30 years of Wonderwall by Oasis

On 30th October 2025 Wonderwall by Oasis will celebrate its 30th anniversary of release. Here are Britpop Reunion frontman Andy Starkeys thoughts on the most iconic (And some would say most well known) track ever released by a Manchester band. This contains excerpts of unused material from a 40 minute interview with GQ Magazine. To hire a britpop tribute band contact Andy with info on your date and venue. 

30 years of Wonderwall by Oasis
30 years of Wonderwall by Oasis

30 years of Wonderwall by Oasis

When Wonderwall was first released in October 1995, it immediately felt like it was everywhere. The radio played it constantly, it was on TV, in shops—you couldn’t escape it. By the time it officially came out, I’d already heard it dozens of times. I was 19 then, right in the middle of the Britpop explosion, and it felt like the soundtrack to everyday life.

Back then, I was in an originals indie band. At that time, covers were considered taboo—totally uncool. If you were serious about being in a band, you had to write and perform your own material. Playing somebody else’s hit was almost like admitting defeat. We did once or twice sneak in Live Forever, but we’d never play Wonderwall. It was too obvious, too mainstream for our “serious” indie sensibilities.

A Wonderwall Weekend Warrior

Fast forward to today, and things couldn’t be more different. I perform Wonderwall every single weekend at weddings, festivals, and corporate events. It has become one of those songs that people not only expect but demand. If you’re in a Britpop tribute band, you simply cannot avoid playing it. It’s impossible to do a set without it, because audiences won’t let you.

What makes Oasis remarkable is that their singles weren’t just about the A-side. The B-sides were just as good, sometimes even better. The Wonderwall single included Round Our Way, The Swamp Song, and The Masterplan—tracks that many fans still consider classics. I always say Oasis’ singles were like mini-EPs. You bought every release not just for the hit song but for the hidden gems tucked alongside it. That culture of collecting—buying every format, every CD, every cassette—was something bands like Oasis, Blur, and Suede thrived on.

 

Is Wonderwall cliché or cheesy?

Some people dismiss Wonderwall as a cliché, and I understand why. It has been overplayed. You hear it on the radio, in supermarkets, buskers play it in every town square. It’s the “go-to” song to want to learn for amateur guitarists (Although it certainly isn’t an “Easy 3 chords song”. But for me, it’s beyond cliché—it’s iconic. Songs that reach that level of saturation don’t just fade away; they become cultural landmarks. In the UK, Wonderwall sits alongside tracks like The Beatles ‘Hey Jude’ or The Kinks ‘Sunny Afternoon’. It’s part of the national fabric.

Personally, I joke that Noel Gallagher pays my mortgage, because my career has been built, in part, on songs like Wonderwall. I’ve made a living performing Oasis music. That’s how deeply it resonates with audiences. And honestly, I don’t get tired of playing it. For me, music is a profession, not just a hobby. As long as people light up when they hear those opening guitar chords, I’ll happily play it.

The reaction from crowds is always the same—pure joy. It reminds me of what happened with Mr. Brightside by The Killers, which came out eight years after Wonderwall. The effect is identical. If you don’t play it, someone will shout at you until you do. Both songs are woven into British nightlife and culture in such a way that they’ve become compulsory. You can try to leave them off the setlist, but the audience will never let you.

Back to 1995

When I think back to 1995, it was such an incredible time for music. I remember walking into Woolworths and buying What’s the Story Morning Glory on cassette? I’d play it non-stop in my battered Fiat Panda as I drove around town. Alongside Oasis, it was Blur’s Parklife and The Prodigy’s Music for the Jilted Generation. That mix of Britpop, indie, and dance gave the decade its identity. To me, it felt like music was the most exciting thing in the world. Who would have thought that over three decades later I would be celebrating 30 years of Wonderwall by Oasis by doing an interview like this?

Oasis in particular were life-changing. They were one of the reasons I became a musician. Even now, decades later, I work full-time as a professional performer. That’s not something I imagined back in the nineties, when I was still dreaming of breaking through with my own material. Eventually, I moved into the tribute and cover scene, and I’ve never looked back. It provides a living, and it keeps me connected to the music I love.

 

The future of young talent still wanting to be Liam & Noel.

You’d be surprised how many young people still feel the same way about Oasis. The bands I help mentor—kids between 16 and 21—are obsessed with them. They’ll always include a couple of Oasis songs in their sets. They want to be Liam. They want to be Noel. It shows just how timeless this music is. The culture of “being in a band” is coming back too, after years of solo artists dominating the charts. Oasis, in many ways, made it cool to pick up a guitar again, and I think they’re still inspiring teenagers nearly thirty years later.

Some of my best memories as a performer are tied to Wonderwall. I’ve played it at massive festivals, where tens of thousands of people sang every word louder than we could play it. In those moments, it stops being Oasis’ song—it belongs to the crowd. I’ve also played it at weddings and made it the bride & grooms own personal anthem. It works every time. Even little kids, sometimes only five or six years old, on their dads shoulders, singing along to it word for word. That’s the legacy of Wonderwall—it has been passed down through generations.

Of course, some musicians roll their eyes at it. They call it cheesy, predictable. I don’t see it that way. For me, it’s never about my ego—it’s about the audience. If I only played what I wanted, I’d be doing deep cut Smiths or Depeche Mode tracks to three people in a pub. The power of Wonderwall is that it brings everyone together. You can play it to students at a university gig or to fifty-year-olds at a birthday, and the reaction is the same. The song just works.

 

The intro strummed chords.

The intro alone is enough. The strumming pattern, the chord progression—within seconds, everyone knows what’s coming. That’s the mark of a true classic. Like Lennon’s Imagine or McCartney’s Hey Jude, you don’t need more than a few notes before the entire room lights up.

I’ve even played with a Japanese Oasis tribute band called Otasis. Earlier this year, I performed with them in Tokyo, and it was surreal. British music being celebrated in Japan, with Japanese fans singing English 90s songs as passionately as any crowd in Manchester—it shows just how global Oasis’ impact really is.

Culturally, their influence is everywhere. Walk into almost any pub in Britain, and you’ll find a “Liam” somewhere—bucket hat, parka, sunglasses on……indoors. Oasis aren’t just a band; they’re a style, a mindset, an attitude. That hasn’t faded, even three decades later.

That’s why, for me, Wonderwall is more than just a song I play every week, week in, week out. It’s part of the reason I became a musician. It’s part of why I’m still a musician today. And it’s part of why whole new generations are picking up guitars again. Some call it cheesy. Some call it overplayed. I call it a classic that will never die.


Wonderwall was released on the 30th October 2025 by Alan McGee’s Creation Records. It was written by Noel Gallagher and produced by Owen Morris. It was shortly followed up by Don’t Look Back In Anger.

Live Forever by Oasis cover acoustic by Andrew Starkey

Andy Starkey from Britpop Reunion the UK’s best Britpop & 90’s tribute band performs Live Forever by Oasis live on his superb Epiphone EJ-200SCE jumbo acoustic guitar.  To hire Andrew or Britpop Reunion tribute band contact Andy and advise of event type, date and venue name and postcode and he’ll get back to you ASAP. 

Live Forever (Oasis) acoustic cover by Andrew Starkey
Live Forever (Oasis) acoustic cover by Andrew Starkey

Live Forever by Oasis cover acoustic by Andrew Starkey

If you watch the original video to this you will see that the band are burying alive Tony McCarroll who was the drummer at the start of Oasis’s career. Shortly after this Tony was sacked by Noel Gallagher and replaced by Alan White. 

 

 

 

Chords to Live Forever by Oasis

This is a quite simple song to play with only 6 chords and Andy has put together a tutorial video you can watch below to help learn the chords.

G  D Am7  C  Em  F

This is one of those strange songs where it’s hard to tell which is the chorus and which is the verse. Does the song start with a chorus “Maybe, I don’t really want to know…” or is there no chorus at all? You decide.

 

 

Lyrics to the Oasis song Live Forever

The lyrics to this classic Oasis song released in on the 8th August 1994  from the debut Oasis album Definitely Maybe are reasonably easy to remember as they repeat themselves. This is apart from the “Maybe I will never be…” section which is only sung once. 

 

Maybe I don’t really wanna know
How your garden grows
‘Cause I just wanna fly
Lately, did you ever feel the pain
In the morning rain
As it soaks you to the bone?

Maybe I just wanna fly
Wanna live, I don’t wanna die
Maybe I just wanna breathe
Maybe I just don’t believe
Maybe you’re the same as me
We see things they’ll never see
You and I are gonna live forever

I said maybe I don’t really wanna know
How your garden grows
‘Cause I just wanna fly
Lately, did you ever feel the pain
In the morning rain
As it soaks you to the bone?

Maybe I will never be
All the things that I wanna be
Now is not the time to cry
Now’s the time to find out why
I think you’re the same as me
We see things they’ll never see
You and I are gonna live forever

Maybe I don’t really wanna know
How your garden grows
‘Cause I just wanna fly
Lately, did you ever feel the pain
In the morning rain
As it soaks you to the bone?

Maybe I just wanna fly
Wanna live, I don’t wanna die
Maybe I just wanna breathe
Maybe I just don’t believe
Maybe you’re the same as me
We see things they’ll never see
You and I are gonna live forever

Gonna live forever
Gonna live forever
We’re gonna live forever
Gonna live forever
Gonna live forever
Gonna live forever

 

Cast No Shadow (Oasis) acoustic cover by Andy Starkey

Andy Starkey from Britpop Reunion the UK’s best Britpop & 90’s tribute band performs Cast No Shadow by Oasis on his Epiphone EJ-200SCE jumbo acoustic guitar.  To hire Andrew or Britpop Reunion tribute band contact Andy and advise of event type, date and venue name and postcode and he’ll get back to you ASAP. 

 

Cast No Shadow (Oasis) acoustic cover by Andy Starkey

Noel Gallagher wrote this song sung by Liam Gallagher about Richard Ashcroft from The Verve who had a hit with Bitter Sweet Symphony from their album Urban Hymns back in the 1990’s. 

 

Cast No Shadow (Oasis) acoustic cover by Andy Starkey
Cast No Shadow (Oasis) acoustic cover by Andy Starkey

 

The song only contains a small number of chords and is a nice accompaniment to perform live as well as Wonderwall

Chords in Cast No Shadow by Oasis are:

  • Verse: Asus4  G
  • Bridge: Em D Cadd9 G – Em D Cadd9
  • Chorus G Asus4 Cadd9 Em D – Em D Cadd9

Note: The Asus4 in this song also has your little finger on the top E string on the third fret ringing a G note.

 

Lyrics to Cast No Shadow by Oasis

Here’s a thought for every man
Who tries to understand what is in his hands (what’s in his hands)
He walks along the open road of love and life
Surviving if he can (surviving if he can) (Second time around: But only if he can)

Bound with all the weight of all the words he tried to say
Chained to all the places that he never wished to stay
Bound with all the weight of all the words he tried to say
As he faced the sun he cast no shadow

As they took his soul they stole his pride x 3
As he faced the sun he cast no shadow

 

As you will see the entire song is simply repeated from the start again with the exact same lyrics apart from Noel’s call back changes from “Surviving if he can” to “But only if he can” second time around. 

Definitely Maybe by Oasis 30th Anniversary

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Oasis iconic album Definitely Maybe with Britpop Reunion!

Welcome to Britpop Reunion, the ultimate tribute band dedicated to the iconic sounds of the Britpop era. We are thrilled to announce that we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Oasis groundbreaking debut album, Definitely Maybe released on Monday 29th August 1994. Join us on this nostalgic journey as we pay homage to one of the greatest albums in British music history. Contact band leader and bass player Andy Starkey to book Britpop Reunion for a britpop festival band  or  corporate event band  or   90s School Reunion band   or  40th birthday party band  or  50th birthday party band  or  Britpop wedding or a party or any live event. Liam Gallagher is already touring Definitely Maybe in full live in 2024 (With original rhythm guitarist Bonehead) and what with news that Liam and Noel have finally made up and Oasis have now reformed for Live 25 shows together everyone can rejoice in the band performing live again.

 

 

Definitely Maybe by Oasis 30th Anniversary
Definitely Maybe by Oasis 30th Anniversary

 

 

Definitely Maybe by Oasis 30th Anniversary

The 1990s was a defining era for British music, and at the forefront of the movement was Oasis. Definitely Maybe, released in 1994, propelled Oasis to superstardom, and its impact is still felt today. With hits like “Live Forever,” “Supersonic,” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol” the album captured the spirit of a generation and became an instant classic. Celebrating Definitely Maybe by Oasis 30th Anniversary is an amazing moment in history with it selling over 2.4 million copies.

 

 

 


 

At Britpop Reunion, we are passionate about bringing that energy back to life. Our talented musicians and dedicated performers will transport you back to the heyday of Britpop, ensuring an authentic and exhilarating experience for all Oasis fans. Whether you were there when the album first launched or discovered it later, our live performances and videos from Definitely Maybe will reignite your love for the music that defined an era.

An Unforgettable Live Performance

When you book Britpop Reunion, you can expect a high-energy, electrifying performance that will leave you breathless. We pride ourselves on delivering an authentic experience that captures the essence of Oasis live shows. From the infectious guitar riffs to the unmistakable Gallagher swagger, our band members bring their passion for the music to the stage, ensuring that every performance is a true celebration of Britpop’s golden years.

Die hard Oasis fans and even casual fans will be singing along to every word, reliving the emotions that this iconic album evoked when it was first released.

Definitely Maybe track listing

 

 


 

The Perfect Event for All Occasions

Whether you’re planning a corporate event, private party, festival, or music venue gig, Britpop Reunion is the ideal entertainment choice. Our Britpop musician Andy Starkey brings together people of all ages, uniting them through the universal love for the music of Oasis and the Britpop era. From hardcore fans to those discovering the music for the first time, our performances create an electric atmosphere that will have everyone on their feet, dancing and singing along.

 

Why Choose Britpop Reunion?

Authenticity: We meticulously recreate the sound, look, and feel of a Britpop band to deliver an immersive experience that pays homage to songs from Definitely Maybe and the Britpop movement.

 

Professionalism: Band leader Andy Starkey is committed to providing a seamless and professional experience from the moment you inquire about booking until the final chord of the performance.

 

Flexibility: We understand that every event is unique. We work closely with you to tailor our performance to your specific requirements, ensuring a memorable and customised experience.

 

 

 

 

Musicians who performed on Definitely Maybe:

  • Liam Gallagher – Vocals
  • Noel Gallagher – Lead Guitar
  • Paul Arthurs (Bonehead) – Rhythm Guitar
  • Paul McGuigan (Guigsy) – Bass Guitar
  • Tony McCarroll – Drums

 

Unforgettable Memories: Britpop Reunion guarantees an unforgettable night of live music that will have your guests talking about the event long after it’s over. Our goal is to create lasting memories that you and your attendees will cherish.

 

The Oasis debut album released 29th August 1994 was produced by:
  • Owen Morris
  • Mark Coyle
  • David Batchelor

It was released on Creation Records which was headed up by Alan McGee.

Book Britpop Reunion Today!

Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe with Britpop Reunion. Relive the glory days of Britpop, dance to the anthems of Oasis, and experience the magic of a bygone era. Contact Andy today to secure your booking and guarantee a night of unforgettable music and memories. Let’s come together and pay homage to the album that changed the sound of British music forever.

Married With Children Oasis Cover Version Video Acoustic Britpop Tribute Band

To celebrate the anniversary of ‘Definitely Maybe’ Britpop musician Andy Starkey decided to take time out of his holiday to live stream this Married With Children Oasis cover version.  Andy hadn’t played this song for over 20 years and it is actually one of the first Oasis set of chords he ever mastered as a teenager. Married With Children is the final song from the Oasis debut album ‘Definitely Maybe‘ which was released August 1994 on Alan McGee’s ‘Creation Records’. Britpop Reunion perform many songs by Oasis from their nineties repertoire including Roll With It, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Wonderwall, Cigarettes & Alcohol and more.  To book a Britpop tribute band for a 90’s party contact Andy for more information on price and availability to hire.

Married With Children Oasis Cover Version Video

The lyrics to Married With Children were somewhat inspired by Louise Jones, who was Noel Gallagher’s girlfriend at the time . She was constantly being kept awake by the Oasis songwriter while he was writing songs and practicing his guitar. Louise would get annoyed telling Noel, “You’re music’s shite.” Gallagher said that he had to keep those lines and wrote them into this song. Those must have been fun times in their household in the nineteen nineties eh.

The song was also inspired by the USA sitcom “Married… with Children”. Noel Gallagher told nineties music paper Melody Maker “I looked at them two in the show (Al Bundy & Peggy Bundy), and looked at us two, and I thought, that’s us, that is!” (i.e. he, Noel Gallagher and his girlfriend Louise Jones). Furthermore he said “It’s another song that anybody could relate to, because if you live with a girlfriend or just a flatmate, there are always petty things that you hate about them. And this song’s just about pettiness”. Yeah, isn’t that right eh.

Married With Children Oasis Cover Version Video Acoustic Britpop Tribute Band
Married With Children Oasis Cover Version Video Acoustic Britpop Tribute Band

Further musings about the Oasis song Married With Children.

This original of this very acoustic sounding song is actually ever so slightly out of tune from regular 440Hz tuning. This suggests it was probably slowed down slightly after recording. Married With Children was an album only track and was never released as a single. Andy’s Married With Children Oasis cover version stays close to the original but has the guitar solo section removed as he preformed it solo. It would have sounded empty without another guitar strumming chords under a solo otherwise.

Noel Gallagher is known for borrowing/plagiarising other artists songs.  If you listen to Lithium by Nirvana (From their 1991 sophomore album ‘Nevermind’) you’ll notice it has very similar chords played with a similar rhythm.

The final song was supposedly recorded in about half an hour on a broken Four-Track multitrack recorder in producer/engineer Mark Coyle’s bedroom.
The very dry sounding guitar part was played by Noel on a Gretsch ‘Country Gent’ that used to be owned by John Squire from The Stone Roses that was round at Owen Morris’s house. The final products is a great link between the demo stages with Mark Coyle and the finished album track.

Alan McGee from Creation records was quoted as saying “It works and when it works its charming and when it’s charming it goes on the record”. Which is a great ethos.

During the recording of Married With Children the following musicians and producers were involved with Oasis (Although not all featured on this song).

  • Owen Morris & Mark Coyle – Producers
  • Liam Gallagher – Lead Vocals
  • Noel Gallagher – Lead Guitarist & backing vocals
  • Paul Arthurs (aka Bonehead) – Rhythm guitar
  • Paul McGuigan (aka Guigsy) – Bass guitar
  • Tony McCarrol – Drummer

Married With Children Lyrics

There’s no need for you to say you’re sorry
Goodbye I’m going home
I don’t care no more so don’t you worry
Goodbye I’m going home

I hate the way that even though you
Know you’re wrong you say you’re right
I hate the books you read and all your friends
Your music’s shite it keeps me up all night, up all night

There’s no need for you to say you’re sorry
Goodbye I’m going home
I don’t care no more so don’t you worry
Goodbye I’m going home

I hate the way that you are so sarcastic
And you’re not very bright
You think that everything you’ve done’s fantastic
Your music’s shite it keeps me up all night, up all night

And it will be nice to be alone for a week or two
But I know then I will be right, right back here with you, with you….

There’s no need for you to say you’re sorry
Goodbye I’m going home
I don’t care no more so don’t you worry
Goodbye I’m going home


Chords to Married With Children by Oasis

Slightly above a beginners level of playing, yet still pretty simple enough. You can play along to Andy’s Married With Children Oasis Cover Version Video by following the following guitar chords.

E G# C#m A C B7 E
A A7 E – F# A G

Earlier recordings of Married With Children.

A demo version of Married With Children was released on the Deluxe Edition version of the Oasis debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’. A slightly less refined version yet it doesn’t actually differ very much from the final album release. But it does feature a very loud shaker throughout and then a loud tambourine during the solo. Also it has slightly clearer lyrics sung by Liam. It clocks in at one second shorter than the final album release being three minutes and sixteen seconds.

If you are looking to hire an Oasis wedding band , or 90’s tribute band then contact band leader Andy Starkey at Britpop Reunion for a quote. 

Oasis Wedding Band

Performing lots of tunes from Manchester favourites written by Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher Britpop Reunion can be your Oasis Wedding Band. Hire a 90’s professional tribute band ‘Britpop Reunion’ who perform Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Roll With It, Cigarettes & Alcohol and more. Some might say Oasis songs live forever, d’you know what I mean? Contact band leader “The Chief” Andy Starkey to check on price and availability and book an Oasis tribute wedding band for your reception party.

Oasis Wedding Band
Oasis Wedding Band

Hire an Oasis Wedding Band

Do you REALLY want to book an actual full on proper Oasis tribute band for your wedding reception though? One that only plays songs by Creation Records label saviours Oasis? One were the guy playing Liam is being all typical Liam Gallagher sneery, glowering at your guests all night, not really sure how to handle or talk to a wedding reception type party? Bonehead, Guigsy & Tony McCarroll just kind of standing around not doing much? That kind of thing is great at a festival sure, but at your wedding? Really? It’s supposed to be a happy day right? Thinking it though it’s probably not going to be all that suitable or fun for most of your guests is it. No, exactly, so that’s where ‘Britpop Reunion‘ come in.

 

 

 

OK, so what you DO need is ‘Britpop Reunion’. Britpop singer Andrew Starkey and his Brit pop band will play you all the biggest most well known hits by Oasis from Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory. All your guests will know every word of every Oasis song as they will be their highest charting hits. Now thats what I call an Oasis cover band. In addition we’ll combine Oasis songs with the best classic indie 90’s songs ever by artists like Blur, Ocean Colour Scene, Reef, Primal Scream, Supergrass, The La’s, The Cure and more. How about live music from more Manchester bands like Stone Roses and James too? Everyone’s going to love it…..So read on.

What other songs we can perform as your Oasis Wedding Band.

When you hire an Oasis wedding band we can also play chart pop music that your other types of guests will appreciate hearing too. Songs by artists like Amy Winehouse, Florence + The Machine, Stereophonics, Van Morrison, Arctic Monkeys, Chuck Berry, Kaiser Chiefs and more. All of your guests will be up all night long dancing along to our live performances at your wedding reception. 

What areas Britpop Reunion perform in as an Oasis tribute wedding band.

Our 90’s wedding band perform all over the UK and beyond. It doesn’t matter what part of the country you live in, we’ll come to you no problem. As we’re based in The Midlands it’s very easy for us to head up North, South, East or West. We even play abroad in mainland Europe and various European islands too. France, Spain, Portugal, Germany etc is fine for us to travel to as well. 

What we’ll bring along and provide you with at your Oasis Wedding.

90’s cover band ‘Britpop Reunion’ are a fully self contained band. That means we’ll bring everything needed to your Oasis themed wedding. PA speakers, mixing desk, all the band backline (Drums, amps, pedalboard, guitars etc) plus all stands and cabling. Also we’ll provide you with iPad DJ services from the moment we’re set up until midnight at no extra cost. If you want to keep the party going then you can hire out our extended DJ services past midnight for an extra cost too. We’ll keep the party going for you all night long, you just keep on drinking and dancing. If you’re having a huge & massive Oasis wedding over over approx 150 guests then look over our What You Get section to see whats required. We’ll tailor the night to your exact requirements with zero downtime. Let’s all party together like its 1996 all over again shall we? It’s now time to book an Oasis tribute band or an Oasis cover band as you might call it.

Oasis Tribute Band
Oasis Tribute Band

Don’t delay, get in contact today.

There’s only one ‘Britpop Reunion’ professional 90’s wedding band and there’s only one date for your wedding. The longer you leave getting in touch with us, the less chance there will be of us being available still. Therefore contact Andrew Starkey straight away to check on our availability and price as your Oasis wedding band. We’re a very busy professional band performing out and about at private functions. You can book a 90’s festival band, hire a 90’s party band. Also book a 90’s wedding band, hire a 90’s corporate band.