Synopsis

This oral history documents the story of Oasis as told by the fans who were there. Discover never-before-seen perspectives charting the rise, fall, and rise again of Liam and Noel Gallagher and the British rock band whose music defined a generation.A few years after Definitely Maybe topped the charts, with “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” established as one of the UK’s bestselling albums of all time, and Oasis the reigning rulers of British rock, Noel Gallagher did the unthinkable: he broke up the band. After a string of public spats, Noel announced that he “simply could not go on working” with his brother Liam “a day longer.” Fifteen years later, the brothers announced a truce. The news sent fans into a frenzy, ticket prices soared, and Definitely Maybe was back on the top of the charts. That’s because for a generation of music lovers around the world, Oasis really mattered. Their combination of earthy lyrics, brazen attitude, and earworm-worthy tunes set against a backdrop of working-class experience made them relatable, memorable, and important. And After All gives the mic to the fans that launched Oasis to stratospheric fame and takes a deep dive into the band’s formation, history, and reunion. Through the lens of the fans who were there for all the songs, feuds, and incredible shows, journalist Melissa Locker examines the path Oasis charted as they cemented their place in modern rock history. Voices in this fan history include the band’s earliest PR person, superfan memorabilia collectors, musicians who toured with Oasis in the early days, concertgoers from some of the band’s most legendary performances, official Fan Club leadership, couples who met because of the band, the DJ who inspired Noel to dare Liam to call him and may have kick-started the reunion, among many others. Their personal stories about the music, the concerts, and the band come together in a mosaic that depicts Oasis’s enduring legacy.

About The Author

Melissa Locker is a writer, producer, podcaster, and on-air personality. Her music reporting has appeared in The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Time, The Believer, Elle, Vogue, Pitchfork, Stereogum, and beloved alt-weeklies including The Village Voice, the Washington DC City Paper, The Stranger, and the Portland Mercury. She has worked at New York’s public radio station, WNYC, for the television show Portlandia, appeared in documentaries about Ace of Base and The Replacements, and worked at the legendary indie label Kill Rock Stars. Her music podcast company Nevermind Media tells music stories, including an oral history of The Blues Brothers and The True Story of the Fake Zombies. In addition to putting words on the page, she was an on-air culture reporter for the national public radio show The Takeaway.