This story is about the time I went to Toronto/Barrie to see Oasis on August 31st, 1996.
Here it is, in all it's glory... A Day In The Life of... me. (Or should I really say a day and a half?)
This story, I hope, will show the stressful side of seeing Oasis, and the impossibly crazy things that can happen when you plan something out.
I hope you will see that it is not ALL fun and glory seeing Oasis... yet somehow it is worth it!
Enjoy!
Full credit is given to the wonderful Jill Firmanovsky for taking this AMAZING picture of Our Kid!
By Lori-Jo Sherwin
It was the gig that was never supposed to happen. And it didn’t, for a lot of people. As Noel once said, "America." (and in this case, Canada...) "Just. Doesn’t. Get. It." As someone close to the band once said to me, "Noel Gallagher is very seldom wrong." On 31 August, in a place outside Toronto called Barrie, the Oasis gig that was never supposed to happen -- happened for me.
Imagine being at 40,000 feet, flying 1700 miles to Toronto to see Oasis, and reading in the Globe and Mail that Liam had decided to stay in England. He was not coming over for the North American tour. Worse yet, imagine being me. The girl who has seen this happen all before. The very girl who drove almost 1200 miles from Toronto to New York City and back again, just to see Oasis for 10 minutes. Scott McLeod did the very same thing to me, back in October, and decided that he just wasn’t up for touring North America. I wanted to kill Liam at that moment. Did he realise? Does he think? Does he even care anymore? Not again. Because I can’t take this, again.
Although Liam didn’t board his transatlantic flight on 27 August with the rest of the band, I boarded my flight to Ottawa that day in order to drive with John to the gig in Barrie on the 31st. But there was hope. Noel had decided to take over the vocals for the tour and the band would not be canceling. Thank God for Noel. Though I knew something would be missing without Liam. If you’ve ever seen the Jools Holland show after Don’t Look Back In Anger was released, and you watch Noel sing Cum On Feel The Noize, you will see it. Noel still does it fine enough, but you soon realise that Oasis needs Liam Gallagher. I knew in my heart that this was probably the last time I would ever see Oasis. I guess it would end with whom it began. Noel Gallagher.
Living in Canada, I was obligated to take French in high school. Useless, I thought, until the Thursday morning before the gig. I sat in Ottawa, glued to the television, awaiting any news that might make this nightmare go away. Then, it came. And it was flippin’ spectacular. I paused for a split second on the French language music station Musique Plus. One foreign phrase came rushing into my ears.
"Liam Gallagher de la groupe musicale Oasis va retourné..." Vive le française. Liam was coming back, and I was set to leave for Toronto the next morning.
After that 5½ hour drive from Ottawa to Toronto, a Friday night in Toronto awaited. I had planned to meet up with one of my penpals, Amy Dix. She was from Barrie, home of the August 31 gig. Her dad drove her down to Toronto that night to stay with John and me, and I refrained from telling her that Oasis would probably staying in the very same hotel! I love surprises, and I wanted this to be a big one! More importantly, I hated being let down. I didn’t want Amy to be let down if I got her hopes up for nothing. Sweet, aren’t I? What you don’t know can’t hurt you, I thought, so please let me be right!!!
Amy proved to be the perfect example of a hard-core Oasis fan. Her love for the band was so much like my own that it scared me. Yes, there were more of us in this world. And I was pretty glad to have her on my side. We stayed up most of the night (until 4:30 AM, to be exact) discussing our favorite topic, Oasis. When we finally did fall asleep, it wasn’t for lack of conversation! We still had a million-and-one things to say about Noel and Liam et al., but I needed my bleedin’ beauty sleep to greet the guests I hoped were there!
Saturday, 31 August. Finally, the day had arrived. Using standard "groupie" procedure, I booked into the same hotel as the band (or so I hoped) on an educated whim. Since "please don’t put your life in the hands of a rock and roll band" had become my motto, I decided to play the part of Sally that day and wear a white dress. After all, I had been playing the part of Sally every single day of my life, and this was the culmination.
The luck of the Irish (in fact, the luck of the Gallaghers) must have been with us that day. Yes, the tour bus that John had spotted outside definitely, no maybes (say nothing about that pun, kids -- Noel uses it all the time!) belonged to Oasis. At this point, I thought Amy was going to die.
Sick as it may be, we did, in fact, know what the tour laminates looked like and we saw one hanging in the window. We checked the bus over for signs of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, but there were none to be had. The boys were no where in sight.
Then we saw our Brian Epstein... our Marcus Russell. The Most Affable Manager In Pop™ was standing on the corner. He told us that the boys had gotten in very early that morning, and told us what time the band was meeting in the lobby. I felt like Columbus. If I had been prospecting for gold that day, I would have just struck it rich. In fact, I could celebrate with the purchase of a chocolate brown Rolls Royce. For now, I would have
to stick with the lad who made them famous. I found you, Noel! And by God, was Amy ever chuffed!
There is a certain feeling that washes over you when you are minutes away from seeing Oasis play. Multiply that by 1,000,000,000, and that’s how it feels when you know you are just about to TALK to them. I will tell you one thing. It does not pass in time. Every time I go, I have a lump in my throat the size of Texas, and there is only one cure. Drink heavily. I looked at my watch. It was about 1 PM. Although the bar was pretty close, this was not an eloquent option.
May Noel and Liam and Guigsy and Bonehead and Alan have mercy on my soul. That was the best I could hope for now. Obviously, I was no help to the jitters Amy was feeling at that moment!
We waited across the street from the tour bus for quite some time. Suddenly, I had visions of Oasis walking out to the bus. True enough, I would not have my wits about me. Visions entered my head of being struck by a large truck as I ran across the street shouting LIAAAMMMMM!!!!!!!
All thoughts of looking both ways before crossing would be banished with the sight of a certain lead singer. We finally decided to stake out the lobby instead.
We were in the lobby for exactly 4 minutes before Noel Gallagher came strolling out of the elevator. He greeted us with a nod and a smile, and said he’d be back in a minute. He went to do his business with the tour manager and promptly returned. Amy still had colour. This was good - she’s a lot like me. Inside, it’s just ONE LONG SCREAM. Outside, the epitome of cool. (Now you know, Noel!)
Noel came walking back toward us, acting as cool as he’s always been. He acted like it was no big deal that I just HAPPENED to be sitting in the lobby of his hotel with a couple of my mates, and just HAPPENED to run into him. He didn’t realise what a strategically planned maneuver it all was.
As soon as you talk to Noel for a few minutes, he puts you at ease. Anyone who has ever met him will agree with me on that. There’s still 25% of me that wants to scream, or faint, or SOMETHING - this is, after all, the genius rock star who wrote Champagne Supernova and The Masterplan. But the other 75% of me just wants to see him as a normal bloke who I’ve known for 5 years. The first quarter probably has more to
do with the admiration that I’d always felt for him than the fact that our Noel was a rock star - it’s hard to describe, but I always knew that he’d be something special. We talked for a while, Noel graciously signed a couple of autographs, posed for some pictures, and of course I didn’t get to say all the things I wanted to say. Even if I did, it probably would have come out all wrong. I always feel as if it’s my duty to thank Noel for being Noel on behalf of all Oasis fans in the world. But I think Noel knows that’s how I feel, and if he didn’t already then he does now!
Noel said good-bye, and we waited patiently for Liam to show -- he was always last. In a bit, Bonehead came over to us, and there is a classic story in this. The elegant marble floor of the hotel lobby had just been waxed that morning... and of course, our Bonehead slipped. He didn’t fall... instead he used some sort of strange tap-dancing move to cover it up. Needless to say, it was quite amusing. You truly had to be there. Bonehead signed some autographs and posed for some pictures. I had to get the classic shot of Amy and Bonehead together... I already had mine from October ‘94 -- it’s just something you can’t do without. Only the greatest of the great get their pictures taken with the man himself! :)
We saw Guigsy and Alan come out of the elevator, but Guigsy just nodded and smiled. It’s as if he knows he’s seen me before, but just can’t seem to place me. And though I adore Alan, I don’t think I’ve said more than hello to him. I regret that, but like I say, your head is just not about you when they’re really there in front of you. It’s like watching a movie... it just doesn’t seem real.
Then, like an swaggering angel(?) down from heaven (you like that, Liam? I knew you would...), Liam Gallagher came strutting, and I mean strutting out of the elevator. And, all the lovely times before, he came over to us and addressed me by first name. No matter what Liam says to you, it seems wonderful... even if it’s THIS...
"Hi Lori-Jo, are ya coomin’ to the gig?"
I just wanted to say OF COURSE I AM! IT’S SO GREAT THAT YOU SHOWED UP! THANK GOD YOU SHOWED UP! OASIS JUST ISN’T THE SAME WITHOUT YOU, LIAM! LIAM... YOU ARE THE GREATEST... (etc.etc. - various swooning compliments including "I love you" blah blah blah and "I worship the ground you walk on" etc. etc.)
My reply? "Yes." Grin grin grin (as Amy puts it.)
There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don’t know how... sorry Meg, but I think Noel wrote that line for every Oasis fan they’ve ever spoken with, but it’s more like there are many things... but I don’t want to sound DAFT...
Anyway, Liam was the picture of sexiness, but what else is new. He always makes me feel speechless (a difficult feat), although I manage to get the important things out. We talked for a bit, and he was off.
We now faced the one hour drive to Molson Park, Barrie, to see the lads play. Amy and I swooned in the car the whole way there, and it’s a wonder that John didn’t kick us out and make us hitch hike. Thank God he didn’t, because we would have missed the wonderful experience they like to call PARKING. The place was a zoo, but luckily we ended up in the "L" section. I wouldn’t forget. We’re parked in the "Liam section" I would later remember.
The staff couldn’t have been more wonderful to us. Noel had told us to ask for their security guys so we could get backstage. Easy enough, but when we asked we were called in no uncertain terms LIARS, and were quoted as being "full of shit". So, to the staff at Molson Park, you are all wankers, and thanks for nothing. We were angry, of course, but we soon realized it was a losing battle, and decided to be content with watching the gig with the rest of "the kids". I’d been backstage before, and it is by and large a bunch of CRAP, with 5% real fans and 95% posers, wankers, record scum and clueless contest winners. So, we walked around the park, trying to find a way backstage regardless. We would put up with the BS, just for another 20 minutes with the boys. I often found myself doing that.
We never made it, but it didn’t matter to me. The only thing that mattered was that I never got the chance to say good-bye to Noel. That bothered me the most.
We found a spot in the fence and peeked over. Who did we see playing a game of "footie" but Liam and Guigsy themselves. It was 10 minutes to behold, and I would have given anything for a video camera. If you are ever miraculously faced with the prospect of a celebrity soccer tournament, Oasis are your boys. They look quite well versed in football as well as music.
The lads were great, needless to say. They played It’s Getting Better, Man, and it was bloody brilliant. Noel, can you EVER write a bad song?! Liam was more animated than I had ever seen him, and the atmosphere was more crap "stadium rawk" than I had ever seen it. It works very well in England, but not here. Because basically, most there just. don’t. get. it. Someday, I would love to see them on their own soil... where they’re respected and enjoyed unanimously. As great as it is to see them live, it can be a real downer if the crowd isn’t up for it. We were though, and we could give a shit less about anyone else. I overheard a bloke behind me say "see that girl in the white dress? She sure loves them, hey?" Good call. I couldn’t help but feel a bit sad being there... I remembered watching them play in a
Toronto club of 400, only 20 short months ago. There I stood on the side of the stage, I could have talked to Noel between songs and walked right into the tour bus after the gig; but now I was a just a speck in a crowd of 30,000. But I was one of the few lucky enough to be there at the beginning, and for that, I was thankful.
After the gig, we drove back to Toronto and went back to the hotel, and our mood could be described at best as solemn. Amy decided to come back with us because she couldn’t say good-bye just yet, and we decided to make our way to Blow Up, a popular Toronto version of the famous London club. There they played every important British band ever, from the 60’s to the 90’s, including a certain group we like to call Oasis. We had a grand time, and drank our sorrows away. I had a great time amusing Amy that night, carrying on in perfect LiamGallagheresque form complete with accent, Manc phrases, cigarette and alcohol consumption, swagger and even dress. I had donned my Man City jersey with "Oasis 1" on the back, trainers, cool keks and shades. I even invested in a replica of Liam’s golf hat he wore at the celebrity soccer tourney this summer. I bought it at Eaton Centre that morning and only paid $3 for it, though I’m sure the real thing probably cost a lot more! It was good fun to do the Liam imitation in a club in Ontario, where at least a few of the people there knew what I was on about!
After roaming the streets until about 4AM, we finally went to sleep. We woke up miraculously hangoverless the next day, and went for breakfast. Amy’s dad was driving down to pick her up at 1 o’clock. We had checked out of the hotel and decided to meet him in the lobby. Later, as we walked down Queen Street past the Muchmusic studios, we walked past to see the Don’t Look Back In Anger video playing. It was the perfect sentiment. This trip had been full of strange coincidences; but the strangest of them all was yet to come.
We went back to the hotel to drop Amy off to meet her dad, and John and I decided to use the "loo" before the 5 hour trip back to Ottawa that lay ahead of us. We left Amy in the lobby, sitting in the chair where Noel had sat to chat to us less than 24 hours ago. We came out to see Amy, white as a ghost, mouth open wide, pointing to the elevator.
"Noel... just.... Noel just got out... they’re here... they’re here..." she sputtered.
If this wasn’t fate, I don’t know what is. I would get to say good-bye to Noel after all.
We waited in the lobby for what seemed like ages, for Noel to return from wherever he had gone. Amy thought he had went to the bar, so we settled in for a long wait. Ha ha. Anyway, it wasn’t long before he showed up, and again, he was not surprised. None of us were ready to see them, Amy and I certainly looked like we had been out on a bender the night before, but so did Noel. There we stood, wearing our Oasis shirts, looking like idiots. Completely lucky, conquering, triumphant idiots.
Noel came over to us, and we explained the humiliation we experienced at the venue as we tried to get backstage, but it didn’t matter now. We talked about the gig, and Noel said the band enjoyed it. I knew in my heart that it was the best reception they would probably get over here, and even that was nothing compared to what they get in England. It was sad but true.
The band was set to leave fairly quickly to catch their flight to the US to finish what would prove to be a short lived tour. Oasis was later to "break up", only two weeks after that day. Everything seemed to be going great, but it fell apart for them just as easily as it had came. Thank goodness the "break up" didn’t last, and I hope I never have to go through another false alarm again. Regardless, we were oblivious to those inevitable problems, and for now, the world was at Noel’s feet (and so were we, practically).
Noel had to go to the front desk with the tour manager to take care of some of their business, but he said he’d be back to talk to us later. Soon, Amy’s dad showed up, and we told him that today was his lucky day. If he so desired, the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band of our time was in the lobby of this very hotel for him to meet. Of course, he was elated. Soon enough, Liam showed up and strutted once again over to see us. Amy’s dad chatted with him for a bit, and we stood back with a smile. It’s quite the sight to see a friend’s dad meeting Liam Gallagher, and to know that you had something to do with it. Liam said good-bye, and I tapped my foot and smiled.
"Don't I get a hug?!?" I said, wondering if he still gave those out anymore...
"Of course ya do, darlin’," he says, picking me up off the floor and squeezing the life out of me. Contrary to popular belief, he smelled lovely, and I was in seventh heaven. Amy asked for one too -- it’s a good thing or I would have incited it myself -- you can’t go without the customary Liam hug when I’m around. I said my final good-bye and that was it. A moment destined to stick in the back of my mind forever, but one which seemed to good to be true.
I saw Noel standing by himself across the lobby. There was something I still had to do.
I walked over to him by myself. Noel smiled and gave me a hug. He added, most specially, a little kiss on the cheek, and I couldn’t help but get a tear in my eye.
"Aw, we’ll see you again soon," he said to me, and I nodded.
I knew inside that this was probably the last time. It was getting harder and harder to get to talk to them these days, not by our own decision but by everyone’s around us. I was so proud of him and I admired him so much, yet I never got the chance to say it. I had been through seven shades of hell for him -- spending my last dollar, blizzards, delayed flights, gig cancellations, rude doorstaff, the lot. Regardless, all I’d done was worth it; though sometimes, it can make you long for the "good old days". I think sometimes, Noel longs for those too.
Okay, now I'm stressed/crying. Take me back to the main page!
There were 
Oasis fans who believed in magic (life's NOT automatic!)