The photographer behind some of the most iconic Oasis record covers has told of the bust-ups and chaos behind the scenes.
Michael Spencer Jones reveals that he planned to have Liam Gallagher on the cover of Wonderwall in 1995 – until big brother Noel intervened.
Michael, whose exhibition of “iconic and unseen” Oasis photos opens next week, recalled how, as he and Liam walked to Primrose Hill in London to do the shoot, a black cab “came to a screeching halt by us”.
Noel got out, yelling “our kid” was not to be on the cover as “Wonderwall is a love song. It’s about a girl”.
A female employee with Creation Records was used instead of Liam.
The shoot for 1997 album Be Here Now was meant to be a night scene.
But Michael revealed: “The shoot descended into absolute chaos by night-time. The band were totally smashed. A generator blew up and the film was under-exposed.
“In the end, we went with an image I’d done earlier in the day.”
He said the shoot for debut album Definitely Maybe went better. “I had Liam lying on the floor like he was meditating, to give it a surreal twist. He didn’t move.”
- Michael’s Masterplan 25 exhibition is free from November 22 to January 12 at “h Club London”.
