Definitely Maybe

‘Definitely Maybe’ 30”x30” acrylic on canvas

It’s 30 years ago this year since Oasis released their first album (August 1994); ‘Definitely Maybe’ which launched the band to immediate success and became the fastest selling UK album at that time. I was 21 in 1994 and being from Manchester I was automatically swept up in Oasis mania and they became the soundtrack to my early 20s.

The 90s was obviously pre-digital music, and iPods/iPhones therefore music was mainly purchased on CD/vinyl, so the album artwork was hugely important, unlike today.

The album cover for Definitely Maybe was photographed by rock photographer Michael Spencer Jones and was taken in band member Bonehead’s house in Didsbury, South Manchester.

He drew inspiration from Jan Van Eyck’s renaissance painting ‘The Arnolfini Portrait’ for the way it was littered with visual metaphors and the band were asked to provide these items, such as; the picture of Burt Bacharach (Noel’s idol), the photo of ex-Man City player Rodney Marsh, Bonehead’s Epiphone guitar, the tv showing the classic western ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’ and cigarettes & alcohol which was the name of one of the singles from the album as well as the band’s lifestyle choice!

I’ve tried to replicate the photo as closely as possible whilst replacing each band member with a different animal, choosing a Tiger for Noel due it’s intelligent, fierce, and unpredictable nature and a Polar bear for Liam, also known for their aggression, solitude and are likely to be the coolest!