Tony McCarroll
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" McCarroll (born 27 June 1972) is an English drummer and one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis
, as their drummer from 1991 to April 1995.
, Manchester, England, McCarroll joined pre-Oasis incarnation The Rain
in 1990, replacing their drum machine
, and linking up with rhythm guitarist Paul Arthurs
, bassist Paul McGuigan
and singer Chris Hutton. Hutton was later fired and replaced by Liam Gallagher
. Liam's brother Noel
soon joined and became the band's primary songwriter.
The tension soon grew greatly between him and Noel. McCarroll had been angered by the "£1,000 incident", as the band called it, which occurred after Creation
advanced them that sum to purchase new equipment. Having already spent £600 of his own money on drums, McCarroll found that Noel refused to spend any of the cash on drum skins and instead bought a new guitar. He felt Gallagher was intimidated by him. For his part, Gallagher made his feelings clear with his favoured trick of appearing to forget McCarroll's name during interviews. McCarroll was reportedly informed he was no longer in the band via a phone call at his mother's house, not even from Noel or a band member, in 1995 after rumours of a punch-up with Liam. McCarroll has since denied this. His last job with the band was their first performance of "Some Might Say
" (the last Oasis song he played on) on Top of the Pops
.
On the last day of April 1995, McCarroll's departure was announced and soon the fight was abandoned as the main reason – instead, Oasis explained, his drumming just wasn't up to it. "I like Tony as a geezer
but he wouldn't have been able to drum the new songs," explained Noel. McCarroll was replaced by Alan White
.
In 1999 McCarroll hired a lawyer Jens Hills – who had won Pete Best
£2m from the Beatles in 1995 – to sue Oasis for £18m. Arguing McCarroll was owed his part of the band's five-album deal with Creation, the case hoped to set a legal precedent, as McCarroll would have claimed compensation for two LPs on which he had not played. Eventually, he accepted an out-of-court settlement of £600,000 in March 1999, which effectively severed all links to the band, with McCarroll's legal fees reported at £250,000. The settlement provoked considerable reaction (one headline questioned "Is this the most stupid man in showbiz?". The reporter claimed "what Tony failed to realise was that he effectively held a lottery ticket which would mean he'd carry on winning every year." )
In an article building up to Oasis' seventh studio album Dig Out Your Soul
in Q magazine
in 2008, it was revealed that McCaroll was last seen in 2000 performing with the band Raika.
McCarroll's biography about his time in Oasis, entitled Oasis: The Truth, was released in October 2010.
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...
, as their drummer from 1991 to April 1995.
Biography
Born in LevenshulmeLevenshulme
Levenshulme is an urban area of the City of Manchester, in North West England. It borders Longsight, Gorton, Burnage, Heaton Chapel and Reddish, and is approximately halfway between Stockport and Manchester City Centre on the A6 road. The A6 bisects Levenshulme. The Manchester to London railway...
, Manchester, England, McCarroll joined pre-Oasis incarnation The Rain
The Rain
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 , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan , Chris Hutton , and a drum machine...
in 1990, replacing their drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, and linking up with rhythm guitarist Paul 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:...
, bassist Paul 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...
and singer Chris Hutton. Hutton was later fired and replaced 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...
. Liam's brother Noel
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...
soon joined and became the band's primary songwriter.
The tension soon grew greatly between him and Noel. McCarroll had been angered by the "£1,000 incident", as the band called it, which occurred after Creation
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
advanced them that sum to purchase new equipment. Having already spent £600 of his own money on drums, McCarroll found that Noel refused to spend any of the cash on drum skins and instead bought a new guitar. He felt Gallagher was intimidated by him. For his part, Gallagher made his feelings clear with his favoured trick of appearing to forget McCarroll's name during interviews. McCarroll was reportedly informed he was no longer in the band via a phone call at his mother's house, not even from Noel or a band member, in 1995 after rumours of a punch-up with Liam. McCarroll has since denied this. His last job with the band was their first performance of "Some Might Say
Some Might Say
"Some Might Say" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. The song was written by the band's lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. It was the first single later included in their second album Morning Glory? in 1995, and provided the band with their first number one in the UK Singles Chart .The single...
" (the last Oasis song he played on) on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
On the last day of April 1995, McCarroll's departure was announced and soon the fight was abandoned as the main reason – instead, Oasis explained, his drumming just wasn't up to it. "I like Tony as a geezer
Geezer
Geezer is a term for a man. It can carry either the connotation of age and eccentricity or, in the UK, that of self-education such as craftiness or stylishness.Geezer may also refer to:* Geezer Butler, the founding bassist for Black Sabbath...
but he wouldn't have been able to drum the new songs," explained Noel. McCarroll was replaced by Alan White
Alan White (Oasis drummer)
Alan White is an English drummer, best known as being the drummer of the English rock group Oasis between 1995 and 2004, performing on four studio albums, two compilation albums and one live album. He joined the band in May 1995 after the band's original drummer Tony McCarroll was removed from...
.
In 1999 McCarroll hired a lawyer Jens Hills – who had won Pete Best
Pete Best
Pete Best is a British musician, best known as the original drummer in The Beatles. He was born in the city of Madras, British India...
£2m from the Beatles in 1995 – to sue Oasis for £18m. Arguing McCarroll was owed his part of the band's five-album deal with Creation, the case hoped to set a legal precedent, as McCarroll would have claimed compensation for two LPs on which he had not played. Eventually, he accepted an out-of-court settlement of £600,000 in March 1999, which effectively severed all links to the band, with McCarroll's legal fees reported at £250,000. The settlement provoked considerable reaction (one headline questioned "Is this the most stupid man in showbiz?". The reporter claimed "what Tony failed to realise was that he effectively held a lottery ticket which would mean he'd carry on winning every year." )
In an article building up to Oasis' seventh studio album Dig Out Your Soul
Dig Out Your Soul
Dig Out Your Soul is the seventh and final studio album by English rock band Oasis. It was released in October 2008. The first single, "The Shock of the Lightning", was released on 29 September 2008. In promotion of the album, the band embarked on a world tour, debuting in Seattle, Washington at...
in Q magazine
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
in 2008, it was revealed that McCaroll was last seen in 2000 performing with the band Raika.
McCarroll's biography about his time in Oasis, entitled Oasis: The Truth, was released in October 2010.