Oasis

I think this was taken in Rhode Island on the second American tour. I love to shoot musicians in hotel rooms, bland furniture, bland pictures on the wall - so much part of the lifestyle of a rock musician.... read more On that tour Liam seemed to be permanently glued into a brown checked coat that he wore buttoned up to the neck. I rang his room and he agreed to let me take some pix. That is how I found him and that is how I left him. I don't think we exchanged words.

I traveled with Oasis from Frankfurt to Amsterdam. This was taken in Schipol Airport while we waited for the luggage. I rounded them up and asked them to sit on the edge of the conveyor belt. I was just... read more focusing on Noel and Liam, when suddenly in the background of my shot I saw a pair of legs sail past. It was Bonehead lying on his back with his legs in the air being a piece of luggage on the now moving conveyor belt. For part two of his comedy act he leapt onto Noel's lap and kissed him. Gotta be quick round that lot and I often miss the shots but that one was a goal.

To wear your woman's white cable knit sweater in front of a crowd of 125,000 takes some guts but Liam wore it with a swagger and pulled it off. This was a tremendous show that I and everyone who was there... read more will never forget.

In July 1996 Oasis hired one of the huge NEC halls in Birmingham to rehearse for Knebworth, Loch Lomond and Cork. Half a million people saw those shows. This was taken at a full lighting and sound dress... read more rehearsal. It is Liam who is sitting cross-legged on the floor listening intently to his favourite band.

Guitarists often head for the nearest guitar shop when they get a day off on the road. On this British tour Noel Gallagher had an afternoon off with Johnny Marr. Together with Jason Rhodes, Noel's guitar... read more tech, they visited guitar shops in the Leeds area. Noel told me how thrilled he had been when Johnny Marr gave him one of his guitars in the early days when he was broke. Now he was able to buy any guitar that took his fancy. He couldn't get over that.

Taken on a video shoot for one of his greatest songs. A beam of evening light hits the spot.

Part of a cover shoot for Q Magazine shot backstage at The Point Dublin before the gig.

At the time of Wonderwall Oasis not only sounded like The Beatles they looked like them too.

I was out with a band called Proud Mary taking some promo photos. We ended up at the Oasis management offices in Primrose Hill where Noel and the band signed the contracts signing the band to Noel’s... read more Sour Mash label. Proud Mary’s album had just been finished and two taxis arrived to take the band, Noel and Gem to the studio in Barnes to hear the finished recordings. The band got in the first taxi and left, there was no room for me. I got in the second waiting taxi as did Noel and Gem! It took ages to get across London. Chelsea were playing at home that night, the traffic was stop start all the way. This made the surreal journey last for what seemed like a lifetime. I chatted to Noel about his guitars. I showed an interest in his Union Jack guitar he used at the concerts at Maine Road. Noel offered to sell it to me. Unfortunately I couldn’t afford it. Next thing I know, the taxi pulls over and it has broken down! We had to get out and flag down another. As we started off in taxi number two I took the chance and asked if I could take a photo.

This was my first shoot with Oasis but I’ve photographed them again since. This was in a place I hired in North London, they were shooting a video later nearby so they asked if I could do the portraits... read more somewhere near. They are really good to photograph, very professional but there’s always an energy with them, like anything could happen. Liam has such a presence about him, I was distracted in the corner sorting out equipment when they arrived but I knew the moment they did – the atmosphere in the room changed. The assistant with me that day had assisted me on quite a few shots by then but it was the first time I saw her a little star struck and nervous. I’d set the room up before they arrived, positioned the sofas to make the best use of the great natural light that was coming in. Although it’s a portrait of the whole band, it also feels like a portrait of the four individuals. Liam being the centre point of the portrait it was important to me that his part worked and had strength, but when he looked straight at the camera he completely dominated the portrait in this kind of set up, however having him look to the side allows everyone to come in.