Melody Maker Magazine 27 April 1996 Oasis Gallagher Brothers 70th NP003

Original Melody Maker magazine/newspaper dated 27 April 1996, produced as a major 70th Anniversary special souvenir issue celebrating the publication’s history from 1926–1996.

This is a particularly eye-catching mid-1990s issue with Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher of Oasis prominently featured on the front cover against a bright blue background. Noel is pictured in a red-and-white jacket holding his hand toward the camera with “BEATLES 67–70” written across his palm, while Liam stands alongside wearing tinted round glasses. The deliberately Beatles-referencing styling makes this a very period-specific piece of Oasis/Britpop memorabilia from the height of the band’s 1990s popularity.

The front also carries the large “Melody Maker 1926–96 70th Anniversary” emblem and advertises the publication as a substantial “92-Page Special Souvenir Issue.” This makes it more than a standard weekly issue, with its anniversary presentation aimed at looking back across Melody Maker’s long history of British popular music journalism.

The combination of the Gallagher brothers, Beatles reference, 70th anniversary branding and oversized souvenir format gives the cover particularly strong display appeal for collectors of Oasis, Britpop, 1990s music press and Melody Maker memorabilia.

The reverse side shown in the photographs carries a striking full-page colour photograph of three male musicians against the same vivid blue studio-style background, continuing the bold photographic presentation of the issue.

Magazine / Collector Interest

This issue dates from April 1996, right in the middle of the huge Britpop era when Oasis were among the most prominent bands in British popular culture. The cover’s direct Beatles 1967–70 reference is especially notable, tying into the frequent comparisons and musical influences associated with Oasis during this period.

The issue should appeal particularly to collectors interested in:

• Oasis
• Liam Gallagher
• Noel Gallagher
• Britpop
• The Beatles / Oasis cultural connections
• 1990s British music journalism
• Melody Maker
• Music newspaper and magazine memorabilia
• 70th anniversary / souvenir editions

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition with noticeable age and handling wear.

From the supplied photographs:

• Front cover remains bright, colourful and highly presentable, with the main Oasis image and anniversary graphics displaying strongly.
• There is visible surface rubbing, scuffing and handling wear, particularly across the darker clothing areas.
• Noticeable edge wear is present around the perimeter.
• The bottom edge shows rubbing, small creases and areas of fraying/wear.
• The left-hand edge/spine area shows several small creases and pressure marks.
• The upper edge has minor waviness and age-related wear.
• The top-right corner shows a noticeable bend/crease.
• Some further light creasing and wrinkling can be seen around the outer margins.
• The reverse side also shows minor edge and corner wear, particularly toward the lower edge.
• General age-related marks and handling are consistent with a nearly 30-year-old large-format music publication.
• No obvious major tears or large missing sections are visible in the supplied photographs.
• Overall the publication presents well for its age but should not be considered mint.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.

Item Details

Publication: Melody Maker Magazine
Full Date: 27 April 1996
Special Edition: 70th Anniversary – 1926–1996
Advertised Size: 92-Page Special Souvenir Issue
Front Cover: Liam Gallagher & Noel Gallagher – Oasis
Cover Theme: Oasis / Beatles 1967–70 reference
Genre: Britpop / Rock / Alternative / Music Journalism
Era: 1990s
Format: Large-format weekly music magazine/newspaper
Language: English
Condition: Pre-owned vintage condition with visible edge wear, rubbing and creasing
SKU: NP003