l was there
An unfeasibly large proportion of Scotland’s p0pulation claims to have seen the early Oasis gigs in Glasgow when the band were so small as to be last on the bill. John Williamson wasn’t there and explains why.
On 31 May WW. I was working behind a bar. braving an onslaught of four totally forgettable bands playing to a smattering of their friends
and a few unfortunates who had wandered in off
the street.
I was at The 13th Note in Glasgow. and by a twist of fate (OK then. work commitments). was not at King Tut‘s Wah Wah Hut. where as legend would have it. the rest of the population of Scotland must have been heading.
Why would I have wanted to be there‘.’ There was an equally unappealing four-band bill going on where l was and at least I was being paid for overseeing the general mayhem at the Kazoo Club.
Just for the record. the main attraction at King Tut‘s was l8 Wheeler. with support from Bellshill hopefuls. Boyfriend. who were to turn out to be to Bellshill what Northside were to Madchester. Yep. they were that good.
Fittingly. less than 71) of those who claim to have been at King Tut’s on that fateful night were actually there — Creation’s Alan McGee was one of them. along with assorted other Bellshill/Creation legends like The Pastels and Teenage Fanclub.
Getting involved with Boyfriend was one of
the less astute decisions of McGee‘s career. but fortunately for him. the bill was supplemented by a fourth band on the bill. Oasis. The Gallaghers had been invited along by fellow Mancunians. The Sister Lovers. on a vague sort of promise that they could scam a slot on the bill. It was their fourteenth gig. McGee’s
BETTINE THERE
By Bus
A shuttle bus operates from
Vehicles using the A82 from the North -— Oban and Fort William areas — should leave the A82 at
reaction is well documented and marked the start of the fastest upward trajectory of any British band in the last twenty years.
In January I994. now working with Radio I on Glasgow‘s Sound City ")4. I explain. politely. that a double bill of The Boo Radleys and Oasis was hardly going to call for overtime at TOCTA and the Ticket Centre. Radio 1 book the show into the Tramway regardless.
Fast forward to 7 April 1994. Sound City is in
Information
Industrial Estate.
Central/Clydebank will be directed to park at Haldane Park/Jamestown
OASIS FEATURE
full swing and of the eleven shows at Tramway this week. the Oasis gig is one of only two that failed to sell out and is by far the slowest selling of all. The legions of fans who swear blind that they were at the King Tut‘s gig last May seem to have been at home washing their hair this evening.
No Way Sis now pull bigger crowds than the Tramway audience that night. but even so. .lo Whiley’s introduction of Oasis as ‘a band who have the hopes of the entire music world on their shoulders and they wear it well.‘ seemed like unnecessary hyperbole. Oasis equalled a half-empty hall. ridiculous volume and the absolute absence of any stage presence. Then as now. Oasis‘s appeal. both musically and as a phenomenon. completely passed me by.
Remember folks: there is no reason to be proud of being at King Tut's on 31 May 1993 — you were. after all. probably there to see Boyfriend. 1 would keep it quiet. Enjoy descending on Balloeh. I won‘t be there. and in five years’ time it will be your turn not to believe me.
.lo/m ll’i/liamson is a music promoter; writer and member of the Bis management team.
.“ \
Oasis: the King Tut’s era
first support act coming on stage at 2.15pm. There are a further four support acts coming on at roughly
Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station to Balloch Road from 11am each day, every fifteen minutes at times of peak demand and then half-hourly. Shuttle returns to Glasgow from 1 1pm
point. Retum ticket £3.
ByCar
Routes into Balloch: vehicles
Erskine Bridge will be directed to leave the A82 at Barloan Roundabout, Dumbarton and follow the A813 to the car parks.
onwards, leaving from the drop-off
approaching from Glasgow and the East and using the A82, M8 or the
Stoneymollan Roundabout and follow the A811 to the parking areas.
Vehicles approaching from the North East and Perth/Stirling area should enter Balloch on the A811 and remain on this route until they reach the parking areas.
People travelling from the North on the A82 will be directed to park at Argyll Park. Balloeh.
Those travelling from Stirling/North Glasgow on the A811 will be directed to park at Argyll Park.
People travelling from Erskine Bridge/Glasgow
Car parking costs £5 per car per day. Strictly no overnight parking. All approach routes and car parks will be comprehensively signposted.
By Iraln
Services by train are still to be confirmed at the time of going to press.
seams
Contact Balloch tourist office on 01389 753533.
9N TLIE EA!
The gates open at noon, with the
one-hour intervals until Oasis take the stage at 9pm. At the time of going to press, none of the support acts have been confirmed.
There are food stalls and bars on site which will remain open from noon until the site shuts down at
1 1pm.
The List 26 Jul-8 Aug 1996 9