What's the story? Reforming GLORY

OASIS FANS CAN STOP CRYING THEIR HEARTS OUT AT LAST

- CHRIS SLATER

WHEN he opens up his shop on a Tuesday afternoon, Pete Howard would usually be greeted by a small but steady stream of customers and perhaps the odd Oasis fan.

But this is no normal Tuesday.

There is only one thing on everyone’s lips on Fog Lane, which doubles as the area’s high street, the return of their most famous sons.

At 8am, the much-teased announcement that Oasis were getting back together for a series of special reunion shows next summer was confirmed.

It doesn’t open its doors until 1pm, but from early in the morning, TV trucks begin to arrive. Outside the second-hand record shop, namechecked in their song Shakermaker and which has become a Mecca for fans of the band, a crowd of fans and journalists steadily grows.

When its owner Pete finally arrives to lift the shutters and allow the waiting crowd in, the man immortalised in the track where Liam sings ‘Mr Sifter sold me songs, when I was just 16’, tells us he is as delighted as anyone.

“I did think it would happen one day, but not in time,” says 76-year-old Pete. “So I’m really, really pleased and quite excited because it is a big deal.

“The reaction has been even bigger than I thought. Maybe it’s because they’re from around here, we don’t appreciate how big they are. Their music is great, it certainly adds something to the scene. I’d be interested to know if they’re going into the studio again and putting out a new album. I think they should go the whole hog.”

Two months ago Noel came in the shop and recorded a two-hour interview with acclaimed Manchester music author and journalist John Robb, which was released last week to mark the upcoming anniversary of Definitely Maybe. Pete says he shook hands, said hello and had a brief chat to Noel beforehand, but he says he had no idea of what was about to become.