Noel's Gallagher's Music To Our Ears

Having been in the country for almost two weeks, UK rock legend Noel Gallagher is becoming accustomed to life in Australia.

There's the blistering summer heat and the immediate connection he feels with Australian crowds.

But there's one thing Noel Gallagher cannot understand why Australian news services were running reports of Prime Minister Julia Gillard losing her shoe.

"Did you see all that sh** on the news? It was like Monty Python it was brilliant," laughs Gallagher.

While he understands the extremity of the events surrounding the PM's misplaced footwear, it remains one of the highlights of his trip he chose to share the story on his blog.

"I kind of seen it when your Prime Minister was bungled into the car and then there was the thing that she lost the shoe," continues Gallagher.

"I followed it for a couple of days and it (the news) was like 'we must find the shoe'. I'm like 'f*****g hell what's in the shoe?' Nobody cares. This country cracks me up."

Gallagher admits if he was to come into possession of the footwear he would "put it straight on eBay" because, when it comes to fashion, this rocker knows what he likes and wedge-style shoes aren't on his list.

" I loathe wedges," he says with a sigh. "When my wife wears them I wag my finger and go 'f*****g hell, you got to do better than that love'. Wedges, they're not welcome in my house."

The vocal guitarist, song-writer and now frontman is experiencing a new type of success following the demise of Oasis. Gallagher's venture with High Flying Birds has left him relaxed and refreshed. And with his former band now vacating the highly sought after rock throne, there's a new generation ready for the challenge.

"I don't even know if there is a throne, if you know what I mean," he explains. "Kasabian and the Arctic Monkeys are now the two biggest guitar bands in England that is if Kasabian is a guitar band?"

But perhaps Gallagher could resume his seat on the throne with his new project?

"I don't intend to stop making music," he says.

"I might change the way I make it and get it out there. Whether I carry on solo or do something else you'll always be able to hear new contemporary songs of mine.

"But I don't make plans for the future because plans they never really work."

One thing Gallagher couldn't have planned for is having this month's edition of NME magazine devoted to his career.

"It's all kind of slightly embarrassing but you know it's nice to be honoured," he says. "But a full magazine about myself um I don't know, it might make me feel a bit uncomfortable when I go into the local newsagents to get my newspapers. I'm like 'what the f*** is this all about'. But, you know, I think it will be nice for my kids to read it in years to come."

Meanwhile, Gallagher says he hasn't heard "one single note" of newcomer Lana Del Rey recently featured in NME and doesn't care to talk about her either.

"Well, she might be everywhere but she's not in my head," he says sternly.

"She's not in my ears I've heard of her but I've never heard one single note of her music and I don't need to have a f*****g opinion."

But if Gallagher does read the magazine this month, he hopes it doesn't include the greatest rumour he's heard about himself. "It was when Paul McCartney got married recently there was a picture of me going into his wedding reception except it wasn't me," he laughs.

"The caption underneath said 'high flying guest Gallagher arrives' and it wasn't me it so blatantly wasn't me it was f*****g unbelievable. So for the next six weeks I (was) touring the states and every interview was 'So? McCartney's wedding did you go?' and I was like 'Yes I did and I can f*****g tell you it was absolutely incredible'. I said we were all doing acid."

"I caught up with him (McCartney) and we had a good laugh about it. The guy didn't even look like me . . ."

With his time in Australia wrapping up, Gallagher hopes to check out a few people on the bill but not headliners Soundgarden and Kanye West. He does however like the idea of the supposed rift between the two.

Chris Cornell is reported to have said onstage; "Sounds like there's children playing music there, retarded children" referring to Kanye's sound check.

"Really?" laughs Gallagher. "That's great I've not heard any of that I might have to get involved in that s*** and stir them up a bit."

Although they're not on the bill, Gallagher would like to make time for his favourite Australian acts.

Of You Am I, he says: "That record Hourly Daily is incredible."

He also admires the lads from Jet but when quizzed about iconic rockers INXS and their choice for yet another lead singer, he is baffled.

"Michael Hutchence was INXS," he says.

"The other guys, I wouldn't recognise them if one of them walked into my room now and served me f*****g lunch.

"To me, once the band is gone, it's f*****g gone move on and do something else."

But what if Noel had died a few years ago and Oasis went on without him? "No well I'm just the guitarist you can replace guitarists."

With just two shows left in Australia, Gallagher knows he has a busy year ahead back home in Britain as a solo artist, but he's looking to wrap up the campaign on his self-titled debut album in November.

"I should be finished around November, which will leave me with my favourite time of the year Christmas," he sighs.

So, should we hold our breath for a Christmas single from the British rock Grinch?

"Not unless you want a song called I F*****g Hate Christmas by Noel Gallagher," he adds.

Source: www.adelaidenow.com.au