Tim Hobden revisits his Britpop past at an exhibition dedicated to his heroes Oasis

  • Oasis: Chasing the Sun

So, after all the Top-of-the-Pops warring, the bitter/staged rivalry and two decades, Oasis were THE band of the Britpop generation.

Unless, according to pollsters YouGov, you’re a Lib Dem, then it’s Blur. Meh.

Oasis - which featured Oxford’s Andy Bell - formerly of Ride and Hurricane # 1 - for about a decade - were loved by the Loaded lads and followed with football fanatic devotion.

And a London exhibition captured why – even when they were bad – the supporters still showed up.

‘Chasing the Sun: 1993 to 1997’ at the LondonNewcastle exhibition space in Shoreditch, East London, was aimed squarely at fans of the Gallaghers.

The collection of iconic photos whisks us through the excitement of debut Definitely Maybe, the first US tours and the colossal shows which have been rarely matched by any band since.

It teetered on the brink of the era which saw punk rock enthusiasm transform into humongous arrogance of Be Here Now, with its 10 minute tracks and videos Michael Jackson may have considered OTT.

We were reminded of fresh-faced Gallaghers with decent jackets and even better tunes.

A cabinet display offered a montage of ticket stubs and lanyards preserved and presented like polished fossils.

The crowd milling around the warehouse lived and breathed the mid-nineties.

The brushed forward mops of hair are greying and there are now wives and children in tow.

But for anyone who was at Knebworth, Maine Road, or Loch Lomond, there was no better way to spend an hour or two.

* For more information about forthcoming exhibitions at the venue, go to londonewcastle.com