30TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEFINITELY MAYBE AT TOWN HALL HOTEL
Oasis, 30 Years Later: Michael Spencer Jones Takes Over Town Hall Hotel with Iconic Retrospective
East London’s Town Hall Hotel is about to get a whole lot louder. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe, Oasis’ debut album that blew the doors off Britpop, the hotel is hosting a rare exhibition of British photographer Michael Spencer Jones’ work with the band—just in time for their shock reunion announcement.
Launching on 25th October 2024, the show brings together the defining visual moments of Oasis, curated by the man behind the camera lens who made the rock ‘n’ roll myth feel real. Expect a journey through Spencer Jones’ era-defining imagery—yes, the Definitely Maybe cover will be there, but it’s the never-before-seen shots that are going to make fans lose their minds.
More than just an album, Definitely Maybe was the pulse of a generation, and Spencer Jones was the eye documenting it all. Town Hall Hotel, with its East End edge and Art Deco decadence, is the perfect place to showcase his iconic work. This isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a full-on dive into the raw energy that fuelled one of the biggest bands of the ‘90s.
Meet the Man Behind Britpop’s Visuals
Michael Spencer Jones might have started out in Sheffield, but his career took off when he became the unofficial lensman of Britain’s rock revolution. By the early ‘90s, after studying at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art, he was deep in the Manchester scene, shooting iconic bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. His first major assignment? Capturing The Stone Roses’ Spike Island gig, where a couple of unknown lads named Noel and Liam Gallagher were in the crowd, soaking it all in. A few years later, those same brothers would be fronting Oasis, and Spencer Jones would go on to create the unforgettable images that cemented their legend.
It all kicked off in 1993 when he shot Oasis for the first time, and from that moment, the band and his camera were inseparable. Over the years, Spencer Jones produced the covers for the band’s first three albums and 12 of their singles, forever tying his creative vision to the band’s rise. His work isn’t just album art; it’s the visual DNA of Britpop.
Town Hall Hotel isn’t just letting you peek at these legendary photographs and calling it a day. The exhibition includes an exclusive live Q&A in late November, where Spencer Jones will sit down with music journalist John Robb to talk about the behind-the-scenes madness, the chemistry, and the moments that defined an era. Want to know what really went down during the Definitely Maybe shoot? This is your chance to hear it straight from the source.
As if that wasn’t enough, Spencer Jones is also dropping a new 200-page book, Definitely Maybe: A View from Within. The book, available from 21st November 2024, is packed with unreleased photos and insider moments that capture the wild ride Oasis was on. You can grab a copy on Amazon or from Spellbound Galleries.
Town Hall Hotel: East London’s Art-Meets-Rock Vibes
What better setting for an exhibition about Britpop’s grittiest band than Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green? This Grade-II listed building might be all Art Deco glamour, but its history of playing host to film shoots like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Atonement means it knows how to mix class with attitude. With its mix of old-school architecture and modern design, Town Hall Hotel is as much a part of East London’s creative scene as the bands that came out of it.
From iconic album art to previously unseen backstage moments, this exhibition is a deep dive into one of the most important chapters of British music culture. It’s a chance for die-hard fans and curious onlookers alike to relive the magic that made Oasis a global phenomenon—and to get a glimpse of what’s coming next. So, dust off your vinyl, head to Bethnal Green, and immerse yourself in the world of Definitely Maybe, 30 years on.
This is more than an exhibition—it’s a celebration of the album, the band, and the art that made them legends.
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 at spellboundgalleries.com
