SJM promoters Jack Dowling and John Cornwell have paid tribute to Chris York ahead of the Oasis Live ’25 Tour, which launches at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff tonight (July 4).
York, a co-founder of SJM, died aged 55 in July 2024 following a period of illness. His passing prompted tributes from the industry and artists he had championed.
“He was a legend in the industry and massively important to our company and to all of us,” said Cornwell.
York worked with Oasis from the early days of the band after he heard a white label of Columbia.
“The Oasis reunion is arguably the biggest tour ever,” said Dowling. “That was his band, he was putting them on to 200, 300 people [in the early ’90s]. So for this to happen, he was very instrumental in it, in making them what they were.”
“He was very much part of it and instrumental in their journey,” said Cornwell.
Chris was a legend in the industry and massively important to our company
John Cornwell
Describing the Oasis tour as “properly exciting”, Cornwell added: “It's more than just another tour, isn't it? It almost defines this year, and all the end-of-year-reports will be talking about the amazing Oasis tour.”
Following SJM’s win for Live Music Promoter at the Music Week Awards (pictured), Dowling underlined their role at all levels of the live sector.
“We've got a lot of really class young promoters coming through, and even the senior ones are doing gigs for 50 people,” said Dowling. “Two, three years later, you could be doing the stadium with the same person. We were doing Benson Boone in Colours in Hoxton, and he is now arguably a stadium act. It's a privilege.”
He added that the Music Week Awards win was particularly welcome as the live music landscape is “arguably the most competitive it's ever been”.
PHOTO: Will Ireland
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