Noel Gallagher’s early days in Doncaster: The guitar shop that helped shape Oasis
Noel Gallagher was a regular visitor on guitar shopping trips
As a new documentary film lifts the lid on the Oasis reunion, we’re taking a look back at the band’s Doncaster connection - and how Noel Gallagher used to be regular at a city centre store.
Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger is in cinemas from Wednesday 9 September and documents how feuding brothers Liam and Noel got back together for a series of huge gigs in 2025.
And a former Doncaster guitar store has a big part to play in the band’s history – because it’s where Noel Gallagher bought his very first instrument.
Back in the 90s as the beginning of the band’s career, Noel was a regular visitor to Music Ground, the vintage guitar shop in Hall Gate run by former rocker Rick Harrison and his son Justin Harrison, father of Doncaster rocker Yungblud.
The pair regularly welcomed huge rock stars of the day, with Bryan Adams and Johnny Marr of The Smiths among the customers.
And an interview with guitar manufacturer Gibson several years ago, Noel spoke fondly about his visits to Doncaster.
"We were talking about guitars and he’s like, ‘where did you get ‘em from?’
“I said, ‘there’s this place in Doncaster called Music Ground and he’d never heard of it.
"He said, ‘do you know where it is’ and I’d been there, something to do with the Inspiral Carpets, I think they’d bought some stuff from there.
"The next thing, he said ‘could you take us there?’ and I was like yeah, what you doing tomorrow? Errr, f*** all.
"So he picks me up in a car at India House and I was sitting in the back and he’s sitting in the front and there’s a guy driving. I vividly remember he was playing Exodus by Bob Marley.
"The guy driving has the most annoying laugh I think I’ve ever f***ing heard,” added Noel, “and Doncaster is a good hour and an half away.”
"This guy would turn out to be Owen Morris who was Johnny’s engineer at the time.
"So we go to Doncaster and go to Music Ground. This one in Doncaster was a mad shop, a mad vintage guitar shop. It was like an Aladdin’s cave.
Added Noel: “Johnny says, ‘I need to go and eat first before I shop.’
“So we go to a sandwich shop and he says to me ‘bit of advice, before you go guitar shopping, don’t do it on an empty stomach.’
"I was like ‘OK’ and we went and had a sandwich and cup of a tea at a cafe – and then he went and bought a Stratocaster with nine pick ups on it!
"I’d only know this guy two days, like a poster from my bedroom wall that’s come to life and he’s saying ‘do you think it’s mad, and I’m like “it’s mad as f***!”
Before his death at the age of 76 in 2023, Rick Harrison shared a photo and a cheque from Noel, showing how the musician had forked out £2,250 in the shop in December 1994.
He added: “Noel bought his first Gibson 355 at Music Ground.”
Rick who played with glam rock legends T-Rex in the 1970s, ran the shop for many years, with Coldplay and Cast also among the customers.