Oasis

by itemvn  |  October 10, 2007 [Edit]

Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991, led by lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher and his younger brother, lead vocalist and songwriter Liam Gallagher, Oasis is arguably the most successful group to emerge during the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s.

In 2005, The Guinness Book Of Hit Singles And Albums declared Oasis the "Most Successful Act of the Last Decade in the UK." Oasis has sold more than 60 million albums alone worldwide, and has had eight UK number one singles. Liam and Noel Gallagher are the only original band members. The present lineup is completed by rhythm/lead guitarist Gem Archer, bass guitarist Andy Bell and drummer Zak Starkey, son of former Beatle Ringo Starr.

With the success of their Mercury Prize-nominated debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994), and its even more successful follow-up, the 20 million selling (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), coupled with a rivalry with their contemporary Blur, Oasis attained fame in the mid-1990s, and became the leaders of the Britpop movement.
At the height of their fame, Oasis' third album, Be Here Now (1997), reached #1 in the UK charts, #2 in the U.S. and also became the fastest-selling album in chart history, with almost half a million copies sold on the first day alone and just under 700,000 copies in its first week.

With the loss of founding members, the band suffered a notable drop in popularity in America. However, they found replacements and managed to soldier on and release comercially and critically succesfull albums afterwards. In 2005, their sixth album Don't Believe the Truth was released becoming their best-selling and best-received album in a decade.

In November 2006, the band released a "best-of" album entitled Stop the Clocks, which received great attention, especially in the UK, selling more than one million records in three months. In February 2007, Oasis received the BRIT Award for outstanding contribution to music
The band have been working on their seventh studio album, expected to be released sometime in 2008.