1991: Whilst being interviewed after a gig in Norwich by then-NME journalist Steve Lamacq, Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards cut the phrase '4 Real' into his left arm with a razorblade. It was an astonishing signal of intent, with Ed Sirr's iconic images coming to define the band. Four years later, Edwards would disappear on the eve of the band's US tour, never to be seen again. He was declared legally dead in 2008. 

1994: Blur scored their first UK No. 1 album, with Parklife. The long-player spent over two years in the chart, and featured a number of singles that would go on to be regarded as some of the band's best: Parklife, Girls and Boys, To The End, and End Of A Century. 

1995: Supergrass releaed their debut album, I Should Coco. It reacherd No. 1 in the UK charts, and featured the band's breakout single, Alright, as well as Caught By The Fuzz, and live favourite Mansize Rooster. 

1997: In a move that even King Canute would have thought twice about, Oasis (along with Sony Music) attempted to stop unofficial websites from carrying lyrics, photos and audio files featuring the band. A few years later, Napster would launch and the genie was well and truly out of the bottle. 

Words: Thomas Jackson

Header Image: Supergrass by Danny Payne