July 28, 2008 14:23

Alan McGee: 'I thought Oasis were fascists'

Creation Records scared off by Union Jack

Photo Gallery: Oasis

Alan McGee has explained how he thought Oasis were fascists before he signed them to his Creation label in 1993.

Speaking to this month's Uncut magazine, the label supremo explained he almost met the band once before he actually signed them, but was put off by their kit.

"My little Manchester mate, Debbie Turner, shared a practice space with this band that had a Union Jack on the wall. I remember looking at the Union Jack and asking, 'Are they fascists?'," he recalled.

"She said, 'Yes.' She was taking the piss, of course. She added, 'They’re called Oasis'."

McGee added that even the presence of John Lennon and Yoko Ono pictures didn't change his original thoughts.

"It was a psychedelic Union Jack, sitting alongside pictures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. But it was still a Union Jack – and back then, before the whole Cool Britannia bollocks - a Union Jack meant you had to be right-wing," he said. "I truly didn’t have a clue. I didn't put the name Oasis together with Noel (whom he had met earlier). I just thought, 'Fascist'."

McGee later signed the band after seeing them play in his native Glasgow in 1993.

For the full story and details of this month's issue, head to our sister site Uncut.co.uk for more information.