Here in the States, despite being the best-known act to come out of the Britpop explosion in the mid-90s, Oasis never quite conquered America. Yet in their United Kingdom homeland, they were beyond huge, evident in their two-night stand in August of 1996 at Knebworth in England.
The documentary ‘Oasis Knebworth 1996’ will come to theaters Sept. 23 to commemorate 25 years since the momentous event. Regionally it will be showing at the Regal UA King of Prussia and Regal Brandywine Town Center on Thursday and Friday, downtown at the Landmark Ritz Five, at the Regal Downingtown and the Regal Warrington Crossing, the latter three on Thursday only. A complete list of theaters can be found at oasisknebworth1996.com. A full live album and DVD/Blu-ray, also titled ‘Oasis Knebworth 1996,’ is due for release on November 19th.
Directed by Grammy Award-winner Jake Scott, “Oasis Knebworth 1996” is a joyful and poignant celebration of one of the most iconic live concert events of the last 25 years, driven entirely by the music and the fans’ own experiences of that historic weekend. Specifically, it tells the story of the special relationship between Oasis and their fans that made the largest concert of the ‘90s possible. It’s told entirely in the moment through the eyes of the fans who were there, built around extensive and never before seen archival concert and backstage footage from the event, with additional interviews with the band and concert organizers.
Oasis’ two record breaking nights at Knebworth took place August 10 and 11, 1996, with over a quarter of a million music fans from all over the world converging on Knebworth Park, Hertfordshire to see the legendary sets. Tickets went on sale May 11 of that year, with lines forming outside local record shops and ticket offices overnight as fans around the world spent the day on their landline phones trying to get through to ticket agents. The shows sold out in less than 24 hours, breaking every UK box office record in the process. Organizers estimated the band could have sold two or three times as many tickets, with over 2 percent of the United Kingdom population attempting to buy tickets.
The gigs were set against a backdrop of the UK slowly recovering from a decade of recession. Emerging from the ‘80s, the mood of the nation was changing. A cultural resurgence in arts and culture was giving rise to “Cool Britannia” and, in their meteoric rise, Oasis embodied that newfound optimism and swagger, epitomized by the bratty brashness and arrogance of singer Liam Gallagher and his older brother – and chief songwriter – Noel.
Two short years had taken the band from their council estate in working class Manchester to becoming one of the biggest bands in the world. To the masses, seeing themselves in the five men on stage in front of them, anything felt possible.
‘Oasis Knebworth 1996’ sees a setlist absolutely packed from beginning to end with classics, from the opening salvo of “Columbia” and “Acquiesce,” all the way to “Champagne Supernova,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Live Forever” and a triumphant, orchestra backed cover of The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus.” The Knebworth concerts were hands down both the pinnacle of the band’s success and the landmark gathering for a generation.
VINYL OF THE WEEK
Keep an eye on this spot as each week we’ll be looking at new or soon-to-be-released vinyl from a variety of artists. It might be a re-pressing of a landmark recording, special edition or new collection from a legendary act. This week, it’s a tribute record to an influential dance punk outfit.
VARIOUS ARTISTS: ‘THE PROBLEM OF LEISURE: A CELEBRATION OF ANDY GILL & GANG OF FOUR’
Two years before his passing in February 2020, iconic guitarist, producer and Gang of Four founder Andy Gill embarked on a project very close to his heart. The result is ‘The Problem of Leisure,’ a double album of tracks written by Andy Gill and Gang of Four, all newly reinterpreted and recorded by artists whose own unique contributions to music were enriched by listening to the band. The album features songs from across Gang of Four’s 40-plus year career, each individually chosen by the artists’ who covered them.
Originally conceived by Gill to mark the 40th anniversary of Gang of Four’s 1979 debut and dance punk classic, Entertainment!, ‘The Problem of Leisure’ quickly expanded beyond the confines of that LP when several participating artists chose tracks from different albums and periods. Every musician who committed to the project was given the freedom to create new versions of whichever Gang of Four songs they wanted to cover, with Gill overseeing some of the earlier productions but largely leaving artists to create their own interpretations. Following his passing his widow, Catherine Mayer, was determined to finish the project.
The final 20 track double-album features an extraordinary roll call of global talent, with artists from seven different countries and four continents, demonstrating the breadth and scale of Gang of Four’s influence. Highlights include “Natural’s Not in It” by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello and System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Warpaint taking on “Paralysed,” Helmet covering “In the Ditch” and IDLES doing a version of “Damaged Goods.”
‘The Problem of Leisure’ is available in three gatefold double vinyl formats. The “dogluxe” edition is available only from the official Gang of Four store (gangoffour.uk) and is on heavyweight red vinyl with a red sleeve and contains a six-sheet poster and a special googly eye on the front. A yellow vinyl and matching sleeve version is only available from independent music retailers worldwide while the black vinyl with the green sleeve can be found online and in stores from all respectable retailers who carry vinyl.
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to rockmusicmenu@gmail.com. Also, check out his blog at www.thechroniclesofmc.com
