On Friday July 4, Oasis will play their first gig in 16 years with one of two nights at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Joining Oasis in their recently confirmed lineup of Liam and Noel Gallagher, Bonehead, Gem Archer, Andy Bell, and new drummer Joey Waronker, will be support from former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft and Liverpool Britpop veterans Cast.
Speaking in last month’s MOJO, Cast frontman John Power recalled getting the call to join Oasis on tour, how he first met Noel and a teenage Liam Gallagher, and whether he thinks there might be another Oasis album on the horizon…
John Power: “I’d met Noel when he was working with the Inspiral Carpets and they opened for [Power’s first band] The La’s. When I left The La’s, I went to see them play in Manchester, kind of to make peace with it all, really. I was having a smoke and a bit of a moment, and this little lad came bouncing over and asked us to give him a toke. I said, ‘I’m just having a bit of a moment mate, do you mind?’ About three years later when Oasis were kicking off with Supersonic, I went to see them and Liam came straight over to me and was like: ‘You told me to fuck off!’ It was him! He must have been about 16 back then.
“We had a laugh about it, then I went to see Noel and played him the demos for Cast that I’d recorded that day, and he loved them. One of them was [1995 Cast track] Sandstorm. He asked us if we’d open for them. It was opening for Oasis at The Venue in New Cross when Cast got singed by Polydor. From Irving Beach, Loch Lomond, Knebworth to this summer, we’ve been there.
“Oasis kicked the doors open. They just connected. You’ll see it this summer and I can remember it all through the years. Noel’s songwriting and Liam’s vocals connected with people on an emotional level and with the spirit of the times. I was aware of that from the minute I saw them. They excited me. Oasis’ energy was on a different level.
“Noel is an amazing songwriter. I was lucky enough to be in a band with Lee [Mavers, La’s frontman and principal songwriter] who I would say is the greatest songwriter of our generation and Noel has got that. You just know when someone’s got it.
“Coming from The La’s and that background, I felt that Live Forever was a nigh on perfect song. But there’s so many of Noel’s songs. Did Lee think that too? What Lee says and what Lee thinks can be different things. He can be very witty, and he can be as cutting as hell – even about his own band, remember! - but Lee knows a great song when he hears one.
“Those songs connect to people, whatever their walk of life. I saw it last year when we supported Liam for the Definitely Maybe shows. It’s still happening. You’ve now got a younger generation looking back at the ‘90s the way we used to look back at the ‘60s, they’re looking at the 90s as this legendary epoch of guitar music. Its connecting with them, and it’s a beautiful thing.
“When they announced the Oasis shows there was a lot of talk about who was going to support. We’d come off the back of the Liam shows and there was a lot of gossip flying around, but I’d made my peace with it. As they say, don’t put your life in the hands of a rock and roll band. I wasn’t expecting it, but when we got the call to open for them it was amazing. Liam said, ‘We want this tour to open with some rock and roll… [sings opening chords to Sandstorm]’ It’s beautiful to be part of it.
“Will they make another album? Let Oasis do the tour and after that, who knows what the future might hold. When things happen, they happen. I’m quoting Oasis again, but you just gotta roll with it.”
As told to Chris Catchpole
This article originally appeared in MOJO 380.