never-before-seen

First look at new Oasis photo exhibition in Los Angeles: Before the Britpop explosion [EXCLUSIVE]

Legendary photographer Kevin Cummins unveils rare portraits of Oasis ahead of their Rose Bowl performance

AUGUST 29, 2025 10:13 PM EDTAUG 29, 2025, 10:13 PM EDT

As Oasis prepares to bring their Live ’25 Tour to the Rose Bowl on September 6 and 7, Los Angeles is getting its own dose of Britpop nostalgia just two nights earlier thanks to the lens of legendary music photographer Kevin Cummins.

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British rock band Oasis (Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Paul McGuigan, Paul Arthurs, Tony McCarroll) on Market St, Manchester, 2 August 1994

On September 4 at 7:30PM, Musichead Gallery will host a special event: an intimate launch and book signing for Cummins’s new photography collection, OASIS: THE MASTERPLAN (Weldon Owen), and the debut of the two-month exhibition 'Oasis: Be Here Now.'

British rock band Oasis (Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Paul McGuigan, Paul Arthurs, Tony McCarroll) in Soho, London, 15 March 1994

"Could Oasis have existed if they had been brought up somewhere else other than Manchester? Absolutely not."

Noel Gallagher says in the book

Known for capturing the raw, pre-fame energy of iconic British acts from Joy Division to The Smiths, Cummins was there in 1993 when a barely-signed Oasis first stepped into a photo studio, resulting in the unfiltered portraits that defined their image before the world knew their name.

Noel and Liam Gallagher of British rock band Oasis at Sly St Studio, East London, 8 May 1994

"They arrived in the clothes they were wearing and nothing else," Cummins recalls. “Liam wore a light-coloured raincoat, a school-style jumper, and Adidas tracksuit bottoms… but it was clear to me that if you wanted to sell the band, a close-up would work best.”

The exhibition will showcase never-before-seen images of the band during their early years with Creation Records, including moody studio shots, chaotic hotel candids, and vibrant street portraits that hint at the storm to come.

British rock band Oasis (Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Paul McGuigan, Paul Arthurs, Tony McCarroll) on Flitcroft St, London WC2, 15 March 1994

"Could Oasis have existed if they had been brought up somewhere else other than Manchester? Absolutely not,” Noel Gallagher says in the book. “We’re Mancunians. We have a thing. The rest of the world LOVES that thing."

Noel and Liam Gallagher of British rock band Oasis outside Maine Road stadium, Manchester, 2 August 1994

For fans who’ve followed Oasis since 'Definitely Maybe,' this event promises more than just nostalgia. It’s a rare opportunity to get close to the band’s story through the man who documented it from day one.

Liam Gallagher of British rock band Oasis performing at TJ's, Newport, 3 May, 1994

As Musichead Gallery curator Sam Milgrom puts it, “His new book and the photo exhibition promise to bring a new awareness to his great talent and let all Oasis fans get a much closer look at the enigmatic music legends."

As one of the UK’s most influential music photographers, Kevin Cummins’ has permanent collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. His subjects include David Bowie, Patti Smith, Mick Jagger, and, of course, Oasis.