Johnny Depp’s Slide Guitar in Oasis’ ‘Fade In-Out’: The Wild Story Behind the Session

At the height of their fame in the 1990s, Oasis not only ruled the Britpop scene but also found themselves mingling with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Among their high-profile friends was actor Johnny Depp, who made a couple of unexpected appearances in the band’s music. While many fans may not realize it, Depp played guitar on two Oasis tracks—though his contributions have been met with mixed feelings.

A Surprising Turn in “Fade In-Out”
The most well-known of Depp’s collaborations with Oasis is his slide guitar work on “Fade In-Out” from their 1997 album Be Here Now. The track’s slide guitar parts are among its most distinctive elements, but they didn’t come from Noel Gallagher as expected. According to the band’s lore, Noel was reportedly too inebriated during the recording sessions to lay down the part himself. That’s when Depp, a close friend of the Gallaghers at the time, stepped in.

Noel later admitted to screaming on the track alongside his brother Liam, a moment he called “awful” in hindsight. “Me and Liam did a scream,” he recounted. “We had to take a week off afterwards. It was awful. If you hear it on the record, it’s put through a harmonizer and it sounds… it wasn’t very good.” Depp’s slide guitar, however, has become a standout feature of the song—proof that the band’s Hollywood connections went beyond mere socializing.

A Lesser-Known Collaboration on “Fade Away”
Depp’s earlier contribution came on the War Child version of “Fade Away,” a track recorded for the 1995 compilation The Help Album. While the song didn’t make it onto a studio album, it featured an impressive ensemble that included tambourine played by Depp’s then-girlfriend, supermodel Kate Moss. Depp’s guitar on this version adds a unique texture, though it often goes overlooked in the shadow of Oasis’ bigger hits.

Mixed Reactions and Enduring Legacy
While Depp’s involvement in these tracks might have added star power, Noel Gallagher’s comments suggest that not all memories of those recording sessions are fond ones. His critique of the “scream” on “Fade In-Out” is one of many moments where the Gallaghers’ perfectionist streak clashes with the laid-back presence of their celebrity friends.

For fans, these collaborations offer a fascinating glimpse into the band’s mid-’90s heyday, when Oasis could count Hollywood royalty among their inner circle. And while Noel may have his doubts about certain aspects of the recordings, Depp’s contributions remain a quirky, if divisive, chapter in the band’s storied career.