In an interview to mark the release of the new documentary it, Upside Down, legendary Creation Records label boss Alan McGee has revealed that he originally thought that front man Liam Gallagher was the band’s drug dealer.
He says “I was up in Glasgow seeing my dad and I wasn’t sure I’d even go to the gig. I got there early by mistake. Oasis were on first, before most people arrived. There was this amazing young version of Paul Weller sat there in a light blue Adidas tracksuit. I assumed he was the drug dealer and that Bonehead, the guitarist, was the singer. It was only when they went on stage I realised it was the lead singer Liam Gallagher.”
He says that that was the moment “I knew I had to sign them. Noel and I talked after the show and just said ‘done’ and he turned out to be a man of his word.” He also revealed that he was lucky to sign the band that would go on to sell 30 million records. He reckons “I was lucky to be there. We didn’t send out scouts. Most of my signings were because I happened to see new bands. That couldn’t happen any more. If a new band as much as farts it’s all over the internet.”
Upside Down tells the story of McGee’s label, which had on its roster over the years bands such as the Jesus & Mary Chain, Ride, My Bloody Valentine and Primal Scream in addition to Oasis.
