Rock n roll is coming to Bethnal Green, and in a splendid setting. The beautiful Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green is hosting an exhibition of works by British photographer Michael Spencer Jones as the latest exciting thing for Oasis fans.
After news of the big reunion tour, Oasis fever has struck, and this exhibition is an amazing way to kick off the countdown to next year’s shows.
Recently it was the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe and Spencer Jones was the man who shot the cover photograph.
And let’s not understate this: it is one of the greatest album cover photos of all time, famously packed with Easter eggs giving clues to where the band was coming from, including City footballer Rodney Marsh (George Best is there too, at the insistence of United fan Bonehead, who’s flat is the location), Burt Bacharach’s 1971 album ‘Portrait in Music’ (Noel’s hero) and the spinning globe (which they were intent on ruling).
This was all the work of Spencer Jones, who asked them to bring items that were personal to them to the shoot, and also managed to convince wild card frontman Liam to lie on the floor when usually you’d expect him to be front and centre. It all added up to an absolute classic image.
And now you can see the photo presented in this special exhibition at the Town Hall Hotel which is the perfect cool venue.
The hotel’s architectural Art Deco splendour and cutting-edge design has made it location for many famous film shoots, from Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to Atonement and Poirot.
Set in the former Bethnal Green Town Hall, it is a Grade-II listed building, restored and completed in November 2010 with a contemporary extension in the form of a new top floor and wing.
Spencer Jones met Oasis for the first time in 1993 and went on to shoot them over several years, which included the covers of the band’s first three albums and 12 singles; the very best stuff.
The open-to all-exhibition opens on 25th October 2024 for a three month period. We grabbed a quick chat with Spencer Jones to find out more:
What are you showing at the exhibition?
A variety of images but mainly from 1994 – there are some works that have never been exhibited before and other works which are more familiar. For the limited space that the hotel has, I’ve tried to get a good mix of pictures that will fit alongside the wonderful art deco interior.
What are your memories of the shoots?
Well, I worked with them for many years and every shoot has its own story - some very challenging others very enjoyable.
What were your first impressions of Oasis?
I first photographed them in 1993. Their success was inevitable and that was evident at my first photoshoot with them. When I first photographed Liam Gallagher, I found myself staring down my camera lens with a certain amount of disbelief at a face that seemed to embody the quality of stardom.
What was the relationship between Liam and Noel like?
There was a great deal of sibling rivalry and at times it became volatile. But they were close and for the most part they got on.
How did you find the best way to photograph them?
No two shoots were the same but I think they had a trust in my photography which helped, especially when it came to shooting the cover artwork. But my approach to shoots is different to other photographers I think – I always made it known that if they didn’t reciprocate the energy that I was putting into a shoot then that would become apparent when viewing the final photograph. Photography becomes a lot easier when your subjects are invested in it and they want the finished photograph to succeed.
Can you tell us about the key iconic photographs on display?
A large high definition photograph of the cover artwork to Definitely Maybe is on show for the first time – the original camera negative had been lost in 1994 and was thought to have been destroyed. In 2021 during lockdown, and by some quirk of fate, it was discovered to be in a private collection. And so after 27 years I managed to take back ownership of the original film and subsequently generated this new artwork.
What are your memories of that day?
I explain in detail how the shoot was conceived and executed in my new book – Definitely Maybe – A View From Within which is out on 21st November 2024. It was a difficult shoot, both artistically and technically, and was me a very long day. I remember thinking that no-one is going home until I am entirely satisfied that I have got the cover shot in the ‘can’. But I was under a lot of pressure in creating an image for that album, because I knew it was going to be huge and would be seen by tens of millions of people around the world.
Did you know when you’d nailed the shot? Was it difficult organising the band for it?
Yes, I instinctively knew when I had ‘nailed’ the shot. It was an exciting moment and one of relief as well. Organising the band within the shot was fairly straightforward although I was very apprehensive about asking Liam to lay on the floor, as it was an unusual and slightly bizarre request. Most lead singers would have refused to do that, especially for their debut album.
What's your personal favourite image?
There’s an outtake at the exhibition from the Cigarettes & Alcohol shoot taken in the very early hours – everyone within the frame had forgotten or was unaware that I was taking a photograph so it captures a genuine and authentic atmosphere – very much in the tradition of some Flemish painting; a subject that I did my dissertation on when I was at college.
Were you able to have a good time with them or were you too busy shooting?
Yes, I had a good time for sure - there has to be positive energy when taking pictures, and so while it requires significant amounts of concentration, a shoot has to be punctuated with some fun otherwise the shooting process becomes a drag.
Are you looking forward to the gigs next year?
Absolutely, I am!
This exhibition coincides with the release of Spencer Jones’ latest project: a 200 page book of extraordinary photographs taken during his time with the band. Definitely Maybe: A View from Within – Photographs by Michael Spencer Jones will be available from 21st November 2024 on Amazon and www.spellboundgalleries.com
