It was an era soaked in lager, attitude, and guitar music. Out of this storm of noise and bravado rose the kings of Britpop: Oasis.
The 90s was a decade unlike any other for British music, where the nation’s youth reclaimed its voice and identity through a sound that was unapologetically loud, proud, and distinctly British.
For many, it wasn’t just about the music, but the clothes they wore, the way they carried themselves, and the attitude they exuded.
Britpop wasn’t just a movement—it was a lifestyle.
As we look back, we can’t help but marvel at how Oasis managed to encapsulate the spirit of a generation in a way few bands before or after have done. Their rise was meteoric, fuelled by a potent mix of working-class grit, catchy anthems, and sibling rivalry that played out like a soap opera in the tabloids.
And yet, despite their brashness and bravado, they were every bit the people’s band. They embodied the post-Thatcher, pre-New Labour generation: disillusioned with the past but brimming with hope for the future.
This is the story of Oasis, the band that put Britain back on the musical map, and who have just made a triumphant return with the news of their 2025 tour.
But as we tell this ongoing story, we’d be remiss not to mention the role that style played in shaping the Britpop movement. Because for those in the know, looking good was as important as sounding good, and here at Mazey’s we’ve been keen followers of the famous styles of the band members, and their millions of fans.
Manchester’s Finest – The Early Days of Oasis
The story of Oasis begins in Manchester’s grey, rain-soaked streets.Before Oasis, the Madchester scene had already left its mark, with bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays dominating the late 80s. But by the early 90s, the scene was fading, and something new was needed to fill the void.
Enter Liam and Noel Gallagher, two brothers from Burnage with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.
Their story is now the stuff of legend—working-class lads with a taste for loud guitars, bigger egos, and an almost messianic belief in their destiny.
Liam, with his Lennon-esque sneer and cocksure swagger, was the quintessential frontman. Noel, the elder, quieter but equally as confident, was the brains behind the operation, crafting songs that would become anthems for a generation.
But in the early days, Oasis wasn’t yet the force they’d become. They were just another band playing small gigs, trying to make a name for themselves.
Yet, there was something about them, something undeniable. A rawness, a belief that transcended their circumstances. Their early gigs, often chaotic and fuelled by Liam’s unpredictable behaviour, became the stuff of local legend.
Word spread, and soon they caught the attention of Alan McGee, head of Creation Records, who famously signed them after seeing them play at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow.
This period, when Oasis was still on the cusp of greatness, is where the seeds of the Britpop explosion were sown. And it wasn’t just about the music.
The 90s was a time of revival in British fashion, too, and Oasis was at the heart of it. Drawing from the Mod culture of the 60s, the band embraced a look that was sharp, stylish, and quintessentially British.
Polo shirts, Parkas, and Desert Boots became the uniform of the Oasis fan, and this look is still loved across the world today.
Britpop’s Heavyweights – The Blur vs Oasis Rivalry
As Oasis began their ascent, the music scene in Britain was changing. Grunge had dominated the early 90s, with American bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam holding sway. But there was a growing appetite for something closer to home, something that spoke to British youth in a way that Kurt Cobain’s angst could not.
Britpop was born out of this need—a celebration of British culture, music, and style that rejected American influence in favour of something uniquely British.
At the forefront of this movement were two bands: Oasis and Blur. While Oasis represented the working-class, no-nonsense approach, Blur was the art-school darling, offering a more intellectual take on British life.
The rivalry between the two bands came to a head in 1995, in what the media dubbed “The Battle of Britpop.” It was North vs South, working-class vs middle-class, raw passion vs polished cool.
Oasis released "Roll with It" while Blur countered with "Country House," and the charts became the battleground.
For a brief moment, the entire country seemed divided along these lines. Blur ultimately won the chart battle, but in the long run, it was Oasis who won the war.
Their debut album, Definitely Maybe, had already established them as a force to be reckoned with, and their follow-up, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, would solidify their place in British music history.
While Blur’s appeal was more niche, Oasis’s songs spoke to the masses. Their lyrics, filled with bravado, dreams, and a touch of melancholy, resonated with a generation of Brits who had grown up in a country still reeling from the economic struggles of the 80s.
And alongside the music came the fashion. The Mod revival that Oasis spearheaded wasn’t just about looking good; it was about reclaiming British identity. At a time when globalisation was beginning to blur cultural lines, Oasis fans wore their favourite polos and other mod clothing classics with pride, as if to say, “This is who we are.”
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory – Oasis Reaches Icon Status
By the time (What’s the Story) Morning Glory was released in 1995, Oasis was unstoppable. The album spawned hit after hit—"Wonderwall," "Don’t Look Back in Anger," "Champagne Supernova"—songs that would become anthems for a generation.
These weren’t just songs; they were statements of intent. Oasis wasn’t here to be part of the Britpop movement—they were here to dominate it.
Morning Glory marked a turning point not just for Oasis but for British music as a whole. Suddenly, Britpop wasn’t just a local phenomenon; it was global.
Oasis’s swagger and self-belief, combined with Noel’s knack for writing colossal choruses, catapulted them to international stardom. The album sold millions of copies, and Oasis found themselves headlining massive festivals and selling out arenas, and an army of Harrington jacket clad fans followed them every step of the way.
The Peak and Beyond – Oasis’s Legacy
Oasis’s peak came in 1996, with their two historic shows at Knebworth. Over two nights, the band played to more than 250,000 people—an astonishing number that cemented their status as the biggest band in the world. Knebworth wasn’t just a concert; it was a cultural moment.
People travelled from all over the country to be part of it, and for many, it felt like the culmination of everything Oasis had stood for. They were the voice of a generation, and for those two nights, that voice rang out loud and clear.
But as with all great bands, the peak was followed by a fall. The constant touring, the relentless media scrutiny, and the ever-present tension between Liam and Noel began to take their toll.
Albums like Be Here Now didn’t quite capture the magic of their earlier work, and by the early 2000s, the Britpop movement itself was starting to fade.
New bands and new sounds were emerging, and while Oasis remained popular, they were no longer the cultural force they had once been.
Yet, despite this, Oasis’s legacy remains intact. Their music continues to resonate with new generations of fans, and their influence on British music is undeniable, just look at the clamour to get a ticket for their reunion tour, which bought every ticket service that chose to sell them crashing down momentarily.
Their impact on fashion and culture is still felt today. The Mod look that they championed—sharp, clean, and undeniably British—has never gone out of style, and Mazey’s, remains a go-to for those who want to embrace that timeless look, from Sta-Press Trousers to Mod Footwear, we are the perfect location to get your Oasis Reunion tour outfit ready.
The Return of Oasis
Oasis’s rise to the top wasn’t just about the music. It was about attitude, identity, and a rejection of anything that felt foreign.
In a world dominated by American sounds, Oasis brought British pride back to the forefront, reminding us all that the UK had its own voice, loud and clear.
For a generation of fans, Oasis wasn’t just a band—they were a way of life. And for those who followed them, looking sharp was as important as sounding good.
And here at Mazey’s, we couldn’t agree more.