#tonymccarroll

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