This May, The Tung Auditorium present Before Oasis: In Conversation with Marcus Russell – a rare opportunity to hear the story of how one of the UK’s most successful artist managers came to work with Oasis, the definitive act of Britpop.
Along with Dr Mike Jones from the University of Liverpool’s Department of Music – a lifelong friend of Russell’s – they will reflect on memories of Russell’s formative music industry experiences as a young gig promoter. The story begins in his hometown of Ebbw Vale in South Wales, eventually leading to his management of Jones’s band Latin Quarter, which became a springboard to a 40-year career.
The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A.
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Thursday 8th May 2025 | 7pm
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre | The Tung Auditorium
TICKETS: https://thetungauditorium.com/events/before-oasis-in-conversation-with-marcus-russell
A little bit more about Marcus and Mike…
Marcus’ early music promoting career in the 1970’s, alongside Mike, included gigs by bands such as Mott the Hoople, Pete Brown’s Piblokto and Supertramp. In the late 70’s continuing as a promoter in London with bands such as XTC, Steel Pulse and The Stranglers. After managing Mike Jones’ band Latin Quarter in the mid ’80’s, Marcus managed The Bible, Johnny Marr, The The and Electronic. Alongside and after Oasis, he also managed Mercury Rev, Crowded House, Hard Fi, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Mike’s career began as a songwriter, when he wrote the hit single ‘Radio Africa’ as part of the band Latin Quarter. The band released four albums for major record companies and two further albums for independent companies. After experiencing this process as young professional in the industry, Mike researched his experience as a PhD student in the Institute of Popular Music at Liverpool University. He was then appointed as Programme Lead for the first ever MBA in Music Industries. Subsequently, he developed an MA degree in Music Industry Studies at The University of Liverpool. In recent years, Mike has also developed the MA Classical Music Industry course in partnership with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and contributed to the MA in The Beatles: Music Industry and Heritage.
