Do you know about Oasis’s love for Rolls Royce?

The English rock band Oasis, reunited after a 15-year breakup, sold 1.4 million concert tickets this Saturday morning, August 31.

Ah, the 90s! That blessed era when everything seemed possible, especially if you were a Gallagher. Oasis, the legendary British band led by brothers Noel and Liam, was not just a hit machine; it was a true religion for millions of fans longing for rock heroes. At the peak of their career, Oasis didn’t just dominate the music scene, they dined at Downing Street and shaped the social politics of the UK during the Tony Blair era.

In 1997, as the entire world eagerly awaited the release of their third album, Be Here Now, Oasis knew they needed an album cover that screamed both “rockstar” and “excess.” And what better way to symbolize that than a Rolls-Royce, the jewel of the automotive world, submerged in a pool? Yes, you read that right. Rather than drive it (a detail we’ll revisit), they chose to send it to the bottom of the water, a bit like an artistic gesture symbolizing their approach to success: deep, flashy, and saturated.

The cover, shot by photographer Michael Spencer Jones, shows a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the pinnacle of British elegance, abandoned in a pool as if it had found its final resting place there. This image is not just a simple photograph; it’s a manifesto. A tribute to excess, a nod to decadence, and perhaps, a discreet warning about the dangers of climbing too high, too fast. Because in the world of the Gallaghers, there are no limits to self-deprecation. They were never the type to do things by halves.

A Contractual Rolls!

But let’s go back a bit, to 1996, to be precise. Oasis had just conquered the world with (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, an album that, in case you lived on another planet, redefined the sound of the 1990s and sold 20 million copies. This album earned Noel Gallagher a Rolls Royce from his record label, Sony. But the legend of the Rolls-Royce is not just a story of a spontaneous gift; it’s actually a masterstroke orchestrated by Noel Gallagher. Always a step ahead of everyone, he had cleverly included a clause in his contract stating that in the case of monumental success – which he was sure of – he demanded a Rolls-Royce as a gift. A nod to John Lennon and the Beatles, who were also fans of Rolls.

The paradox? Noel Gallagher didn’t even have a driver’s license at the time. But did that stop him? Of course not. In the world of the Gallaghers, you don’t need to know how to drive to own a Rolls; you just need enough flair and audacity to demand one. But for Noel, this Rolls-Royce was just another trophy, a symbol of the excess of his time, and he never really cared about it.

The story of the submerged Rolls-Royce has become one of the urban legends surrounding Oasis. It captures both the extravagance of the 90s and the rebellious spirit of the Gallaghers, always ready to mock the very symbols of their success. Some might say it was a premonition of the excesses that would soon engulf the band, much like that luxury car swallowed in a pool.

Today, this image remains one of the most iconic of Oasis’s career, reminding us of a time when music, wealth, and a glaring lack of common sense were inseparable. A time when Oasis ruled the world with a nonchalant arrogance, mocking conventions and limits, for better or for worse. Because after all, why settle for driving a Rolls-Royce when you can drown it?

On this Saturday, August 31, 2024, Oasis sold 1.4 million tickets for its English tour in the summer of 2025 – at an average price of 120 euros – in just 3 hours. Enough to buy new Rolls Royces…

ALSO READ: Tesla: Has the location of the Robotaxi presentation leaked?