white jumper for the second night and carried it off like a pro).
Swoon!
All in all, a brilliant film showcasing a brilliant gig and a brilliant band. When this comes to DVD or Netflix or whatever it is you crazy kids use nowadays – watch it. Even if you don’t care for Oasis that much, it’s a fantastic insight into an insanely large concert that everyone went crazy for and for interest alone, it’s worth watching.
emmakwall (explains it all) 
I was there on the Sunday, in those ore mobile phone days I never did meet up with the mates I was planning to see the concert with, but it was amazing anyway , Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans and Oasis. Amazing event.
I flew to the USA on business a few weeks later (me, aged 23 was 3rd choice to go, but everyone else was busy around the August Bank holiday weekend 🙂 ). Oasis (minus Liam) were on the same plane, and Noel and I went to grab the same luggage trolley at baggage reclaim. Had a short chat with them about the event, and got Noel to sign the pullout poster of the band that I had in that month’s Loaded magazine! A trip to remember!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that’s an incredible story! Both attending the concert and meeting them at the airport!! I bet you still have that issue of Loaded magazine!! 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
yes I still have the copy, it’s, stored away carefully!
LikeLike
Great band, love them to bits. Have a ton of bootlegs I got many years ago as well as a few albums on CD too. Their solo stuff is alright but it’s just not the same kind of magic.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Geoff! Oh me too!!!! 🙂 the bootlegs sound really cool, I agree about their solo stuff as well. How are you? I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did thanks. Hope you did as well. Wishing you all the best in the New Year!
LikeLike
Ah Oasis, everyone’s favourite Beatles tribute act! 😛
I actually have the first two albums, Don’t Believe The Truth, and every single from Supersonic to All Around The World, and I had a couple of videos – the Live By The Sea and the other one which came with a free CD (can’t remember the title).
Shame the Gallaghers are A grade dickheads but they did put out some good music and saved the charts from dance music in the 90s!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dance music in the 90s! 😂 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO……..THERE’S NO LIMIT!
Nice collection you’ve got! Their first two albums are the best but actually Don’t Believe the Truth is probably the best of their ‘modern’ stuff! The Masterplan (B sides album) is really good too.
Weirdly, I’ve never ever liked The Beatles 😋
To me the Gallagher brothers are not dickheads, but I can understand other people thinking they are. They are both fairly arrogant and outspoken. But I love them both!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have also been HUGE fan of the band…a debut album that soars from first song to last, the brilliant “Morning Glory” album, and even “Be Here Now” with its never-ending wall of sound! I took my son to see them at the famous Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood – Travis opened for them – around this time actually and it was magical! Terrific review, can’t wait to see this!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Be Here Now is my boyfriend’s favourite album too!!! My favourite was always Definitely Maybe but Morning Glory does feel more ‘listenable’ nowadays. That sounds like a great trip and concert for you and your son! I didn’t mind Travis back in the day either 🙂
I saw Oasis once in 2000, at Wembley Stadium. Doves and The Happy Mondays were supporting. I was supposed to them a second time in 2009 at a UK music festival (V Festival) but they literally SPLIT UP the day before they were supposed to headline on the Sunday night. Another band (Keane) turned up instead, who were certainly NOT worthy of Oasis !!!! I was not happy!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a shame! I posted a story a few years ago about my love of British bands with one-word names, and you hit most of them in your comment! Add Athlete and Elbow and you are there!
LikeLiked by 2 people
By the way, did you leave school at the age of 10? You are far too young to have left so long ago! XXX
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aww shucks!!!!!! I am 35 years old! I left officially in 2002 when I was 15 or 16 🙂 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
The info in this reply makes me feel VERY old…. 😦
LikeLiked by 2 people
I feel old too! Ha ha.
LikeLike
Just half my age…in the bloom of youth…. XXX
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t feel like it! Ha ha xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like to listen to some of their songs, and appreciate they were very much ‘The New Beatles’ to so many people. But I cannot bear to look at them, or hear them talking. With their smug faces, Mancunian monkey-swagger walk, and that grating accent, they are like fingernails on a blackboard to me.
As ever, Pete. XXX
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha your description!!!!! 😂 I don’t see them quite like that but I get where you’re coming from 🙂
I’ve never liked The Beatles, so I’m unsure of the comparison really, I only really know The Beatles ‘big’ songs. Oasis always seem meatier and more rocky to me, but like I say I don’t know The Beatles that well so I could be wrong!!! Thanks Pete 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wasn’t a big Beatles fan, but they were a northern group who took the charts by storm, and wrote some timeless songs. Hence my comparison honey. XXX
LikeLiked by 2 people