#johnrobb

18/09/25

This is one book I've been waiting to read for some time, and of the many Oasis books I've read over the years, this one most certainly tops the lot. As a long time fan of the legendary influential ground-breaking Manchester musical group fronted by iconic brothers Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher, the suspense to own a copy of 'Live Forever: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Oasis' was more than I could ever imagine. Also being a huge fan of highly respected author of the book John Robb made for an epic combination to say the least. The story starts from the very beginning like most books do. How the band first became acquainted with Liam joining Bonehead, Guigsy, and Tony McCarroll's band The Rain later to become Oasis. That was the core to begin. Noel being present at a show at Manchester's toilet venue The Broadwalk where they even rehearsed in a back room. Noel later joining the clan and as John puts it; forming one of the greatest bands in the world, not only in Manchester, but the entire planet. From those early sessions featuring songs such as 'Take Me' to morphing into one of the greatest rock phenomenon's the United Kingdom had seen since the 1960's. No one expected them and they were more than ready to take on the globe with their attitude, ambition, sheer chaotic behaviour, and bags full of stomping tunes echoing influence of The Beatles, The Stones, T-Rex, Bowie, Who, Pistols. Roses, you name it. John goes into detail about that night at King Tuts where they land their 6 album deal with Alan McGee of Creation Records. That was it after that night, everything from there on was the climb and climb high they did, more than anyone. One key moment in the book is the famous boat arrest on the way to Holland. Loads of West Ham FC fans start kicking off and Liam flies in there like a raging banshee so the rest follow. Noel already there ahead of the show receives the news. Everyone's been arrested and then when McGee finds out he couldn't be happier "Fuckin' brilliant' in his strong jock accent well mimicked by Noel every time he tells it. The argument between Liam and Noel over the incident after they all get back to Manchester even made it on a 7" released by Fierce Panda Records as John recalls. Then onto the highly stressful set backs regarding the recording of what would be one of the greatest debut albums of all time 'Definitely Maybe'. On to the Monnow Valley in Wales. It's not coming together. The sound is weak and tinny. Not how anyone would imagine it to sound after a whole heap of thunderous live performances. That magic was just not there coming through the mixing desk for some reason. Maybe the inexperience due to not being familiar with having the pressure to put out their first full record as John explains it. After a few heated discussions between Noel and McGee, it's decided to try again at Sawmills in Cornwall, but with Mark Coyle their live sound engineer on board. The result is titanic though needed the right man to mix it enters Owen Morris. The album is ready to hit the shops and the group are fully confident people are gonna eat it right up. Following a summer of major festival slots Christmas arrives with a non album single titled 'Whatever'. Enter 1995 with Noel's next big plan album number 2. During the sessions Tony is ultimately sacked from the band being quickly replaced by the brother of Paul Weller's drummer cockney sticks man Alan White. Funny enough John Robb is actually present during the sessions as he bumps into Liam down the pub near to Rockfield Studios where what would become (What's The Story) Morning Glory ? the follow up Oasis record and their gateway to the world stage would be created. John goes back to the studio after an invite from Liam and the lads out of the group Cable accompany them. This leads to Noel's fury that Liam has brought people back and one of the worst fights of the earlier days of the band ensued. John tells it well so go out and buy this amazing book about one of the greatest musical forces to grace the known universe. You would be a fool not to.

5/5 STARS *****

By Gavin Tate

18/09/25

Seeing as though Manchester's most known and well respected music journalist John Robb is the reason and inspiration for why I started writing about music, I suppose it's only fair that I write an appreciation post about him on my music blog no? I first caught wind of John when I was getting into The Stone Roses when I was 12 or 13. My older sister Joanne had given me a copy of The Complete Stone Roses CD not long after it had just been released, maybe a year later if I remember rightly. My first impression was these guys were definitely the inspiration behind Oasis whom I'd gotten into first. Those raw opening tracks 'So Young' and 'Tell Me' displaying the earliest formation of the group and then onto the songs of the classic 4 piece line up. The only book I'd read before discovering John's influential 'The Stone Roses and the Resurrection of British Pop' book around the time of its release was a children's book at School titled Tim and Tobias - Magic In The Wind (Not very cool). However John's book on The Stone Roses was beyond cool and immediately transformed my outlook. The way I dressed, the way I spoke, and the way I functioned in daily life. Not only did that book give me inspiration, but also a purpose. Listening to the music of the Roses all the time was my identity growing up in my early teens and just before. I learned to sing by singing along to Ian Brown's voice on those iconic Roses hits, also another example would be the great Liam Gallagher' whom often quoted Ian as being his Elvis and the inspiration behind him wanting to start a band and going the full length. What I loved most about John's book on the Manc Four was his passion and love for the group; there's nothing more exhilarating than reading the love someone expresses for a band for me. I met John this year for the first time and we bounced off each other about music and similar groups of interest. He even said it's proper nerdy music but nothing beats it. He's bloody right. I think I'd be a mess without music and literally just this second had an awful vision of being a heap in a dark hallway sounded by needles. I'm not saying people who are like that are something that should be frowned upon. Never judge! John Robb also lends his talents to legendary punk band The Membranes as well as Goldblade. I've been lucky enough to watch both over the years during my time living in Brighton, but never got the chance to meet John until his trip to Jersey with Tony McCarroll (Ex-Oasis) for the epic Q&A event hosted by Island Music as I was always on the move when I was at his previous concerts. John is a true lover of great music. His taste varies from rock'n'roll right through to punk, post punk, goth, synthwave, ska, reggae, indie, and avant garde. Not many write about music with such contemporary style giving the reader a true insight of what things were really like. That makes for a real true talent and one he most certainly delivers on without a doubt every time. I also loved his book on The Charlatans 'We Are Rock: Lessons In Pop Survival', which speaks for itself. The Charlatans are one of the longest running musical forces from their scene. I don't think they ever had many breaks between each album. They didn't record half as many albums as The Fall, but they may surpass them eventually as they still have quite a lot of time on their hands, who knows? John's book 'The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth' blew me away in the same way Simon Reynolds 'Rip It Up And Start Again' did. I generally related to so much of what he said and loved so many of the groups he mentioned and discovered a few as result of it. Just stuff you don't expect anyone else to know about. There's so much out there if you dig deep enough and make your own journey with music not just following the masses and become a sheep in the wind. I think more than anything that's the inspiration I get from John Robb. He gives that impression of there's some really great stuff out there if you want it, if not that's up to you. Pure freedom of choice! Kudo's to the man. a real revelation.

LONG LIVE JOHN ROBB.

By Gavin Tate

18/09/25

Upon hearing the news that Tony McCarroll (Ex-Oasis) founder drummer will be coming over to my home island for a spoken word deep delve into the early history, and rise of one of the biggest British iconic rock bands of the 90's, sat alongside none other than musical marvel, and highly respected music journo John Robb (Membranes/Goldblade/LouderThanWar) for a Q&A promoted by Jersey music shop champions Island Music, it was a very split second decision on whether I'd be attending or not. As myself and my fiancée enter the room of The Drift (Royal Yacht Hotel), the stage set up is immense. Like an Oasis Museum with logo lampshades and Noel G replica guitars galore. First up is a brief chat with John and Tony's manager Kyle and the one thing that really struck my mind is it's actually great hearing real mancunian's chat about music cause' the banter and passion would be somewhat intriguing even if they were talking about pie and mash. They go into Tony's time in those first 3 years of the group on their way up to landing their spontaneous and totally by chance record deal with Alan McGee at King Tuts in Glasgow to it completely blowing up, also the departure of Tony and the entrance and take over of Alan White. John doesn't hold back on his thoughts, but with the upmost respect for Tony. You can tell these guys are all pals so there would be no need to have a pop or knock anyone. McCarroll was actually an amazing drummer, probably still is, but he got Pete Best'd which is something he has always admitted has never left him and always wonders what it may have been like had things not turned out the way they did. It's like how Mani (Stone Roses) say's in the Definitely Maybe DVD. He's Tony McCarroll founder of Oasis and not many people can say that. He couldn't have put it any better. There's a few questions and then a break before Tony and John Robb take to the stage together. The thing I've really enjoyed about this night so far is that it doesn't seem like it's been rehearsed. They're speaking like they would in a boozer, or a coffee shop, or if they'd bumped into each other in the garden centre. Speaking about the old times. Hearing the stories Tony has from those early American tours was what I was waiting for since this event had been announced some months before and I'm not disappointed one bit. The thing that I loved hearing most was about the disastrous Whiskey A Go Go show where Noel walked off the tour and flew back to San Francisco and ultimately wrote one of his greatest songs 'Talk Tonight'. I loved Tony's attitude towards it saying he was slightly shitting it thinking that that was the band over, but making the best of the time they still had out there. He say's with a bit of a laugh "How could you not enjoy sitting up on a hotel terrace in Los Angeles with your mates getting off your nut? those were the best days even aside of all the chaos." John presses on about the early rehearsals and Tony say's "Look I think I was the only one that had a full time job at that point. I would do a 10 hours day graft and then rehearse with them pretty much falling asleep on my kit, that's after having to get everything down there and it would be just me carrying everything". I sort of felt bad for him as he said half the time Liam never had a job and was always grilling him for almost falling asleep at rehearsals, but it still totally cracked me up. The one thing that I've found very humbling is Tony's attitude toward the band today where he tells John that he whole heartedly wishes them the very best for their comeback tour this year. He means it otherwise why would he say it? He's never held back in the past about what he thinks. After meeting him and chatting to him after the show he comes across a really nice chap and like Mani said he's Tony McCarroll founder of Oasis who drummed on one of the greatest debut albums of all time. This has honestly been one of the best nights out I've had in Jersey in a very long time. Hat's off to Paul Sharkey of Island Music and hat's off to Tony, Kyle, and John. Manchester in the area!

By Gavin Tate

for Gavin Tate's Music Journal