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This update follows the previous one dedicated to Standing on the Shoulder of Giants – arguably the band’s most underrated era. The period between 1998 and 1999 remains poorly documented, so I’ve dug deep into 25-year-old news archives and fansites (thanks to the Wayback Machine) to piece together a detailed chronology of the Giants sessions and how they unfolded.

Alongside a few brand-new pages, many existing guitar backstories have been expanded with fresh details.

Below, you’ll also find what I believe is a fairly accurate recap of the key events between the final gig of the Be Here Now tour in March 1998 and the release of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants in February 2000.

For archival purposes, I’ve also included a collection of original news articles from late 1998 to late 1999: it’s fun to look back and read stuff from that era in hindsight.

Keep reading…

NEW PAGES:

Fender Stratocaster (1963, Olympic White)
The white Strat had been mentioned in interviews as far back as 2000, but no photo of it surfaced until last month, when a preview from Jill Furmanovsky’s upcoming book finally revealed it. Sadly, Noel reported that the guitar was stolen around 2012.

Gibson Les Paul Custom (20th Anniversary)
This guitar was Gibson’s very first special edition, released in 1974. It was used during the Giants sessions and later in the Heathen Chemistry sessions, before being sold in the late 2010s. White Gibsons always age to a beautiful creamy tone: this one is truly a gorgeous example.

Tokai ‘Strat’ (Metallic Red)
This Japanese Stratocaster copy from the ’80s belonged to Paul ‘Strangeboy’ Stacey and was used to record the lead guitar on Fuckin’ in the Bushes. The parts were tracked at Noel’s home studio at Supernova Heights – a space we got a glimpse of last month, thanks to a photo shared by Noel’s ex-wife, Meg Mathews.

UPDATED PAGES:

Gibson Les Paul Custom (Ebony, with Bigsby)
This guitar made a single appearance for one song at Wembley in 2000. There had been speculation about whether it was a reissue or an original ’50s model, but thanks to detailed insights from an anonymous source, we can now confirm it is an original early 1957 model. The page has been completely rewritten.

Fender Telecaster (Paisley)
One of the most iconic live guitars from the 2000-2001 era: the page has been rewritten and expanded with additional information and photos.

Rickenbacker 330 (Mapleglo)
Another important guitar from that period: it hasn’t appeared since 2001, leading to speculation, partly due to two contradictory rumors from readers…

Gibson Les Paul Signature (Goldtop)
This unusual Les Paul variant appears in several famous photos by Jill Furmanovsky from the April-May 1999 Colle Noire sessions. The page has been updated and expanded.

Hofner S5 PA (Mahogany)
Noel’s first electric guitar – one he tried “to cut it on every album” – was also used during the Be Here Now and Giants sessions. The page has been expanded accordingly, now including the accurate production year, thanks to a Hofner enthusiast from Germany.

Additional details have been added to the pages for the Gibson Les Paul Special – reportedly sold shortly after the 1999 recording sessions – and the natural Epiphone Casinos, one of which was also played by Johnny Marr in 2001.

oasis 1998-1999: A DETAILED CHRONOLOGY

This is an attempt at mapping out once and for all the events between the end of the Be Here Now tour and the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants release. This was a period of major changes for the band, with Bonehead and Guigsy leaving during the summer of 1999.

Thanks to all the usual suspects on the Live4Ever forum who helped with this research.

1998, Mar 25 - Final gig of the BHN tour in Mexico;
               last gig with Bonehead & Guigsy

1998, Spring/Summer - Noel records various demos at Supernova Heights (with Paul Stacey)

1998, ??? ?? - Demo tape with 9 tracks
               (LAMB, CUA, FO, FITB, RS, For One So Young, Teotihuacan, GLIO, CIH)

1998, Apr 22 - X-Files OST announced: Teotihuacan features on it

1998, Jun 02 - Teotihuacan released on X-Files OST

1998, Oct 05 - Noel is at Wheeler End recording demos (with engineer Stuart Epps?)

1998, Dec ?? - Demo tape with 3 tracks
               (WFL, GP!, RIO)

1999, Feb 16 - Demo CD with 9 tracks
               (ID, OWR, PYMWYMI, SMC, JGO, ICSAL, LJ, OWR wrong key, LTBL)

1999, Feb 24 - Oasis start rehearsing new songs at Music Bank in London;
               Mark "Spike" Stent officially announced as producer

1999, Apr 01 - Noel arrives at Colle Noire to set up the studio;
               the first track recorded is a demo of 'Force of Nature'

1999, Apr 05 - Full band now at Colle Noire

1999, May 17 - Noel says the first single is called 'Go Let It Out'
               & the album is provisionally titled 'Where Did It All Go Wrong'

1999, May 21 - Jill Furmanovsky photoshoot at Colle Noire;
               Bonehead is not pictured but Guigsy is

1999, May 24 - The band (except Bonehead, who had left a few days earlier) leaves Colle Noire

1999, Jun 30 - First rumours emerge that Bonehead has left the band

1999, Jul 03 - Announcement that additional recording sessions at Wheeler End have started

1999, Aug 09 - Bonehead leaves the band (official announcement)

1999, Aug 25 - Guigsy leaves the band (official announcement);
               press conference with Noel & Liam in London

1999, Aug 26 - Album mixing ends at Olympic Studios

1999, Sep ?? - Album mastering at Masterdisk, NY

1999, Sep 09 - Rumours emerge that Gem is joining the band

1999, Oct 22 - Gem announced as new guitarist

1999, Oct 26 - Rumours emerge that David Potts is joining the band on bass

1999, Oct 29 - Album release announcement;
               December USA gigs announcement

1999, Nov 03 - Go Let It Out video filmed in Surrey

1999, Nov 12 - Andy Bell announced as new bass player

1999, Dec ?? - 'Who Feels Love?' video filmed in the Death Valley

2000, Jan 06 - Oasis form Big Brother Recordings after the demise of Creation Records

2000, Feb 07 - First single 'Go Let It Out' released

2000, Feb 28 - SOTSOG released

SOTSOG RECORDING SESSIONS: NEWS ARCHIVE

For archival purposes, I’ve created a page compiling original news releases from the period: a fun (and lengthy!) read.

Here’s the link: enjoy!