'Liam Gallagher gave me a platinum disc'

Anthony Lanni, when he was 15 in 1997, standing next to Liam Gallagher in a doorway Image source, Anthony Lanni
Image caption,

Anthony Lanni met Liam Gallagher in May 1997 when Oasis were at the height of their fame

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An Oasis superfan says a platinum disc he "cheekily" asked Liam Gallagher to give him after he turned up at his home aged 15 is still his "prized possession".

In 1997 Anthony Lanni, from Stevenage, and a group of friends "trotted down to London" to try to meet the group's lead singer at his home.

Mr Lanni recalled how as "the kind of funny, cheeky guy" he had just knocked on Gallagher's door.

At first the Mancunian frontman "wasn't best pleased" but after the friends hung around they eventually chatted with Gallagher who kindly handed over the disc.

Image source, Lily-May Symonds/BBC
Image caption,

Some might say that Anthony Lanni was very lucky to be given his unexpected gift from Liam Gallagher

Mr Lanni said in May 1997 his school friend knew where Gallagher lived, so the pals went there "and just stood outside".

"Me being the kind of funny, cheeky guy, I said 'I'll knock on his door'.

"When he first answered he wasn't best pleased, to be honest, I felt a bit deflated."

The pals rolled with it and about a half an hour later they saw the singer at his window "waving his arms around" and he asked them for a cigarette.

One of the friends, who was visibly shaking, handed him one (but no alcohol).

Mr Lanni added: "I was taking the mickey out of Man City, as I'm a bit of a Luton fan.

"It was just amazing standing there chatting to our biggest hero."

He said on the wall of Gallagher's home were platinum discs.

"I said 'hey Liam, let's have one of the discs', he then grabbed one from the wall and handed it to me.

"He said 'there you go, if you don't ask you don't get' and told me I could keep it."

Image source, Lily-May Symonds/BBC
Image caption,

Liam Gallagher signed the disc, but with Elvis instead of his name

The rock and roll star warned Mr Lanni to never to sell the seven-times platinum disc for sales of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? in Ireland, which he agreed to and said it was always his masterplan.

"It's priceless, it's just hanging on my dining room wall. I never have any intention of selling it... it's one of my prize possessions."

Mr Lanni has not yet been successful in getting tickets for the reformed band's tour, which begins in 2025.

Image source, Anthony Lanni
Image caption,

The cheeky escapades featured in the News of the World on 1 June 1997

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