 | Alan White, born in London 26 May 1972, is the second drummer in Oasis. He started playing with them in April 1995. Alan had auditioned with a band on Creation records so as soon as Tony McCarroll was sacked Alan was recommended to Noel who took him on immediately. He played on Top Of The Pops for his first public appearance only days after joining Oasis.
Alan White joined the band by being in the right place at the right time. He was busy working at Matrix Studios for friend Andy Bell when Noel Gallagher happened to be there. Noel was looking for a replacement for sacked drummer Tony McCarroll at the time, and liked the sound Alan was making. Later, Noel called Alan and arranged a meeting in a pub in Camden. The next day he was playing on Top Of The Pops.
Noel "Some Might Say went right in at no. 1, on the tuesday we sacked Tony. Tuesday Night we didn't have a drummer and we're supposed to be doing Top of the Pops the next night. And everyone was going: "what have you done?". I just sat there thinking: "well actually what have I done?". And then we were due to start the album that Friday. Tuesday afternoon I met Alan, so it suddenly dawned on me about five minutes before he turned up. I was thinking, what if he's like about 32 stone or something? Anyway he came round the corner and as soon as he shook my hand I said "you're in". He said "right, when do I start?". I said "well you start tomorrow, you're on Top Of The Pops". Gave him the CD, and said "you better have that worked out by tomorrow". And he was like "Cheers mate." And that was that."
Alan is the only southener in the band, but it's not a problem for him: "People have said this might be a problem, but I'm as straight talking as they are, and the band like me for that".  |
