Neil Young at Glastonbury review: the 'ghost' show rocks hard for the lucky few
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Sky News
3 days ago
- Sky News
Oasis photographers remember the early days: 'The journalist had to take a week off afterwards!'
Why you can trust Sky News It was a cold, typically rainy Manchester evening, October 1993, when Michael Spencer Jones set out to meet a new guitar band he had been commissioned to photograph. The weather was miserable, he didn't know their music, wasn't totally in the mood. "I had to drag myself from home, thinking: is it going to be worth the trouble?" On the drive to the Out Of The Blue studio in Ancoats, on the outskirts of the city centre, a song he'd never heard before came on the local radio station. "It was like, wow, what is that?" The track was Columbia, by Oasis, the band he was on his way to meet. He started to get excited. Spencer Jones had previously met Noel Gallagher during the musician's time as a roadie for fellow Manchester band Inspiral Carpets. But not Liam. "As a photographer, obviously, the aesthetic of a band is massively important," he says as he recalls that first shoot. "I'm just looking down the camera lens with a certain amount of disbelief." In front of him was a 21-year-old, months before the start of the fame rollercoaster that lay ahead. And yet. "I was looking at a face that just seemed to embody the quality of stardom." 'Success was inevitable' It was the start of a partnership that continued throughout the band's heyday, with Spencer Jones shooting the covers for their first three albums, their most successful records, and the singles that went with them. "You work with bands pre-fame and there's always that question: are they going to make it? With Oasis there was never that question. Their success was inevitable." There was a confidence, even in those early days. "Incredible, intoxicating confidence. [They were] not interested in any kind of social norms or social constraints." It wasn't arrogance, he says, of a criticism sometimes levelled at the Gallaghers. "They just had this enormous self-belief." Spencer Jones was one of several photographers who followed the band, capturing the moments that became part of rock history. 'Noel had an uncanny intuition' Jill Furmanovsky, who started working with Oasis towards the end of 1994, a few months after the release of debut album Definitely Maybe, says Noel always seemed aware their time together should be documented. "An uncanny intuition, really, that it was important," she says. "I think Noel has been aware right from the start, because for him that's what he used to look at when he used to buy his Smiths records or Leo Sayer or whatever, he would stare at the covers and be fascinated by the pictures." Contrary to popular belief, Furmanovsky says the brothers got on fairly well most of the time, "otherwise they wouldn't have been able to function". She picks one shoot in 1997, around the release of their third album, Be Here Now, as one of the more memorable ones. Noel had shared his thoughts about the band on a chalkboard and "they were having such a laugh." But when things did erupt, it became significant. "There were tensions in some shoots but they never started hitting each other in front of me or anything like that. I used to complain about it, actually - 'don't leave me out of those pictures where you're really arguing!'." In Paris in 1995, tensions had boiled over. "It's one of my favourites," she says of the shoot. "It reflects not just the band but the family situation, these brothers in a strop with each other." What is notable, she says, is that they were happy for photographers to take candid shots, not just set up pictures to show them "looking cool". Pictures that on the surface might sound mundane, showing "what they were really like - tensions, mucking about, sometimes yawning... This was the genius of Noel and [former Oasis press officer] Johnny Hopkins." Furmanovsky also notes the women who worked behind the scenes for Oasis - unusual at a time when the industry was even more male-dominated than it is now - and how they kept them in line. "They got on well working with women," she says. "Maggie Mouzakitis was their tour manager for ages and was so young, but she ruled. For a band one could say were a bunch of macho Manchester blokes, they had a lot of women working in senior positions." This is down to the influence of their mum, Peggy, she adds. "Absolutely crucial." Furmanovsky has been working with Noel on an upcoming book documenting her time with the band, and says she initially wanted to start with a picture of the Gallagher matriarch. "Noel said to me, 'Jill, you do know she wasn't actually in the band?'" Touring with Oasis - 'the journalist had to take a week off' Kevin Cummins was commissioned to take pictures when Oasis signed to Creation Records, and it "kind of spiralled out of control a little bit", he laughs. "I photographed them for NME, gave them their first cover. I photographed them in Man City shirts because we were all Man City fans, and City were at the time sponsored by a Japanese electronics company, Brother. It seemed a perfect fit." The early days documenting the band were "fairly riotous", he says. "They were quite young, they were obviously enjoying being in the limelight. "I remember we went on tour with them for three days for an NME 'on the road' piece, and the journalist who came with me had to take a week off afterwards. "I dipped in and out of tours occasionally - I've always done that with musicians because I cannot imagine spending more than about seven or eight days on tour with somebody, it would drive you nuts. They're so hedonistic, especially in the early days. It's very, very difficult to keep up." Cummins says the relationship between Noel and Liam was "like anybody's relationship, if you've got a younger brother - he'd get on your nerves." During the shoot for the City shirt pictures, he says, "Liam kicked a ball at Noel, Noel pushed him, Liam pushed him back. They have a bit of a pushing match and then they stop and they get on with it." Another time, following a show in Portsmouth, "as soon as we got [to the hotel] after the gig, Liam threw all the plastic furniture in the pool. Noel looked at him and said, 'where are we going to sit?' And he made him get in the pool and get all the furniture out. So there were like attempts at being rock and roll, and not quite getting it right sometimes." Cummins says he has "very affectionate" memories of working with Oasis. "I've got a lot of very sensitive looking pictures of Liam and people are really surprised when they see them," he says. "But he is a very sensitive lad... it's just he was irritating because he was younger and he wanted to make himself heard." Getting ready for the reunion All three photographers have yet to see the reunion show, but all have tickets. All say the announcement last summer came as a surprise. "There was an inkling of it, I suppose, just in the thawing of the comments between the brothers, but I still wouldn't have guessed it," says Furmanovsky, who has a book out later this year, and whose pictures feature in the programme. "It's wonderful they have pulled it off with such conviction and passion." Cummins' work can be seen in a free outdoor exhibition at Wembley Park, which fans will be able to see throughout the summer until the final gigs there in September. "I think the atmosphere at the gigs seems to have been really friendly... I like the idea that people are taking their kids and they're passing the baton on a little bit," he says. "Everyone's just having a blast and it's like the event of the summer - definitely something we need at the moment." Spencer Jones, who released his second Oasis book, Definitely Maybe - A View From Within, for the album's 30th anniversary last year - adds: "They really seem to be capturing a new generation of fans and I don't think a band has ever done that [to this extent] before. Bands from 20, 30 years ago normally just take their traditional fanbase with them." But he says his first thought when the reunion was announced was for the Gallaghers' mum, Peggy. "I think for any parent, to have two children who don't talk is pretty tough," he says. "It's that notion of reconciliation - if they can do it, anyone can do it. "The fact they're walking on stage, hands clasped together, there's a huge amount of symbolism there that transcends Oasis and music. Especially in a fractured society, that unity is inspiring. Everyone's had a bit of a rough time since COVID, battle weary with life itself. I think people generally are just gagging to have some fun." Brothers: Liam And Noel Through The Lens Of Kevin Cummins is on at Wembley Park until 30 September. Definitely Maybe - A View From Within, by Michael Spencer Jones, available through Spellbound Galleries, is out now. Oasis: Trying To Find A Way Out Of Nowhere, by Jill Furmanovsky and edited by Noel Gallagher, published by Thames & Hudson, is out from 23 September.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans 'can't wait' as Korean thriller set to rival Squid Game gets huge update
The tense Korean Netflix series may well appeal to fans of Squid Game, which recently came to an end. Netflix fans are saying 'about time' and 'finally' as the streaming giant has confirmed production has started for season 2 of one of its biggest Korean dramas. Following the conclusion of Squid Game, which is Netflix's most-watched show of all time, fans of the thriller are urged to check out another popular Korean series. The sci-fi show, which is returning for a second season after first premiering in 2022, has ranked among Netflix 's Top 10 most-watched non-English series of all time. Titled All of Us Are Dead, the thriller series has been billed as a 'catastrophic coming-of-age story in which teens at Hyosan High band together to survive a zombie outbreak'. The official Netflix synopsis reads: 'A high school becomes ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. Trapped students must fight their way out — or turn into one of the rabid infected.' After season one scored an impressive 89% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, All of Us Are Dead is making a triumphant comeback. Netflix shared the exciting production update earlier today, posting on X: 'All of Us Are Dead Season 2 is NOW IN PRODUCTION. 'Starring Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Lee Min-jae, Kim Si-eun, Roh Jae-won, and Yoon Ga-i.' Taking to the comments, fans expressed their excitement over the news after what has felt like a long wait. There were plenty of comments like 'FINALLY', 'CAN'T WAIT' and 'ABOUT TIME'. 'WHATTTT ARE YOU KIDDING ME,' one fan enthused, as another chimed in: 'Here we go… It's about time!' 'All of Us are Dead WAITINGGG,' one viewer quipped, as one more wrote: 'Love it. Season 1 was so refreshing. Great story and love the hype that some of these super zombies might bring.' Yet another person remarked: 'Zombie apocalypse incoming! Can't wait to see what happens next. Park Ji-hu and team bringing serious drama this season.' All of Us Are Dead, based on the 2009 webtoon of the same name by Joo Dong-geun, was watched over 474.26 million hours in its first 30 days on Netflix. It also received largely positive reviews from critics, with Caroline Framke of Variety writing: 'Like Squid Game before it, All of Us Are Dead makes the most out of its nightmarish central location to otherworldly, dizzying effect.' Brad Newsome of the Sydney Morning Herald expressed: 'This stunning Korean series shows that it's still possible to make compelling, imaginative, thought-provoking and hugely entertaining zombie splatter more than a decade after The Walking Dead spawned an unending genre glut.' The Daily Beast's Nick Schager wrote: 'This 12-part South Korean Netflix series about zombies invading a high school is gruesome, thrilling, and highly addictive.' However, not everyone was impressed, with IndieWire's Steve Greene writing: 'It's delivered in an oddly-paced season that fights against an intuitive structure as much as these students try to beat back chomps from throngs of kids in uniforms.'
BreakingNews.ie
7 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens to make stage debut at London's Young Vic
Rizzle Kicks singer Jordan Stephens is to make his stage debut in Entertaining Mr Sloane at London's Young Vic theatre. The 33-year-old will star as Mr Sloane alongside Auf Wiedersehen, Pet's Christopher Fairbank as Dada, Abigail's Party and EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite as Kath, and Daniel Cerqueira as Ed in the queer comedy, which will run from September 15 to November 8. Advertisement Stephens said: 'I love the Young Vic and feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity. I'm terrified and excited. Rizzle Kicks released their latest album in February (Jonathan Brady/PA) 'I couldn't have imagined my stage debut arriving in this way, with such an iconic, wicked play and under the certified guidance of Nadia Fall as well as stage veterans in Tamzin, Daniel and Chris. What an honour.' The play follows the story of Mr Sloane, who is rented a room by the lonely Kath. Her businessman brother Ed does not approve at first, however, he quickly becomes taken by the young man, as their convenient living arrangement descends into a dangerous game of desire and deceit. Director and Young Vic chief executive Nadia Fall said: 'Jordan Stephens is an artistic polymath, from writing and screen to music and his campaigning. I'm incredibly excited to be directing his stage debut. Advertisement 'He has the ear of a new generation who will be discovering (Joe) Orton for the first time through Jordan's Sloane; the thought of that is simply thrilling. 'Together with the rest of the brilliant cast, I cannot wait to channel the downright audacity of this play.' As one half of Rizzle Kicks with Harley Alexander-Sule, Stephens has had five UK top 10 singles, including one number one in Heart Skips A Beat, which featured Essex-born singer Olly Murs, and two UK top 10 albums. The duo recently performed at this year's Glastonbury Festival, and released their first studio album for more than a decade, Competition Is For Losers, in February. Advertisement
