Oh Brother

Britpop.

It all began in 1992 with a Seect Magazone cover featuring Bret Anderson of Suede, with feature also of St Etienne, Denim, Pulp, The Auteurs. Bret was backdropped by the Union Flag and the message was "Yanks go home", a clear reaction against Grunge.

It was April 1993, and later that year a bunch of lads from Manchester released their debut single, Supersonic, on Creation, with a swagger and a lot of attitude. Blur had released their first single and album earlier that decade, and seemed to be in decline too, but were waiting for the ninth wave that was Britpop.

British music had always been popular, but through the 80s, most what were called "indie" bands remained on the fringe, being played by John Peel and touring, never quite making it. The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, Depeche Mode had hits, most didn't.

I, perhaps, had an unusual view of the Britpop phenomenon in that I was an outsider, posted to RAF Germany in July 1993, and seeing the scene explode from across the North Sea and through the conservative playlist of BFBS Radio.

I can remember discussing the merits of Oasis with someone at a beercall regarding that debut single, and the attitude (that again) they projected.

Records and CDs from the U took ages to reach us, in the case of Pulp, His n Hers available when Common People was high in the charts and Different Class wasn't.

Weeks would come and go, and some new band would have a huge hit: Supergrass, THe Bluetones, Ocean Colour Scene, Sleeper. Whereas bands of just a couple of years before like World of Twist and The Real People were still unknowns, even if the latter were Noel's favourite band.

The hype reached its peak when Oasis and Blue released singles the same day, it even got on the main daily TV news. Oddly, both singles were either bands worse hits of the period. Roll With It and Country House. Country House got to number 1, but Oasis sold huge amounts of records.

The bubble burst in 1997 with Oasis's thrd album, Be Hear Now was released, as wasn't very good. Even weaker follow up seeped out: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants for expample. I bought that, played it once and it sat on the shelves since the last century.

Oasis spit backstage at a gid in 2009, and only this week announced their reunion for next summer.

Nostalgia sells. Sells big. Bands that struggled to sell out the UEA can now sell out multiple nights at big venues in London, Manchester, Newcastle and so on. Playing live is where the money is now, records, CDs of downloads just let people know you're still there, and ready for the next tour.

I am of the belief that until the first gig happens and Noel and Liam walk out on stage, that Liam has more than enough lip to say something to upset his brother. Both have been making a good living, but Oasis can add a nought or two on any night's paycheck, so why not?

150 lads in a field screaming along, crying along to Wonderwall and Cigarettes and Alcohol.

The future is the past, or the past is the future.