They Came Home
Maine Road The two days, where Oasis came home.
The 27th and 28th of April 1996. Maine Road, Moss Side Manchester. Oasis stepped out on stage in front of 40,000 fans. At the home of their beloved Manchester City. It was the first time the band had played a stadium and it was not going to be the last that was for sure. Noel said in a 2019 interview it was the high point of his time in Oasis. They hadn’t quite made it yet. Their second album ‘What’s the Story Morning Glory’ had just begun to take off, complete with its hit singles.
It was a band who were on an upward trajectory, but yet could still relate to those on the other side of the barrier. The band were extremely proud of where they came from, and with Noel and Liam being huge Manchester City fans, playing at the home of their beloved team added an extra layer.
The shows success also highlights just how big Oasis were, Noel Gallagher stated in an interview in 2019, he had only signed off, 9 months before the band had sold out those two nights. The growth of Oasis, is something that we had never seen before, and I believe it is unlikely we will see anything like it again.
As for the show itself it was a greatest hits set of the bands work up until that point featuring songs from both of their albums ‘Definitely Maybe’ and ‘What’s the Story Morning Glory’ along with B-Sides and two covers ‘I Am the Walrus’ and a brilliant version of Slade's ‘Cum on Feel the Noize’.
The set was jam packed with hits and Oasis played unbelievably that night, with the live show being recorded for the DVD ‘There and Then’
Many deem this gig as the greatest Oasis gig ever. It’s easy to see why, it was a band who was just about to hit its peak, everything about it is iconic. Noels Union Jack Epiphone ‘Supernova’ ES-335, Liam's Umbro top, the helicopter walk on, the setlist, the fact the gig was in Manchester. It made for the perfect combination. It proved Oasis were the real deal, and was the catalyst for them becoming the biggest and best band in the world for a period of time.