A year on the road with Oasis

Paul Slattery: 'The dressing room at the Jug Of Ale in Moseley was actually a toilet and this is one of the first group photos I took of the band. The upstairs room was packed for the gig, with most people sitting on the floor like a bunch of hippies in a cloud of marijuana smoke, amazed at the electric performance.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Bonehead and Noel backstage at the 'Undrugged' gig at the Albert Hall. Both being really nervous about performing at such a venue, they rehearsed until the last minute, Bonehead's cigarette quivering in his hand as they left to go on stage.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'What with Ireland beating Italy one-nil in the World Cup, and a superb gig at the Centre West in Brighton, the partying at the hotel lasted long into the night. The next morning we all emerged from a heap of comatose bodies in Liam and Guigsy's room and wandered down to the windswept shingle for some classic Brighton beach photographs.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Here's Noel having a beer before playing Glastonbury.' Photograph: Paul Slattery

'And here's Liam having a beer and a fag at the Bethesda fountain during the filming of the Live Forever video in Central Park, NY. It's not actually legal to drink beer from open containers – and the band found this kind of crazy in a country where you can walk around with a gun in your pocket ...' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Noel said 'Slatts, we are in Times Square, get a photo of me!' So I did.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'The Irish Centre, Leeds. Jason Rhodes, who is still Noel's guitar technician and right-hand man, is standing at the doorway. Richard Ashcroft can be seen below Noel's left elbow. Noel had been assaulted onstage at Newcastle the previous night and the backstage chat was about how the person had been given a dose of his own medicine by the band and road crew.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Noel leaving the stage at the Astoria, London after an absolutely killer set. Just a dozen numbers, about an hour of great rock'n'roll. That was it. And despite tumultuous applause, there was still no encore.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'This was taken backstage at the Club Quattro, Tokyo. The band received a lot of attention from the girls after the shows in Japan; they had an armoury of records, CDs and other paraphernalia for the band to sign, and as the tour went on the attention grew from a rockfall to an avalanche. Oasis loved the fact that the gigs were all done by 8pm and the night was still young!' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Liam backstage at the Club Quattro Osaka. The gigs were getting better and better and Liam loved it. He had been given this Beatles' badge along with a couple of Beatles' picture disc bootlegs by the fans.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Club Quattro Osaka. Noel enjoying himself during the gig.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Noel and Liam leaning on a temple wall, Nagoya.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Club Quattro Nagoya. Perhaps one of the best Oasis gigs I ever saw. The moment Noel stepped out on stage in front of this screaming and emotional crowd for their last gig in Japan I knew it was going to be something special, and it was an absolutely brilliant gig. Liam, who rarely smiles onstage, was beaming by the end of the gig and there was nothing for it but to do an encore, their first ever. They played a storming Rock'n'Roll Star.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Maxwell's, Hoboken NJ. An English army turned up to this gig including Paul Gallagher and several of his mates. By the time the band were onstage everyone was mad for it, the beer flowing freely. The tiny venue was packed, and the folks from home gave the gig an intimate, family feel.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'There is a lot of waiting around at Top Of The Pops, hours to kill for a three-minute appearance. Plus, the BBC doesn't supply anything, it's strictly BYOB, but the band were in great spirits. Playing Whatever live, the mood backstage was buoyant. Everyone was cracking up watching Liam doing his 'funky chicken' impression.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery

'Bonehead at home in Didsbury, after the gig at the Royal Court, Liverpool. Inviting me to stay at his place after the gig, we proceeded to cut great swathes through Bonehead's extensive wine cellar. This room is the one that famously features on the cover of Definitely Maybe.' Photograph: Paul Slattery/Paul Slattery