NME – 20 September 1997 – Oasis / Liam Gallagher – Be Here Now Tour

Original vintage NME (New Musical Express) British music newspaper dated 20 September 1997, featuring Liam Gallagher of Oasis on the front cover and an extensive illustrated feature covering the band's Be Here Now tour.

This is a particularly interesting issue from the height of Oasis's international popularity, documenting the band's live performances and the enormous public attention surrounding their third studio album, Be Here Now.

The issue also features cover references to Kylie Minogue, Marc Bolan, The Rolling Stones, Björk, DJ Shadow, David Holmes, Samuel L. Jackson, Gravediggaz and Mike Leigh.

Front Cover – Liam Gallagher / Oasis

The front cover is dominated by a large colour photograph of Liam Gallagher performing live.

Liam is pictured wearing a dark blue Kangol jacket with a raised collar, singing into a microphone positioned directly in front of him.

The photograph captures his characteristic performance style, with his head tilted backwards towards the microphone.

The background features a cloudy sky, giving the image a dramatic outdoor concert atmosphere.

The cover photograph is credited to Ian Jennings.

The principal headlines read:

"A STORM IN DEVON"

"OASIS – On the road with the 'Be Here Now' tour"

The design features oversized cream and yellow lettering against the blue tones of the photograph.

The cover also prominently announces:

"80 PAGES – IT'S GETTING BIGGER, MAN!"

This makes the issue an appealing example of NME's large-format music journalism during the late 1990s.

Oasis – Be Here Now Tour Feature

The photographed interior pages reveal an extensive, illustrated article about Oasis performing in Devon during their Be Here Now tour.

The feature is presented across a colourful double-page spread with the headline:

"SEE! HEAR! NOW!"

The article documents the atmosphere surrounding Oasis's live performances during one of the band's most commercially successful periods.

The spread combines concert photography with contemporary reporting, capturing the excitement, publicity and enormous expectations surrounding the group in 1997.

Main Concert Photography

The right-hand page contains a particularly striking large colour photograph of Liam Gallagher performing onstage.

He is shown wearing his dark blue Kangol jacket, singing into a microphone with his head tilted upwards.

The photograph features dramatic stage lighting, with purple, blue and golden tones illuminating the background.

The composition captures Liam's distinctive stage presence and the visual atmosphere of an Oasis concert during the Be Here Now era.

Noel Gallagher Live Photograph

The left-hand page features a substantial colour photograph of Noel Gallagher performing with an electric guitar.

Noel is pictured wearing a light-coloured long-sleeved top, standing at a microphone while playing a dark electric guitar.

The photograph includes stage equipment and lighting, providing an interesting contrast with the main Liam Gallagher image.

This makes the feature especially appealing to collectors interested in both Gallagher brothers.

Additional Concert Photographs

The interior spread also contains several smaller photographs documenting the concert.

These include:

• Another performance photograph of Liam Gallagher at a microphone.

• A wide-angle photograph of the stage, showing lighting structures and the concert environment.

• A smaller image accompanying the article on the right-hand page.

The combination of large photographs, smaller concert images and contemporary reporting gives the spread considerable visual interest.

The Be Here Now Era

This newspaper dates from September 1997, shortly after Oasis released their third studio album, Be Here Now, in August 1997.

The album followed the enormous success of Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, making Oasis one of Britain's most prominent rock bands.

The featured article offers a contemporary perspective on the band during this important period.

For Oasis collectors, the issue is particularly interesting because it documents the band's live activity at the time rather than providing only a retrospective account.

The original concert photography and period journalism capture the atmosphere of British rock music in the late 1990s.

Other Cover Features

Alongside Oasis, the front cover advertises a range of additional music and entertainment subjects.

Elton John / Candle in the Wind

The headline across the top reads:

"STRAIGHT TO ELT! Why 'Candle In The Wind' means death for rock"

This reflects contemporary music journalism surrounding Elton John's 1997 recording of Candle in the Wind.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie is listed among the featured names, making the issue relevant to collectors of her 1990s music coverage.

Marc Bolan

The cover references Marc Bolan, the influential T. Rex frontman and glam-rock musician.

The Rolling Stones

The legendary British rock group are also advertised on the cover.

Björk

Icelandic singer Björk is listed among the issue's featured artists.

DJ Shadow and David Holmes

The inclusion of these artists reflects the growing influence of electronic music, trip-hop and alternative dance music during the period.

Other Featured Names

The cover additionally advertises Manmade, Samuel L. Jackson, Gravediggaz and filmmaker Mike Leigh.

These references illustrate the broad range of music, cinema and popular culture covered by NME during the 1990s.

Original 1990s Music Journalism

This issue represents a distinctive period in British music publishing.

NME was one of the country's most influential weekly music newspapers, known for its interviews, concert reviews, artist photography, music criticism and coverage of emerging alternative acts.

The September 1997 issue is particularly associated with the Britpop era and the continuing popularity of Oasis.

The photographed interior spread demonstrates the publication's combination of large concert photographs, bold graphic design and detailed music reporting.

It is a desirable piece of contemporary music journalism for anyone collecting original Oasis press coverage.

Publication Details

Publication: NME – New Musical Express

Full Publication Date: 20 September 1997

Main Cover Artist: Oasis – Liam Gallagher

Cover Photograph: Ian Jennings

Main Feature: Oasis – Be Here Now Tour

Other Prominent Artist: Noel Gallagher

Additional Cover Names: Kylie Minogue, Marc Bolan, The Rolling Stones, Björk, DJ Shadow, David Holmes, Manmade, Samuel L. Jackson, Gravediggaz and Mike Leigh

Advertised Issue Length: 80 pages

Original Cover Price: 95p

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Format: Large-format music newspaper

Era: 1990s / Britpop

Condition: Pre-owned vintage condition

SKU: NP010

Condition – Important Information

This is an original vintage newspaper dating from 1997 and shows visible signs of age, previous handling and storage.

The supplied photographs show both the front cover and an interior double-page Oasis feature.

Front Cover: The main Liam Gallagher photograph remains clear and attractive, with the NME masthead and major headlines fully legible. There are visible creases, surface rippling and handling marks, particularly across the middle and lower sections.

Paper Discolouration: The newspaper has noticeable yellowing and age-related toning, especially around the white outer margins. This is consistent with the natural ageing of vintage newsprint.

Top Edge: The upper edge shows minor waviness and unevenness. The upper corners have slight bends and handling wear.

Left Edge / Spine: The left-hand side displays creasing, fold marks and some unevenness associated with previous handling and storage.

Right Edge: The right-hand margin has noticeable age-related wear, with slightly rough and uneven paper edges. The lower-right area also shows some creasing and discolouration.

Bottom Edge: The lower margin displays general handling wear, minor creasing and slight waviness. A darker rectangular mark or stain is visible near the lower-right corner.

Corners: The corners are not perfectly sharp and show age-related softening, small bends and general wear.

Interior Pages: The photographed Oasis double-page spread retains clear printed detail and strong colour. There is visible curvature around the centre fold, together with minor creasing and waviness.

Centre Fold: The newspaper opens across a substantial double-page spread. The central fold remains visible, with natural paper curvature and signs of previous handling.

Marks and Imperfections: Some light surface marks, small spots and general ageing are visible. No obvious handwritten annotations are apparent in the photographed areas.

Completeness: The front cover advertises an 80-page issue. However, only the front cover and selected interior pages have been photographed, so the complete page count has not been independently verified.

Overall Condition: A presentable vintage music newspaper with noticeable age-related wear, creasing and paper discolouration. The important Oasis cover photograph and photographed concert feature remain visually appealing and readable.

This is a pre-owned newspaper and should not be considered mint or pristine.

Please study all supplied photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Packaging and Postage

The newspaper will be carefully folded and securely packaged inside a protective cardboard box for postage, with care taken to minimise further damage during transit.

An interesting original NME issue from September 1997, featuring Liam and Noel Gallagher during Oasis's Be Here Now tour.

Particularly suitable for collectors of Oasis, Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Britpop, vintage music newspapers and original 1990s concert photography.

SKU: NP010