[extract] McGee's sister tells about the night Oasis got signed
P.H. wannabe
Records: This Ecstasy Romance Cannot Last", by Paolo Hewitt, 2000
Mainstream Publishing - buy it buy it buy it, I just got it today and
am practically drooling on each page, it's full of great anecdotes and
insights into McGee's views about music and for anyone who is an Oasis
fan it's a must!
PAOLO HEWITT. WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE NIGHT ALAN SIGNED OASIS BECAUSE
YOU WERE THERE AS WELL, WEREN'T YOU?
SUSAN McGEE: That's right, yeah.
PH: And is it true that Allan went there because you had a mate that he
wanted to hook up with?
SM: Aye.
PH: Who was it, what was the girl's name?
SM: Annette. It's funny. She didn't know anything of it. And we were
just sort of sitting there and it was me and Alan and my ex-boyfriend.
An, we'd been up in Alan's hotel room getting absolutely ... we were
just drinking bottles of [Mobile phone rings, stops to answer]. What
were we talking about? Oh, aye, the Oasis night.
PH: You were tanked up and ... ?
SM: Uh huh. We went down really early. I think because my watch was
wrong. I can't remember.
PH: Alan said it was because you didn't realise that the pub had an
extension. He said if he had realised the pub had an extension, you'
have got there for 10 p.m.
SM: Well, we went down. It was about 8 p.m. or something and we just
walked in. We were sitting there and there were all these like guys
that looked like Mods - not like your typical kind of Glasgow. They
were all pretty lairy and this guy Tam Coyle - the guy that run and
puts the bands on - came up to Alan and said, 'Listen. There is a band
that are totally wanting to play and if they don't play they are gonna
batter everybody backstage.' And Alan went, 'What are you telling me
for? just let them play. What harm can it do?'
PH: SISTER LOVER USED TO REHEARSE IN THE SAME ROOM AS OASIS IN
MANCHESTER. IS THIS HOW THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS GIG?
SM: Is that what it was? My pal actually told me he was there and he
can't remember being there because he was so drunk. That would really
piss you off. But they were amazing. You were just like, 'Bloody Hell!'
I said, 'Alan, you've got to sign them.' And he was saying, I know. I
know.'
Later, Alan just went straight up to Noel and he asked who their
manager was or something and basically said, 'Listen. I'm really
interested.' I mean, it was amazing. Never seen anything like that.
Liam just had a presence. And there was only about 12 people watching.
Bizarre.
PH: There's film of it you know?
SM: Aye. A Japanese girl's got it, I know.
PH: Amazing isn't it? Some night.
SM: Totally.
PH: And did you go back to the hotel with Alan?
SM: No. I started a new job the next day and so I had to go back.
PH: And did he get off with Annette?
SM: No. She got married.