Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” is one of Oasis’s defining anthems and a cornerstone of the Britpop era. Written by Noel Gallagher, it was released on 19 February 1996 as the fifth single from the band’s second album, What’s the Story Morning Glory? (1995). It was the first Oasis single to feature Noel on lead vocals, a role usually held by his brother Liam, marking a rare but significant shift in the band’s sound and presentation.

The song opens with a stately piano line before giving way to soaring choruses and a reflective lyric. Gallagher has explained that it’s about not dwelling on past mistakes, encouraging optimism and forward momentum. Its singalong quality helped cement it as a rallying anthem, later taking on new cultural significance as a communal song of resilience in public gatherings.

Commercially, the single was a major success. It debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, going on to achieve six-times platinum certification, and remains one of Oasis’s best-loved songs. While it had less chart impact outside the UK, it endures as one of the band’s most recognizable tracks and a symbol of the 1990s British rock revival.

The music video, directed by Nigel Dick and filmed on 4 December 1995, was shot in Pasadena, California, at a mansion located on Arden Road. In the video, actor Patrick Macnee — best known for playing the stylish secret agent John Steed in the 1960s British TV series The Avengers — appears driving the band in a black taxi before they arrive at the mansion. There, Oasis perform for an audience that includes women in white who occasionally mime the lyrics. The visuals blend a sense of surreal imagery with straightforward performance, a hallmark of mid-1990s Britpop video style. During filming, drummer Alan White met Liz Carey, one of the models in the video, who he would later marry in 1997. The video premiered alongside the single’s release in February 1996, and it has since become an essential companion to the song’s legacy.

Key Facts

• Songwriter: Noel Gallagher

• Producers: Noel Gallagher & Owen Morris

• Album: What’s the Story Morning Glory? (1995)

• Release date: 19 February 1996 (single)

• Length: 4:48

• Genre: Britpop, Rock

• Band lineup in 1996:

  • Noel Gallagher — lead vocals, lead & acoustic guitars, Mellotron, EBow

  • Liam Gallagher — backing vocals

  • Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs — piano, rhythm guitar, Hammond organ

  • Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan — bass guitar

  • Alan White — drums, percussion

• Chart performance:

  • UK Singles Chart: No. 1

  • UK certification: six-times platinum

Video Info

• Director: Nigel Dick

• Filmed: 4 December 1995

• Location: Pasadena, California (1145 Arden Road)

• Cameo: Patrick Macnee (John Steed in The Avengers) driving the band to the mansion

• Features: Performance sequences; women in white lip-synching; surreal mansion setting

• Trivia: Alan White met future wife Liz Carey during the shoot

• Release: February 1996, tied to single launch