From Dishwashing to Rock Legends: My Mind-Blowing 1994 Oasis Gig Experience

Back in 1994, Oliver Astley was a teenager working as a pot washer, making just £2. 50 an hour. He heard a song by Oasis on the radio and decided to spend £5 to see them live at The Wherehouse, a three-storey music venue in Derby. He took the bus from his home in Belper, Derbyshire, and joined about 200 other people at the show. At that time, Oasis was not yet famous, but they were starting to get noticed. The Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, walked onto the stage with confidence and played for the small crowd.

Oliver remembers that another local band called Cable played first, but when Oasis started, he was blown away. He was only 16 and a bit nervous because he was not supposed to be in the venue. He avoided the bar so he would not get kicked out and stayed in the crowd, trying not to be noticed by the bouncers. Oasis played songs from their upcoming album, Definitely Maybe, which would soon become a huge hit. Oliver thought Liam Gallagher had a strong stage presence and reminded him of Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols. Liam was charismatic and had everyone’s attention.

Oliver left the concert early during the last song to catch the bus home, since taxis were too expensive for him. Even though he stopped following Oasis after their first album, he still remembers that night as a turning point. He feels lucky to have seen the band before they became world-famous. Johnny Hopkins, who worked for Creation Records, also remembers that night. He says that small venues like The Wherehouse were important for Oasis because they could test their songs and connect with fans. Without these places, Oasis might not have built such a strong following. The story shows how important small music venues are for new bands trying to make it big.