Noel Gallagher was told by Kasabian that Oasis’ third album ‘Be Here Now’ inspired them to form a band.
The 1997 LP has just been re-released on Big Brother Recordings as part of the band’s ‘Chasing The Sun’ series and Noel revisited the record for to remix ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ – the first single from the record which was number one in several countries – and sort through the demos which come with the album.
‘Be Here Now; splits opinion amongst Oasis fans and Noel has often described it as his least favorite album with the group.
However, Kasabian stars Tom Meighan and Sergio Pizzorno told their friend Noel that if it weren’t for that LP they wouldn’t have created their group, and shock rocker Marilyn Manson also told the guitarist it is one of his favorite LPs of all-time which has made him re-think his opinion of the songs.
In an interview with Keith Cameron, Noel said: "Kasabian, they f***ing die for this album. That’s what made them be in a group. So who’s to say (what it is)?
"I sat up with Marilyn Manson one night and he went on about that record for longer than the record lasts, and that’s 72 minutes! He was saying it’s such a big influence on him."
Noel’s intention was to remix all 12 tracks that feature on ‘Be Here Now’ but he stopped after completing ‘NG’s 2016 Rethink’ of ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ because it took so long.
The 49-year-old songwriter instead believes the album deserves to be listened to in its original format even though it was recorded by him, his brother Liam Gallagher and the rest of the band while drunk and high on drugs.
He said: "Coyley and Phil, my pals from Manchester, summed this album up best. They’ve always said, ‘It was just meant to be played once, on that day, high as a kite, preferably in the park, p***ed – then never listened to again. Why didn’t I think of that?!
"The final mix of the album is shocking. All the things you shouldn’t do when you’re mixing a record, we were doing tenfold … But they were crazy times. A lot of drinking, and a lot of not thinking straight. Our management’s philosophy is to keep the band working at all costs, because if they stop working it’ll fall apart. So it was exciting but exhausting as well. You’re the biggest band in the world, making this much anticipated new record, it was the birth of celebrity culture and what became known as Britpop had crossed over. I was constantly having a microphone shoved into my face. No way to make a record."
The reissue of ‘Be Here Now’ contains unheard song ‘If We Shadows’, a demo version of ‘Trip Inside (Be Here Now)’ which became ‘Be Here Now’ on the final tracklisting and a disc of demo versions of the songs recorded on the Caribbean island of Mustique.
It also has all the B-sides from the album’s singles, including highlights such as ‘Stay Young’, ‘Angel Child’ and ‘Going Nowhere’.
‘Be Here Now – Chasing The Sun Edition’ comes in the following formats: Standard CD and digital download, Special Edition 3 x CD and deluxe digital download, 12in vinyl LP with download code for two volumes of bonus content and the limited edition Super Deluxe Box Set – which includes LP, Special Edition 3 x CD, hardback coffee table book with new sleeve notes, exclusive vinyl plus a 12in white label sampler of the ‘Mustique demos’ and Oasis merchandise.
Oasis’ Be Here Now created Kasabian
