Glasgow music memories: Remembering the 90s rock legends who played 'secret' city gigs

On the face of it, nothing much – except both have played ‘secret’ gigs in Glasgow which have gone down in the city’s rock and roll history.

In March 1995, legendary purple rocker Prince was in town for his Ultimate Live Experience tour, raising the roof at the then Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre with a set jam-packed full of his hits.

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince back in the 90s.

Back then, he was the Artist Formerly Known As, and in typical enigma fashion, he did nothing by the book.

As the show at the SECC came to end, one of his band members suddenly announced that the party would continue at the city’s iconic Garage nightclub.

The fans were amazed.

Reviewer John Williams, writing for our sister newspaper The Herald, the day after the impromptu gig explained: “Arranged in a mid-afternoon frenzy after the Enigma Once Known As Prince let his extensive entourage know he wanted to play a club-sized post-SECC show, local promoters MIG had to find venue, facilities and audience in less than 12 hours.

“They did. How was it?”

He added: “Roadies pushed flight cases through the audience, asking us to ‘make a hole’. DJs mixed Symbol-esque dialogue with previews of the New Power Generation’s evidently funktastic Exodus album.

Oasis fans in 2002. Pic: Herald and Times

“At 1.51am, the NPG began an hour of inspired jam-session funk. If the material itself was rarely staggering, TAFKAP’s presence was that of a real star not far from the peak of his creativity and freed from the shackles big venues and audiences impose.”

John concluded: “As he escaped into the waiting stretch-limo which had reversed at high speed the wrong way down one-way Sauchiehall Street for him, we knew we would never be able to stare into the blackness of his Raybans from this close a vantage point again….”

So what’s the story with Oasis?

Oasis in 2002. Pic: Martin Shields

Unlike Prince at The Garage, the Gallagher brothers et al were unknown newbies to the music scene when they rocked up at King Tut’s in 1993 and politely asked to be added to the bill.

Writing in our sister newspaper The Herald in February 2005 to mark the legendary venue’s 15th birthday, booker David McGeachan recalled: “The night Oasis were signed, they weren’t even supposed to be there.

“Two bands from Creation records, Eighteen Wheeler and Boyfriend, were playing.

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“Oasis just turned up and, as legend has it - not that it’s 500 years ago - they turned up unwanted because by that time King Tut’s had a name for itself. They agreed to let them jump on for 20 minutes and they were signed on the spot.”

This is, of course, now legendary – Creation Records boss Alan McGee, who signed Oasis, often jokes he finds it hilarious when so many people claim to have been there that night, as there were just 69 people in the venue.

So were you one of the lucky ones?

Did you see The Artist Formerly Known As Prince at The Garage, or Oasis at King Tut’s?

What are your favourite 90s music memories? Get in touch with Times Past to share your stories and photos. Email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk