LONDON REPORT: Oasis, the Manchester-based quintet fronted...

LONDON REPORT: Oasis, the Manchester-based quintet fronted by Liam Gallagher and his brother Noel, has broken the all-time British record for first-week sales of a debut album.

The group’s “Definitely Maybe” sold 150,000 copies in its first week of release, breaking the previous record held by the much-hyped Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Welcome to the Pleasure Dome” in 1984. Oasis’ album entered the British album chart at No. 1, knocking off the new album by the Three Tenors.

The achievement is even more notable given that the album was released by the independent Creation label (it’s also just been released in the U.S., where Creation is distributed by Epic Records). Anticipation for the album built after a succession of singles, “Supersonic,” “Shakermaker” and “Live Forever,” enjoyed increasing chart success, prompting frequent comparison to another Manchester band, the long-silent Stone Roses.

Among Oasis’ keenest fans is the Lemonheads’ Evan Dando, who has been attending the group’s live shows and even played an unannounced solo opening set before an Oasis show last month. After the show, Dando stood on the roof of the venue, singing to fans as they left the building. (Oasis will be at the Whisky on Sept. 29.)

* The London Suede has recruited unknown 17-year-old musician Richard Oakes to replace guitarist Bernard Butler, who walked out on the band toward the end of sessions for the upcoming “Dog Man Star” album. Oakes was called in for an audition after sending the band a tape in response to a press advertisement placed in the British music press.

* Johnny Depp stars in and directed a new video for former Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan. The video, for a song titled “That Woman’s Got Me Drinking,” features Depp as a drunken customer telling his troubles to barman MacGowan. The singer’s real-life significant other, rock journalist Victoria Clarke, appears as the title woman, leaving with the MacGowan character at the end. Depp and MacGowan have been friends for a long time and MacGowan was one of the opening night performers at the actor’s Sunset Strip club, the Viper Room.