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Blur v Oasis was only part of the story: the case for a wider – and wilder – Britpop canon

The UK musicians who came to prominence in the mid-90s were more diverse and thrilling than is often acknowledged. In her new book, Miranda Sawyer, who was writing for the music press at the time, looks back through 20 songs

The cover line reads “Yanks go home”, and Maconie’s feature argued that, although Nirvana were a great group, the US rock bands that came in their wake were not, and surely it was time for some fantastic new British talent to get a look in. In that time, a vast array, a fast affray of very different artists and bands such as Elastica, Manic Street Preachers, Chemical Brothers, Garbage, Radiohead, Supergrass, Sleeper, Tricky, Underworld, PJ Harvey, the Prodigy – as well as Oasis, Blur, Pulp and Suede – all blossomed and came to the fore. Photograph: Channel Four Films/AllstarIt was about a group of friends – Renton (Ewan McGregor), the charming, lucky, deadbeat anti-hero, Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Johnny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd) – people you felt you already knew.

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