Surprisingly, Oasis has been knocking around for over ten years now, since the release of their first album, Definitely Maybe, back in 1994. They became worldwide superstars after the release of their second album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, which reached #4 on the American Billboard charts, and also spawned two #1 singles. The band has managed to remain in the public eye, thanks to their infamous off-stage antics, involving feuds between the Gallagher brothers, as well as their much publicized drug and alcohol abuse. The band managed to stay out of the public eye for the next few years, amid rumors of a break-up, but resurfaced again in 1997, on the heals of their third album Be Here Now.
Familiar To Millions was recorded during the first night, of a two night stop, at London's Wembley Stadium, during Oasis' 2000 world tour, in support of their latest album, Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants. It is a wonder that the band ever completed the 2000 tour, as the Oasis train was nearly derailed by personal problems - the most obvious being Noel Gallagher's decision to skip many of the European dates, and Liam Gallagher being dumped by his wife, actress Patsy Kensit, only a few days before the Wembley shows. Liam was a drunken mess during this performance, stumbling around the stage, tossing F-bombs at the crowd between every song, and just being his usual annoying self. It is no wonder his brother Noel has contemplated giving it all up, out of frustration with his brother. I may be way off here, since I don't closely follow the Oasis soap opera, but from what little I've seen, this guy Liam comes across as one of the most pretentious, egotistical, assholes I have ever seen. "Sir, I have met John Lennon, and you sir, are no John Lennon!". Do these guys really think they are the next coming of The Beatles? Have another lager there Liam.
As little regard I have for these egomaniacal, imbeciles (Noel may not fall into that category), I have enjoyed a lot of their music. Oasis definitely-maybe had tons of potential until they practically imploded due to Liam's hooliganism. Definitely Maybe certainly had a couple of good songs, and (What's The Story) Morning Glory? is outstanding. These Gallagher brothers certainly know how to write some interesting melodies and very catchy hooks, but it looks like they might have shot their entire load already, considering the rather weak material they have put out since. I did love the hell out of that song "You Know What I Mean" though. I played that thing every night on the jukebox, back in '97, when as I was throwing darts at my favorite Spanish pub. Too bad the rest of the album, Be Here Now, was so terrible.
This spectacular looking Wembley stadium concert begins with "F***in' in the Bushes" blaring over the PA system as the band takes the stage. It was still light out through the first half of the concert, so you did not really get the full magnitude of their stage show just yet. The band launches into "Go Let It Out", to get things started and wisely stick to songs mostly from their first two albums for the rest of the show. Liam is obviously a drunken, mess during this show, and he barely manages to slur and stumble his was through a half-assed performance. His between song banter with the audience consists primarily of "fookin" this, and "fookin" that - you know, the usual charming small talk. Who knows, he could have been giving some brilliant anti-war speech, or providing the formula for the cure for cancer, but you would never have known, because it sure is hell wasn't English this bloke was speaking. Holy shit, them Gallagher boys have one thick accent. And I even spent three years in the Scotland! Talk about your unintelligible accents.
Article comments
1 - Lono
I don't know about the DVD, but I have the CD and I was rather disappointed by it. I have seen them live and they are dynamic and powerful and great. However, they come across as simply sloppy to me on the audio only.
2 - alienboy
To my taste, Oasis are one of the greatest Art crimes of the 20th Century. They have never created anything unique or powerful or beautiful, simply recycled other people's work and passed it off as creative.
Rock music has been less interesting since this recycled sludge became "popular".
And don't even get me started on how Creation Records has been the most cynically titled companies of all time. Practically every group on the label is derivative, dated and depressing. What an awful company.
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i quite enjoyed Familiar To Millions, although i see where you're coming from with the whole "sloppy" tomfoolery. Certainly there are better live DVD's out there. Like the Earls Court one, but i can't remember what it's called...
4 - DJRadiohead
The other DVDs are better. This set felt more like a contractual obligation than an inspired release. They have always been a spotty live act: capable of brilliance one night and utter shit the next.
I also think part of the problem is this release comes on the heels of two of Oasis' most disappointing albums ("Be Here Now" and "SOTSOG").
5 - Paul Roy
I will give these guys another chance since I do really enjoy some of their music. Hopefully their other concert DVDs such as "Then and There" or "Live by the Sea" are a little better than this one. These performances are a few years older, back when the albums were better, and they were probably a little less full of themselves.
6 - will
Oasis rock and I have both the dvd and cd. I find the antics both enertaining and often deliberate. These boys have made a lot of cash and sold many an album. They don't pretend to be the Beatles but do publicly wish they were! There is nothing wrong with that. If you want a true guage of a live show on film, look at the audience. I think you will find one raucous crowd. Nothing more needs to be said. Thanks for allowing me to write here.
7 - loz
fookin amazing dvd!!! liam and noel are the ultimate rok n roll stars who dont give a sh*t!! and quite right they shouldnt!