documented.” says l7urmanovsky. "l‘his is the least intrusive way of doing so. They them— selves are fascinated by their own music and by their own career.‘
Daniela Soave. the journalist who has furnished Was Then) Then with a commentary. points out that Oasis are their own biggest fans and that. if they weren’t band members. they would be out buying Oasis albums. Furmanovsky reinforces this view: ‘1 was in the dressing room with them in San Francisco when they were playing with U2. Their album was on the deck. and they were listening to it and enjoying their own album.‘
The line between self-belief and arrogance is one which Oasis step over regularly. and usually with some justification. but Furmanovsky does not regard them as vain or narcissistic. ‘They are actually quite an unselfconscious bunch.‘ she claims. ‘I don‘t think there has been any conscious styling on their part. Things have moved so fast for them that I don‘t think they have ever had time to sit down and think “Right. what are we going to wear for this shoot then?" ‘
liurmanovsky‘s preferred Oasis pictures are from a photo session in Paris when the Gallaghers were in the middle of one of their infamous sibling misunderstandings.
‘.\'oc| was very upset that day.‘ explains Furmanovsky with some understatement. ‘but those are some of my favourite images as a photographer. I‘ve always said that if they are not in the mood. or if there is a tremendous amount of tension. then in a strange way. that helps make the images more interesting. That‘s what my job is to do: reflect what I see and hope that other people see it too.‘
Oasis: Was There Then is published by Ebury Press at £14.99. The exhibition Was There Then opens at the Tramway, Glasgow on 22 Nov.
OASIS
Oasis looking moody in Paris (left), scooting along to Earls Court (below) and
addressing the faithful at Maine Road (bottom)
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