Live Demonstration
Encyclopedia
Live Demonstration is a demo tape made by British
rock band Oasis
in 1993, prior to their rise to fame. The tape helped secure a recording contract with Creation Records
, with most of the tracks ending up on the band's first batch of releases, including their debut album, Definitely Maybe
.
, with a small following, but no signs of a record contract. Realising their potential, Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher
contacted Tony Griffiths of the Liverpool
band The Real People
. The two had met on a North American tour with the Inspiral Carpets
, on which The Real People had been the opening act and Gallagher had worked as a roadie. Gallagher asked him if Oasis could use their studio to produce a professional sounding demo which they could then send to record companies. Griffiths and his brother Chris claim to have taught the band a lot about recording songs during that period. Around a dozen songs were recorded at the studio at Dock Road, Liverpool in Spring 1993, of which six songs ended up on the final demo tape. The versions of "D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?" and "Married With Children" were recorded at the home of co-producer Mark Coyle
.
It is estimated that 10 cassette copies were sent out with a J-card
insert depicting a swirling Union Jack and the now famous Oasis logo designed by Tony French. More cassettes were handed out without the picture sleeve, but with instead, a handwritten set of notes.
In May 1993, the band were invited to play a gig at the famous Glasgow
nightclub King Tut's, by a band who shared their rehearsal rooms. Oasis found the money to hire a van and make the six-hour journey to Glasgow. Among the people at the club that night was head of Creation Records, Alan McGee
, who knew some of the other acts playing. Upon seeing Oasis for the first time, he was apparently so impressed that after the show, he went up to the band and offered them a record deal on the spot. A copy of the demo tape was handed to McGee that night, of which the contents made McGee even more determined to sign up the band. A couple of months later, Oasis signed a 6-album deal with Creation Records.
The strength of the tracks on Live Demonstration was proved by the fact that four of the tracks eventually ended up on Definitely Maybe; ("Married With Children", "Rock 'N' Roll Star
", "Bring It On Down" and "Columbia"), with three others appearing as b-sides ("D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?", "Fade Away" and "Cloudburst"). The other song, "Strange Thing", has never had a commercial release.
.
Side one
Side two
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock band Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
in 1993, prior to their rise to fame. The tape helped secure a recording contract with Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
, with most of the tracks ending up on the band's first batch of releases, including their debut album, Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
.
Overview
In 1992, Oasis were an up-and-coming live act in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, with a small following, but no signs of a record contract. Realising their potential, Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
contacted Tony Griffiths of the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
band The Real People
The Real People
The Real People, from Liverpool, England, were one of the very first bands to play what is today known as “Britpop”, and have been quoted by Oasis as being one of their major influences...
. The two had met on a North American tour with the Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
, on which The Real People had been the opening act and Gallagher had worked as a roadie. Gallagher asked him if Oasis could use their studio to produce a professional sounding demo which they could then send to record companies. Griffiths and his brother Chris claim to have taught the band a lot about recording songs during that period. Around a dozen songs were recorded at the studio at Dock Road, Liverpool in Spring 1993, of which six songs ended up on the final demo tape. The versions of "D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?" and "Married With Children" were recorded at the home of co-producer Mark Coyle
Mark Coyle
Mark Coyle is a British music producer, known for his work with Oasis.Coyle worked as a sound technician for many Mancunian bands throughout the 1980s including the The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. Coyle has been a friend of Noel Gallagher for many years, having met when working as roadies for...
.
It is estimated that 10 cassette copies were sent out with a J-card
J-card
A j-card is the paper card inserted in the plastic storage case of most pre-recorded audio cassette releases, as well as cassettes of bootleg or copied concerts of the jam band scene...
insert depicting a swirling Union Jack and the now famous Oasis logo designed by Tony French. More cassettes were handed out without the picture sleeve, but with instead, a handwritten set of notes.
In May 1993, the band were invited to play a gig at the famous Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
nightclub King Tut's, by a band who shared their rehearsal rooms. Oasis found the money to hire a van and make the six-hour journey to Glasgow. Among the people at the club that night was head of Creation Records, Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
, who knew some of the other acts playing. Upon seeing Oasis for the first time, he was apparently so impressed that after the show, he went up to the band and offered them a record deal on the spot. A copy of the demo tape was handed to McGee that night, of which the contents made McGee even more determined to sign up the band. A couple of months later, Oasis signed a 6-album deal with Creation Records.
The strength of the tracks on Live Demonstration was proved by the fact that four of the tracks eventually ended up on Definitely Maybe; ("Married With Children", "Rock 'N' Roll Star
Rock 'N' Roll Star
"Rock 'n' Roll Star" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It is the opening track from their record breaking debut album, Definitely Maybe. Like the majority of the band's songs from this era, it was written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. Noel said that "Rock 'n' Roll Star" was one of only...
", "Bring It On Down" and "Columbia"), with three others appearing as b-sides ("D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?", "Fade Away" and "Cloudburst"). The other song, "Strange Thing", has never had a commercial release.
Track listing
All songs were written by Noel GallagherNoel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
.
Side one
- "Cloudburst"
- "Columbia"
- "D'yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?"
- "Strange Thing"
Side two
- "Bring It on Down"
- "Married with Children"
- "Fade Away"
- "Rock 'n' Roll StarRock 'N' Roll Star"Rock 'n' Roll Star" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It is the opening track from their record breaking debut album, Definitely Maybe. Like the majority of the band's songs from this era, it was written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. Noel said that "Rock 'n' Roll Star" was one of only...
"
Official releases
- "Cloudburst" - Released as a B-side on the "Live ForeverLive Forever"Live Forever" is a song by English rock band Oasis. Written by Noel Gallagher, the song was released as the third single from their debut album Definitely Maybe on 8 August 1994, just prior to that album's release....
" single - "Fade Away" - Released as a B-side on the "Cigarettes & AlcoholCigarettes & Alcohol"Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. It was released as the fourth single from their debut album Definitely Maybe, and their second to enter the UK top ten in the United Kingdom, peaking at #7 , eventually spending 35 weeks on the charts,...
" single, and later on the MasterplanThe MasterplanThe Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, comprising B-sides which never made it onto an album. The album was originally intended for release only in areas such as the United States and Japan, where the tracks were only available on expensive European import singles. It was...
album - "Columbia" - An edited version of the demo was released on a white label promo 12" in December 1993. As a result, this became the first Oasis song played on BBC Radio 1, adding to the growing buzz surrounding the band. This version was also released as a B-side on the "Supersonic" single, as well as on Oasis' debut album Definitely Maybe
- "D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?" - Released as a B-side on the "ShakermakerShakermaker"Shakermaker" is a song by the English rock band Oasis, written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. The song was first released as a single on 13 June 1994 and later released on Oasis' debut album Definitely Maybe. The single narrowly missed the UK top 10, peaking at number eleven. It was also the...
" single - "Married With Children" - Released on Oasis' debut album, Definitely Maybe
- "Bring it on Down" - Released on Oasis' debut album, Definitely Maybe
- "Rock 'N' Roll Star" - Released on Oasis' debut album, Definitely Maybe