After (or maybe technically before) the first draft, I had scenes set during Local Boy’s “normal” life in the 1970s as well as excursions with the Redhead in the tan van. I knew each time LB had a vantastic adventure it would shake up his present, and roughly figured I’d sprinkle them in to one per major part.
Turns out I had too many of these side-quests, and it didn’t feel believable LB would keep being lured into these jaunts. A few got outright cut as part of that “Local Boy isn’t a time traveler” rule I keep referencing. For the rest I landed on making each van trip a two-part errand.
This chapter’s second part takes place on a red-letter date my personal concert-going history: March 10, 1996. Oasis played The Strand in Providence, RI on the Morning Glory tour. Someone threw a shoe at Noel during “Wonderwall” and he stormed off the stage. A few minutes later Liam picked up the setlist and read off all the songs they would’ve played but were skipping due to one bad apple. It’s still the most badass thing I’ve ever seen a rockstar do live.
Tiny Tidbits:
- “We arrived late” is an understatement. They missed 8 songs per the setlist!
- Still, “Cigarettes & Alcohol” (a driving ode to the joys of smoking and drinking) followed by “Champagne Supernova” (another anthem in a trippy psychedelic style…though these alcohol soaked lyrics favored a bubbly celebration) and “Whatever” (pretty song, one of the old Local Boy numbers) ain’t a bad intro to Oasis.
- In Timely Persuasion this show gets a brief mention where it’s implied the narrator was the shoe thrower, but here Local Boy does the deed at the urging of the Redhead. It’s another of her recreations so there’s a little wiggle room on who threw whose shoe. It’s also not unreasonable for Local Boy’s brainwaves to crossover with his son’s since we’ve established the genetic connection.
- In real life, ever since this night I’ve often wondered if the person who threw a shoe at 1993 Kurt Cobain in Springfield, MA is the same person who threw a shoe at 1996 Noel Gallagher in Providence, RI. I didn’t go there in the book, but just sayin’…
- “I’ll keep you in mind next time I need help” hints at the fact the redhead has other helpers, which will be important later.
- Story-wise, the redhead appeared during Local Boy’s first performance with Nelson’s parents, offered to “take him on tour,” coerces him into two musically acts of sabotage, and now forbids him from joining the band she first found him playing with. What’s her deal? See ya next chapter…
Listen to the full Oasis show from 3/10/96 below (and/or click through to YouTube, who doesn’t always like embeds…)