Liam Gallagher chats about his first ever solo record, his brother Noel, a potential Oasis reunion, Jay-Z, his inability to swim, and pretty much everything else you'd want Liam Gallagher to address.
"The first two times I met Liam and Noel separately, I was absolutely s—ing myself," says superfan and filmmaker.
It’s a stern warning that has been repeated many times throughout history: You should never meet your heroes.
But that is exactly what documentary filmmaker Mat Whitecross did when he set out to make a movie about music superstars Oasis.
“I had the posters on the wall, I had the albums, the singles, I was reading about them every week in all the music magazines — so it was kind of nerve-wracking,” recalled the director of Oasis: Supersonic ahead of the music doc’s theatrical release.
“I was expecting it to be a disaster.”
Whitecross had good reason for concern. Not only did Oasis rise to become Britain’s biggest band in the ’90s with hits like Wonderwall, but the Manchester act’s two leads — Liam and Noel Gallagher — became notorious for sibling squabbles and fights, erratic behaviour and caustic outspoken statements.
These guys weren’t exactly ambassadors of affability.
“That’s part of the reason we made the film,” insisted Whitecross of the impetus to profile the estranged Gallaghers.
“You’ve got the two brothers and that love-hate relationship; that volatile thing that played out so publicly is fascinating. Bands now don’t have anywhere near the kind of danger around them.”
Buoyed by archive footage and intimate tales of scandalous road stories, Oasis: Supersonic has been gaining acclaim for its inspection of both the discord and devotion between the brothers that once brazenly called themselves the next Beatles.
Yet, even seven years after their final performance, Whitecross still isn’t able to get the siblings together in a room to talk about the storied career that earned them a place in the Guinness Book of Records for most consecutive Top Ten singles.
“Liam will talk very affectionately about Noel and Noel similarly about Liam.
“Then five minutes later, they slag each other off,” laughed the 39-year-old filmmaker who has directed music videos for the likes of Jay-Z and Coldplay.
“I used to joke these are like therapy sessions. For Liam, definitely — it was like the therapy he never had, but they both seemed to enjoy the process of going back in a huge amount of detail over the past.”
Gallagher continues his criticism of streaming services following take down of Tidal.
Noel Gallagher has voiced his opinion on Apple's new music streaming service Apple Music following recent disparaging remarks made about rival platform Tidal.
In May, Gallagher was quoted as saying that the artists that helped launch Jay Z's Tidal thought they were "the fucking Avengers". Commenting on their goals to "save music", the former Oasis guitarist said that "they might want to write a decent chorus for a fucking start".
Now, speaking to the Varvet International podcast, Gallagher has said that while he admits that streaming is "clearly the future" because "people wiser than me tell me that it is", the lack of record sales in modern music "makes him sad".
Gallagher explained his feelings: "If you tell me now that the record buying era is over that makes me sad, that the culture of buying and believing in a record is over. That era is over and the belief is that music is for hire and for rent, the money that you pay lets you access everybody’s music but own none of it. I think that’s a sad day. I understand that it’s the future, but it’s a sad day."
He then shifted his focus to Apple Music, saying of their launch of 24/7 global station Beats 1: "Apple Music, world radio, is that some sort of George Orwell shit going on?"
"How can you be so arrogant that you can say 'We now fucking own world radio'. It came up on my phone, it’s there. What would I listen to? It's not playing The Kinks. Unless there’s a fucking section that says 'Noel Gallagher’s music collection' then I won’t be listening to it.
"I don’t know the idea, what is it exactly? You pay 10 pound a month and then think ‘Mmm, I’m in a jazz mood today’ and then you’re not listening to yours, you’re letting someone else make the decision and I don’t know."
Referring to Apple's new 'Connect' feature that allows fans to follow artists they like, Gallagher continued: "Who gives a fuck what the artist is doing? My love for The Smiths never suffered because I didn’t know what they were doing. They were either on tour, disappeared and then put an album out and we all said ‘Wow, fucking hell an album’s coming out, what’s it called? Nobody knows’.
"Who cares what fucking Thom Yorke is up to? Seriously who gives a shit? I'd find it creepy if everyone wanted to know what I was up to."
Songwriter revealed in new interview that he is working with a "mystery producer" on new music.
Noel Gallagher has revealed that he is working on new music with a "mystery producer", dropping hints that it could be Jamie xx.
Gallagher was interviewed at Dutch festival Best Kept Secret over the weekend and discussed an album he is working on with the unnamed producer. While admitting that "it may come to nothing," when his interviewer mentioned Jamie xx of The xx, Gallagher said with a smile: "Did you just say Jamie xx? Yeah, well, no comment."
The only firm facts that Gallagher confirmed in the short interview was that, "I can tell you it’s not fucking Timbaland, or Jay-Z".
Approached for further information on the subject by NME, a spokesperson for Noel Gallagher declined to comment.
Next month, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds headline Calling Festival at London's Clapham Common on July 4. The show will be the biggest headline gig he's played in the UK as a solo artist. The supporting line-up features Ryan Adams, The Hives, Wolf Alice and more.
Jamie xx will tour the UK in October following festival appearances during the summer.
Noel Gallagher is an easy target, if only because he gleefully takes aim at just about everything in his sights. In recent years, he's pointed his abrasive Mancunian accent at Jay Z, The X Factor and, most famously, his own brother, Oasis frontman Liam.
Scroll through enough of his soundbites and it'll dawn on you like a champagne supernova: This isn't a schtick. But taken as a whole, the following collection also reveals a sensitivity that belies much of Gallagher's couldn't-give-a-fook bravado.
He cuts himself down nearly as often as he does others, and he congratulates those of his victims who show they're in on the joke.
Decades of bad behavior have prompted public apologies and begged the question, why do we keep asking Noel Gallagher what he thinks?
But the answer is simple: Because unlike so many others in the industry he loves to cut down, he remains totally honest.
The next issue of Q hits UK newsstands on Tuesday next week (27 September) and it's a special one - it's got 25 collector's covers (and two bonus ones) for starters.
Celebrating our 25th birthday, Q304 features covers and interviews with the most important acts who are shaping music right now.
Each one talks about how music shaped their life, singling out the key tracks, albums and artists that have made them the musicians they are.
We will be telling you more about this special issue on Qthemusic.com next week, but in the meantime click here for a sneak preview of all 25 covers, plus the exclusive Jay-Z subscribers covers and the limited edition Manic Street Preaches cover which comes with an special vinyl version of the band's forthcoming singles collection National Treasures.
Order your favourite artists' covers now while stocks last at Greatmagazines.co.uk/Q25.
Exclusive photos of David Bowie/Kate Moss, Jay-Z, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga, Adele, Chris Martin, Rihanna, Take That, Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Tinie Tempah, Katy Perry and many more 7th ' 9th October at Red Bull Studios 155-171 Tooley Street London SE1 2JP.
Q ' the UK's biggest selling monthly music magazine ' will be celebrating 25 years of iconic photography with it's first major photo exhibition, to be held from the 7th-9th of October at Red Bull Studios, Tooley Street in London.
The exhibition is the latest event to mark the 25th anniversary of Q , a magazine which has shaped and influenced the UK music scene for two and a half decades. Every significant act to have emerged in that time ' from U2 to Adele, Oasis to Rihanna, Radiohead to Laura Marling, Jay-Z to Florence And The Machine, and countless more besides ' has graced the magazine's hallowed cover and here for the first time some of that imagery will be exhibited.
Q is one of the world's most influential music brands ' communicating to and engaging with more than a million music fans every day. The iconic Q magazine sits at the heart of the brand and is connected to a 360-degree service that encompasses online, social media, radio, TV and live events, with each dedicated to discovering great new music and bringing unparalleled access and insight in the people making it.
Q Editor In Chief Paul Rees says: 'Throughout its history Q has photographed the biggest and most exciting people in music ' and has always strived to create indelible images that encapsulate the essence of them. We are rightly proud of the many outstanding photographers who have worked for Q and of the results of their labours. The Icons exhibition is the perfect stage from which to celebrate their great work.'
Gaz from the Hippy Mafia who's band are supporting Beady Eye's in Canada, took time to answer a few questions ahead of tonight's gig.
The Hippy Mafia is the collaboration of five individuals from five music genres hailing from Manchester UK and Ontario Canada.
Who's in the band and how did you meet up?
The three of us are from Manchester, we played together on and off for years. Then we moved to Toronto for no particular reason, there we met two West Indian Torontonians who were huge Oasis and Manchester music fans. Which was unusual we thought, we all shared a love and passion for the Beatles as well as 60's soul and funk.
So we formed a band Hippymafia, who have been described by one journalist 'the Black Beatles',which I love. Not sure its accurate, but I'm having that one.
How did the Beady Eye gigs come about? What should fans expect?
Our mate here in Toronto is another ex-pat Mancunian. 'Coatsey' he's an old school friend of Liam's and as well as guitar tech for us he is also guitar tech for Snow Patrol who share the same Tour manager Neil Mather as Beady Eye.
Neil was also Tour Manager for the Happy Mondays, my former band. Also Castro our vocalist/guitar was in Bonehead's band. It's all very incestious, if that's a fucking word?
We mix 60's type melody/heavy guitars with harmonies and poetic Rap. We have 2 vocalist one sings one raps. Don't be put off by the Rap element, it's rapping for folks who don't usually dig rap. It all fits together, strange as it may seem sort of Beach Boys meets Jay-Z if you like!!!
Have you heard Different Gear, Still Speeding? If so, what are your thoughts?
To be blunt, best album in the last five years for me Oasis aside of course. It's a grower (which are always the best albums)it takes a few listens, but it blows my mind love it.
Each week I have a different favourite track, its got attitude and melody. It has a very Rubber Soul/Revolver era feel, I can't stop playing it. It's an album that will have legs today's favourite is Wigwam. We really like the new album a lot, and we're psyched to hear the songs live.
Were you fans of Oasis? If so, when did you first hear them? What are your favourite tracks?
I seem alone on this but my favourite album is 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants'. It may be because I played drums for the support band (Proud Mary) on that tour, so I got to see it close up.. I first heard them off a demo Phil Saxe had when he was working for Factory Records. As for fav track it's difficult, off the top of my head 'D'You Know What I Mean?' is top and 'I'm Outta Time' is a personal favourite.
What are your plans for the rest of the year? Will you be playing dates anywhere outside the US?
Not sure,nothing planned as yet. would love to play IK for obvious reasons.
For more details on the band visit here, follow the band on Twitter by clicking here.
In a recent interview with Q Magazine, Jay-Z spoke of Noel Gallagher's outspoken reaction to a rapper headlining Glastonbury. He said, "I thought it was a bit music-racist. An old way of thinking. Everyone trying to do something new is going to come up against a Noel Gallagher figure in their life."
Jay reprised his cover of 'Wonderwall' at Coachella Festival on Friday night.
Much of the 90-minute set featured guitars with samples and backing tracks from The Doors, The Prodigy and even U2 being added in at various junctures.
In an echo of last year's Glastonbury performance, he also used a breakbeat-augmented snippet of Oasis' 'Wonderwall'.
Towards the end of the show, Jay-Z devoted a segment of the set to cover early parts of his career which culminated in a mass sing-a-long of 'Hard Knock Life'.
He then invited Beyonce on stage to duet with him on the finale of 'Young Forever' as fireworks lit up the desert sky behind them.
As promised, we have another exclusive here on StopCryingYourHeartOut.com!
Friend of the site Liam Gallagher granted us a few precious minutes to discuss the new Pretty Green line coming out this month.
Liam was in good form, though he kept his cards close to his chest on the subject of his new band, he let us in on his plans for Pretty Green, what happened at the Brits and who's on his transfer wish list for Man City this summer.
Myself: One thing that I'm amazed by is that everything with Pretty Green has happened so fast. In less then a year from the first ideas, you are about to release another collection. Have you been surprised how quickly things have moved?
Liam: No, we don’t fuck about.
Myself: The range has been well received, has that surprised you?
Liam: It does surprise me considering I’ve got something to do with it, there are a lot of people who try to kill things before they even become alive.
Myself: What are the stand out items from the forthcoming range?
Liam: The camouflage parka, stands out to me personally and the button down shirts.
Myself: What's the feedback been like from fans who have ordered items from the range?
Liam: They all comment on the quality and the fit of the clothes.
Myself: Are there any specific items from the range that customers are asking for more of?
Liam: A lot of girls are asking if we will be doing a range for them, and the answer to that is YES once we have got rid of all the lads stuff.
Myself: Do you still have a big involvement with the designing of the clothes and all the materials used?
Liam: Of course 100%.
Myself: You spoke to me in Cardiff last year about bringing out accessories like sunglasses, belts etc are these still being planned?
Liam: Yes we will be adding to the range, ie accessories.
Myself: Are there any plans to bring out accessories on the female range of Pretty Green? Personally I would definitely buy a Pretty Green Handbag?
Liam: Are you taking the piss? Handbags!!! course we are!
(I somehow think Liam was joking on this one)
Myself: You are releasing the Desert Boots later this year in a joint venture with Clarks, what did they think to the suttle changes you made to such a classic boot?
Liam: They were over the moon.
Myself: Are there any other joint ventures in the pipeline you can tell us about?
Liam: Theres lots but I cant tell you about them at the moment.
Myself: Are there still plans for a flagship Pretty Green store?
Liam: At the moment, we are looking in Manchester, London, Glasgow and Tokyo.
Myself: It's been rumoured that you plan to visit more countries to promote the upcoming range. Are these still going ahead? and can you tell us any of the countries you plan to visit?
Liam: We have just got back from Japan, and will be heading to New York this month and Europe after that.
Myself: How do you decide which designs to offer to stores? And the ones to sell exclusively on the Pretty Green website?
Liam: We sit down and talk about it, but always want to keep certain pieces back for the people who are members of Pretty Green like the green desert boot. That’s only available online.
Myself: You gave Paul Weller one of the limited edition Black Parka jackets, Has he given you any feedback on it?
Liam: He loved it, we also gave him a white one but were still waiting for the cheque in the post.
Myself: How has your website grown? Are you seeing more people purchasing online now than before?
Liam: Yeah, its growing all the time.
Myself: When will the new collection be shown to fans around the world?
Liam: March 22nd on our site.
Myself: What were the best selling items from the launch collection?
Liam: We sold out of everything.
Myself: Why didn’t you mention Noel in your speech at the Brits?
Liam: I'm sick of it all being about me and Noel, the last couple of months has pretty much been all about me and him so I thought it was only right to mention the other lads who played on the album and the best fans in the world.
Myself: What was the reason behind you throwing the Oasis award into the crowd at the Brits?
Liam: I thought it was a nice Gesture to give this to the fans, obviously it was misinterpreted as per usual.
How are the plans for the new band coming along, do you still plan to put out a album and tour this year?
Liam: Its all going really good.
Have you decided on a name for the band yet?
Liam: Not yet.
Do you have any song titles that you can tell us about?
Liam: No.
Will you play any Oasis songs when you eventually tour? Or will it all be new material?
Liam: Too fucking right! Don’t Look Back In Anger in acapella.
Roger Daltrey said in an interview that he had contacted you for the TCT but you were otherwise engaged, can we expect to see you and your new band at the Teenage Cancer Trust next year?
Liam: Without a doubt Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity close to my heart, Oasis played it a couple times and I'd like to think we can carry this on with the new band.
Do you think Manchester City can now grab a Champions League place, after the convincing win against Chelsea?
Liam: Without a doubt!
What two players would you like to see sign for City in the summer?
Liam: There’s a young lad called Harry Grant who plays for Swindon and Mario Belatelli who plays for Inter Milan.
Do you think England can win the World Cup?
Liam: Yeah!
You have worked with The Prodigy and Death in Vegas would you ever work with the Gorrilaz?
Liam: I've been told many times never to work with animals, far too dangerous.
Jay-Z said in a interview earlier this year that he would love to work with you? would you ever do something like that?
Liam: If the tunes right and its not too far out of my comfort zone, then yeah, fucking right!
Thanks to Liam for taking the time to answer the questions, the new collection from Pretty Green will go on sale on www.prettygreen.com from March 22nd.
Check back here on Monday for a interview with Liam Gallagher, we talked to him about the new collection from Pretty Green, The Brits, Manchester City, Teenage Cancer Trust and working with Jay-Z and the Gorillaz and more.
Jay-Z has offered a truce to Oasis - saying he wants to meet them.
A war of words broke out between the star and Noel Gallagher over the rapper's headline slot at Glastonbury in 2008, but now Jay-Z has heaped praise on the rockers, who broke up last August.
"We have had our words in the past but the fact is they were one of the biggest bands in the world and you don't become that big unless you are making music of the highest quality - if they ever got back together, I would really like to meet them".
Jay-Z has refuted reports that he will be teaming up with former Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher in near future.
The rapper clarified that his comments about a possible project were misinterpreted.
“It was an offhand comment, someone asked me if I would work with him. I don’t have any problem, so I said anything is possible,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.
He added: “It’s not like we had any talks of doing it, it’s like someone asked me would you work with him, I said ‘Yeah, I don’t have any problem with it’.”
Gallagher had criticized the organizers of the U.K.’s Glastonbury festival last year for bringing in Jay-Z to play in the rock n’ roll festival.
Inside the last issue of the NME Magazine, that on sale on Wednesday 30 September, you'll find one of the more bizarre head-to-head interviews in NME's history: Jay-Z vs Ian Brown.
Here is a small extract from part one of the interview.
NME: You've done quite a few shows recently that have been ‘away crowds’. You're doing the show with Coldplay, you did Glastonbury.
JZ: That was something new for me: it was almost like we were conquering a territory. We came over and there were these tents, it was like war, you know!? There was all this banter, about hip-hop shouldn’t be here and then, at that point, I was like, ‘Man, should I not be here?’ I was like, ‘What have I gotten into?’
IB: But it turned out you got the biggest crowd Glastonbury had ever seen!
JZ: Yes, well, that is just what happens – that old line of the fence. But on the other side people were like, ‘Yes, come over, this is how we listen to music, we like hip-hop, we like everything, we like all types of music’. But the people in control of the press and the media, they all made it seem like it was a real thing, but once I played the short film at the beginning – about the people saying, ‘You shouldn’t play Glastonbury’ – when the crowd responded like ‘Nooooo!’, that was when I was, like, ‘Wooo!’
NME: We did an interview with Noel shortly after that and he said he didn’t mean it like that at all. You know, he’s into his hip-hop...
IB: I was surprised when he came out with that, knowing where Noel’s from. I thought, ‘Why would he have any problem?’ I couldn’t work out what he was trying to say. Even if he didn’t like hip-hop – which we know he does – why would he not think, ‘Well, there is a guy who comes from a place similar to me, but the American version, and look where he is’, and support it. I think when he was sat on the sofa that night, when it was on TV and the little film that you made came on, he must have been like, ‘Oh my God!’
NME: And you finished your show at the Roundhouse with Wonderwall.
JZ: Well, that is the irony of it! At my bar called The Spotted Pig that is, to this day, our theme song. The song, when everyone has had enough to drink...
IB: That is the song of the night.
JZ: That is the song of the night, exactly! ‘OK, put Wonderwall on now!’ Because we know the place goes off, you get everyone singing. It is brilliant, you have a fantastic time. So, you know, it was like, ‘Man, it is weird how it works out’. But it worked out.
IB: It worked out that he actually did you a favour, because if it was a war, you just took the country that week.
Check out this week's NME Magazine for part two of the interview.
Jigga says his Glastonbury 2008 appearance was akin to winning his first Grammy.
Jay-Z has said that Noel Gallagher's views on him headlining Glastonbury in 2008 showed up the former Oasis guitarist's "archaic" stance on hip hop.
Speaking on BBC One's flagship political programme The Andrew Marr Show, Jay-Z explained that when he took to the stage at Worthy Farm after his well-documented verbal spat with Gallagher it felt like winning a Grammy award.
"That was like winning the first Grammy for me. It was one of those times where , you know…almost like knocking the door down," he told Marr.
"Noel Gallagher, I think he perpetuated the old way of thinking. We don't think like that, or listen to music like that [now]. On my iPod is The Beatles, Jay-Z, Kings Of Leon, Lil Wayne, Grizzly Bear, Arctic Monkeys. I listen to a diverse arrangement of music, and I think that how kids listen to music now.
Elsewhere in the interview, Jay-Z said that Gallagher's criticism of him being chosen to headline Glastonbury didn't go down well because the general public didn't agree with him.
"It was almost like the people were saying "No, we want that to happen. That’s the natural progression. We like rap, we like rock. We like everything." And it was just that last…that archaic thinking that was in the way of this festival."
The rapper went on to say that musicians like Gallagher need to embrace change rather than shun it, stating: "If we believe that a thing that started should be held forever I'd still be a slave, right? It'd still be in slavery. Things change and the world changes and I think it's best to embrace change."
Jay-Z played a relatively intimate gig in London last night (September 17).
The rapper, who is currently in the UK playing stadium dates with Coldplay, took to the stage at the Roundhouse in Camden following a ten-minute countdown on a digital clock projected onto the stage ahead of his arrival.
Backed by an 11-piece live band, Jay-Z – dressed in black and sporting shades throughout the show – kicked off with 'DOA (Death Of Autotune)', before performing an hour-long show that mixed classic tracks with newer songs from the recently released 'The Blueprint 3'.
"I hear this show sold out in 20 seconds flat, so I want to thank you!" the rapper told the crowd – who made Roc-A-Fella diamond signs with their hands throughout the gig – after the opener, before launching immediately into 'U Don't Know', aided by his sidekick Memphis Bleek.
The set continued with the likes of 'What's My Name', 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder' and new cuts 'Empire State Of Mind' and 'Run This Town', although the biggest surprise came when the rapper closed his set by signalling to his onstage DJ to play Oasis' 'Wonderwall', which he got the crowd to loudly singalong with.
Returning for the encore, Jay-Z asked them which of his hits they'd like to hear, before proceeding to perform snippets of 'Money Ain't A Thang', 'Excuse Me Miss', 'Lucifer', 'Big Pimpin', 'Izzo (H.O.V.A)' and 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)'.
He finally brought the show to a close with 'Encore', singling out individual members of the crowd and thanking them personally for coming.
Plus rapper says he'd play Glastonbury festival again
Jay-Z has said he saw his dispute with rapper Nas as meaning more than his dispute with Oasis' Noel Gallagher.
The two New York rappers used to have issues with each other following sampling and guest spot disputes. Gallagher, a former Glastonbury headliner with Oasis, said that Jay-Z was the "wrong" booking to headline the festival, as the rapper did last year.
When asked in a new interview in Shortlist magazine which beef "meant more", Jay-Z said: "Nas because it comes from hip-hop. It was a great time in hip-hop, a great battle.
"Noel, that was pretty cool too. That felt more like me progressing and knocking down a different barrier more than a thing with me and Noel. I think it was more about [the festival], we were arguing about that, not arguing with each other. He was, 'I wanted it to be like I always saw it!'. I was like, 'No, the world's changing'."
He went on to say that he would be interested in playing at Glastonbury again.
"Absolutely [I would play it]", he said. "I rank it as one of those moments when I first got a Grammy. The people wanted it, the people were like, 'No, we like Jay-Z and we like Noel, we like both of you guys."
Jay-Z has dropped two tracks that were originally destined for his new album Blueprint 3, the Oasis-taunting “Jockin’ Jay-Z” and Santigold-sampling “Brooklyn Go Hard,” won’t be making the album’s final track list.
Speaking recently to Radio 1's Zane Lowe about his much talked-about headline performance at the 2008 Glastonbury festival was all about breaking down barriers.
His performance caused a media storm after Noel Gallagher said it was "wrong" to have a hip hop headliner.
Jay-Z opened his set with a cover of the Oasis' Wonderwall and playing along with a guitar.
He told Zane: "I felt like breaking down the barriers. There's a few people that wanted to see the concert and everything in its traditional form but that's not the way of the world.
"It felt like once I got to the people, they were excited. I had to be good. I was so focused on that. Just to really perform and put it out there."
Speaking of his surprising stint on the guitar, he said: "I was actually backstage trying to get that little piece together 10 minutes before the show.
"I should've practiced. I wanted to at least act like the chords were right."
Jay-Z said that he's still a huge fan of Wonderwall.
"We always play it," he said. "I have a restaurant called the Spotted Pig. We have this small room, it's like a back room, about 100 people can fit in there and we play it all the time and we just go crazy."