Cool Britannia at the ice rink

MANCHESTER’S favourite sons, Oasis, continued their ascent to superstardom 30 years ago with a triumphant show in our part of the world.

- By DAVID MORTON

Liam Gallagher on stage at the Whitley Bay Ice Rink, 1996

It was a chilly January 19, 1996 - ‘Cool Britannia’ indeed - when the Britpop pioneers stopped off on Tyneside in the midst of the mammoth tour promoting their second album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

Whitley Bay Ice Rink was one of 103 dates on a sprawling 15-month jaunt during 1995 and 1996, covering the UK, Europe, America and Canada - with the high point being two massive now-legendary outdoor shows at Knebworth in Hertfordshire.

By the time Oasis rocked up to play in the region's most famous seaside town, the five-piece band - fronted by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher - had already scored two number one UK albums and a string of hit singles, the most recent being the era-defining Wonderwall.

Before Newcastle Arena opened its doors in 1995, the concert hall with the biggest capacity in the North East was the ice rink at 4,500 (around twice that of Newcastle City Hall).