The Rain
Encyclopedia
The Rain were the Manchester band that eventually evolved into Oasis
. The band formed in Manchester
, England
in 1991, getting their name from The Beatles
' B-side
, "Rain
". Founding members were Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs
(guitar), Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan
(bass), Chris Hutton (vocals), and a drum machine (soon replaced by drummer Tony McCarroll
). Hutton was replaced as vocalist by Liam Gallagher
, who became the band's songwriter, in partnership with Bonehead. In this partnership, they wrote several songs including "Take me" and "Life in vain". The band rehearsed only one day a week and did not perform at shows often.
Shortly after Liam joined, the band was renamed Oasis, at his suggestion. Various explanations of the origins of the name have been offered, however, it came about when Liam’s older brother, Noel Gallagher
, roadied for the Inspiral Carpets
at a venue in Swindon
called the Oasis Leisure Centre. Liam reportedly liked the name's "resonance of imagery."
One day in August 1991, Noel, having recently returned from the Inspiral Carpets
' tour of the U.S., went to watch his brother's band perform at the Manchester Boardwalk, supporting a band called Sweet Jesus. Noel offered to join, reportedly on condition that he would be the lead guitarist and they would perform only his songs.
), and having somewhat more of a future than what is suggested by the other members' descriptions. This is partially evidenced by the fact that after less than a year together, the band were headlining Manchester's popular venue The Boardwalk. Their sound was allegedly close to that of Joy Division
and other contemporary Mancunian bands. The name is also alleged to have been taken not from a Beatles B-side, but rather suggested by Hutton one afternoon whilst observing Manchester's characteristic drizzle.
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
. The band formed in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1991, getting their name from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, "Rain
Rain (The Beatles song)
"Rain" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released in June 1966 as the B-side of the "Paperback Writer" single...
". Founding members were Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs
Paul Arthurs
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs is an English musician and one of the founding members of the English rock band Oasis, best known as their rhythm guitar player from 1991-1999.-Early life:...
(guitar), Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan
Paul McGuigan (musician)
Paul McGuigan , better known by his nickname, Guigsy , is an English musician and one of the four founding members of the English rock band Oasis...
(bass), Chris Hutton (vocals), and a drum machine (soon replaced by drummer Tony McCarroll
Tony McCarroll
Anthony "Tony" McCarroll is an English drummer and one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis, as their drummer from 1991 to April 1995.-Biography:...
). Hutton was replaced as vocalist by Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
, who became the band's songwriter, in partnership with Bonehead. In this partnership, they wrote several songs including "Take me" and "Life in vain". The band rehearsed only one day a week and did not perform at shows often.
Shortly after Liam joined, the band was renamed Oasis, at his suggestion. Various explanations of the origins of the name have been offered, however, it came about when Liam’s older brother, Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
, roadied for the Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
at a venue in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
called the Oasis Leisure Centre. Liam reportedly liked the name's "resonance of imagery."
One day in August 1991, Noel, having recently returned from the Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
' tour of the U.S., went to watch his brother's band perform at the Manchester Boardwalk, supporting a band called Sweet Jesus. Noel offered to join, reportedly on condition that he would be the lead guitarist and they would perform only his songs.
Impact
According to the biography Don't Look Back In Anger: Growing Up With Oasis, written by former singer Chris Hutton, Liam was moved into the band virtually without his knowledge, and while the band were still a full unit; principally to lure in Noel. The book portrays an image of The Rain as having an influence on the early sound of Oasis. The band did not purely play covers, having several locally popular original songs, such as "Rooftop Rave" (aka "We're Having a Rave on the Roof"—purportedly about the Manchester Strangeways riots1990 Strangeways Prison riot
The 1990 Strangeways Prison riot was a 25-day prison riot and rooftop protest at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England. The riot began on 1 April 1990 when prisoners took control of the prison chapel, and the riot quickly spread throughout most of the prison...
), and having somewhat more of a future than what is suggested by the other members' descriptions. This is partially evidenced by the fact that after less than a year together, the band were headlining Manchester's popular venue The Boardwalk. Their sound was allegedly close to that of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and other contemporary Mancunian bands. The name is also alleged to have been taken not from a Beatles B-side, but rather suggested by Hutton one afternoon whilst observing Manchester's characteristic drizzle.