REVIEW: Oasis Definitely film review

With all the hype surrounding the much-anticipated reunion of Oasis, something equally special has been worked on with its timely release now on the offering just before the world begins to experience Oasis-mania from Cardiff to Sydney.

Oasis Definitely is a film of sorts, with running revealing commentary, looking back on hours of previously unseen footage from the archive of Tim Abbott, Oasis label manager at Creation Records. Abbott was Alan McGee’s right hand man, Abbott received a phone early in the morning after McGee saw Oasis on a bill in Scotland proclaiming to Abbott that he had found the next Beatles.

I was fortunate to be in attendance in Birmingham on the night the film’s premier, with promises of a potential deal with Netflix, the film on show is a glimpse into the life behind the band as they propelled themselves from being an everyday support band to the biggest music phenomenon since The Stone Roses. Abbott was friendly, informative and gave wistful anecdotes inbetween his expertly shot intimate footage of the band at home, backstage and on stage. One of the most striking moments appears to capture Noel Gallagher (the Governor) strumming on an acoustic guitar conjuring up the riff for the universally liked Don’t Look Back In Anger, to see this being created right in front of your eyes is striking.

There are further clips of Liam striking a football around Earls Court preparing for the nights mammoth gigs, Noel laying down guitar solos in the studio, Alan White’s first introductions to the band including being encouraged to drink his body weight in alcohol, along with many intimate and never before seen photos and memorabilia from Abbotts time within their ranks. With an engaging and ever more revealing Q&A following the show piece moving footage, the events, spoken word and what was shown was truly an eye opener.

There are always dynamics behind the success of any music band, to hear directly from the mouth of one that was obviously influential and helped propelled the band to their now to rightly held lofty status was overly pleasing, to the point of by the end you are wanting to hear more. As entertaining and revealing as you want it to be, with the added bonus of a refreshed book capturing much of what you witness on the screen, this is not something to be shrugged at.

More information regarding the film and book can be found here