Queen's ‘Greatest Hits’ Album Is The Best Selling Album Of All Time

In the most anticipated chart of all time, VH1 has teamed up with The Official UK Charts Company to release a definitive list of the Top 100 Best Selling Albums ever. This chart is not another poll voted for by the critics or viewers of a TV programme; it is a chart made up of actual sales figures from the last fifty years, unveiling who really has had the best selling album of all time; a fact that has never been revealed before, until now on VH1’s ‘Nation’s Favourite Album.’

VH1’s ‘Nation’s Favourite Album’ which transmits 18th November on VH1 at 6pm, reveals that legendary rockers Queen have outsold all other artists to claim the coveted title of the UK’s favourite album with their Greatest Hits compilation selling a staggering 5,407,587.
The Beatles are in second place with ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.’ Cementing their place in music history, third place goes to Oasis, with ‘What’s The Story Morning Glory’

Top Ten Top Selling Albums of All Time:

01) Queen – Greatest Hits - 5,407,587
02) Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - 4,803,292
03) Oasis – What’s The Story Morning Glory - 4,304,504
04) Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms - 3,946,931
05) ABBA – Gold Greatest Hits – 3,932,316
06) Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of The Moon – 3,759,958
07) Queen – Greatest Hits II – 3,631,321
08) Michael Jackson – Thriller – 3,570,250
09) Michael Jackson – Bad – 3,549,950
10) Madonna – The Immaculate Collection – 3,364,785

Other Oasis albums in the Top 100 are...

84) Oasis - Be Here Now - 1,799,784
91) Oasis - Definitely Maybe - 1,740,386

The VH1 extravaganza hosted by Alex James, will make for compulsive viewing as he counts down the chart uncovering data that has never been revealed to the public, record companies and more importantly the artists themselves. A team of researchers from The Official UK Charts Company have worked tirelessly for over six months, trawling through hand written till receipts from the 1950’s to the most current sales figures, to announce information that will send shock waves through the music industry.

Astonishingly music luminaries such as Rolling Stones, Sting, The Sex Pistols and Bob Dylan do not have a single album in the top 100 and have been pipped to the post by artists such as Jason Donovan and Robson & Jerome.

VH1’s ‘Nation’s Favourite Album’ on the 18th November at 6pm will be presented by Alex James and will be shown as a continuous five hour countdown. These sought after facts and figures will be interspersed with a plethora of interviews from leading figures from the music and entertainment industries. The ‘Nation’s Favourite Album’ countdown will be followed on November 20th by 10x60 hour spin-off shows.

Source: Email from www.taylorherring.com

Stop The Clocks NME Review

You all know what these songs sound like. Like tea and soggy biscuits, snaking dole queues, recreational drug abuse and rainy, wasted days, these are songs - not only born from all of the above - but microcosms of modern life: songs woven into the tapestry of British culture itself.

Here's a theory: If folk music is supposedly music of the people, but modern-day folk music generally consists of bearded, smelly plebs in Arran sweaters singing songs about fishing, then surely these songs are the embodiment of what contemporary British folk music really is? Songs for the terraces, for closing time, for parties - these songs owned by the population of Britain. You can stop laughing now.

NME can stop trying to cross the speeding motorway of theoretical bullshit. And we can all get on to the important stuff.

Theorising Oasis is like drinking butter - pointless and bad for the heart. How do you Theorise the beat of a pulse, the strut of a peacock, the clang of a Les Paul? Just a second though, bear with us.

Yes, Oasis came to be at a time when rock music was on its knees (or splattered all over Kurt Cobain's conservatory if you'd prefer a more visceral image), and yes, for a brief time in the mid-'90s they seemed to provide a soundtrack to colossal, cataclysmic social and cultural change.

Yes, all of the above is true, yet, like the songs, you've heard that shit so many times before, it's no exaggeration that this writer, upon typing those words on the page, actually sighed. This is wrong. There is nothing about this record - and as a collection of singles, album tracks and B-sides culled predominantly from early era Oasis, we're talking about a record dosed to the gills with rich pickings - that should ever induce the practice of sighing.

To understand these songs is to know what it feels like to be 18 years old, with a great haircut and a great set of clothes, walking into a club with more heart and hope then dough, and thinking - metaphorically at least - "Everyone in this shithole is going to suck my f**king dick."

These are songs about triumph and adversity ('Talk Tonight'); about having nothing and wanting everything ('Rock 'N' Roll Star'); about being pissed off with the world, yet coming from such a poor lot, you're to pathetically educated to be able to express such rage linguistically, and anyway, the cool-as-f88k, forever iconic, six-syllable streched pronunciation of 'im-ag-in-aay-shee-en' says everything you want to say much more succinctly ('Cigarettes & Alcohol'). It's also about fighting - and, if you take into account Oasis' much underappreciated, career best dewy side ('Slide Away', 'Wonderwall', 'Don't Look Back In Anger') forgiving. Put plainly and simply, these are songs about every intake of air that goes into your lungs, swills about inside you for a bit, and then returns from where it arrived. These are songs that chronicle the experience of life.

Let's qualify that last statement: when Britpop ruled the roost and every half-arsed, talentless chancer (and Blur and Pulp) fancied themselves as a modern-day Alan Bennett - retelling tails of suburban strife via the eyes of detached sociological voyeurs - Oasis were singing songs of prize, choice-cut gobbledygook. No, these are songs about life in all its extremity, encompassing the minutiae of existence and the thrill of experience.

Much like Liam wore Noel's words like his own, these are songs for your life to wear. Consider 'Champagne Supernova' and its nonsensical refrain of "Slowly walking down the hall/faster than a cannonball". Now close your eyes. Remember where you were when you first heard it. Now try saying it means nothing. Repeat with the couplets of 'Supersonic', 'Morning Glory' and 'Lyla'. Turn stereo to 11. Those songs say everything about life. They document it. They pull you through it time and time again.

'Stop The Clocks' is a faultless record compiled by a band riddled with faults. After such early promise, Oasis never delivered beyond the stream of brilliant early album tracks and B-sides that marked their inception into the world. And while there's an argument that says there could be another bolted onto this record ('Whatever', 'Cast No Shadow', 'Bring It On Down'), there's not much worthy of inclusion that clocks in post-1996 within the scope of their discography.

If anything, 'Stop The Clocks' serves as an unflattering mirror to Oasis circa 2006. A national treasure, for other amusing/inspiring interview copy, and an inconsistent creative force, yet a band - for all the Gallaghers' bravado - at least ten years past their peak. Where did it go wrong?

Wah, that one's for the theorists/marriage guidance councillors/drug dealers. This is an album of celebration - a toast to the band that embodied everything you ever believed rock 'n' roll ever could be. And moreover, the band who embodied everything you ever believed life could be.

We'll say it again: You all know what these songs sound like - but Stop The Clocks, take a look back, rejoice! Celebrate how they made you feel.

10/10

Source: NME Magazine

Win Oasis Film Tickets

Next week is busy enough with the UEFA Champions League game against Manchester United on Tuesday but how about going to a special screening of the new Oasis film on Wednesday, November 22 in Glasgow's IMAX followed by a Q&A with members of the band?

Thanks to Upshot in London, we have four pairs of tickets to give away for this very exclusive event.

Oasis will release their ‘Best Of’ collection, “Stop The Clocks” on 20 November 2006. To celebrate the release the album will be accompanied by the first ever on the road film of Oasis, “Lord Don’t Slow Me Down” which will be screened in selected cities across the world in November.

“Lord Don’t Slow Me Down”, directed by renowned promo director Baillie Walsh, is compiled from a year’s filming with the band on their mammoth “Don’t Believe The Truth” world tour 2005/6 and follows one of the world’s greatest rock n roll band behind the scenes and in front of the fans across the globe.

With unique access to the band throughout the tour, “Lord Don’t Slow Me Down” is the ultimate Oasis documentary and a must see for fans.

Competition winners are also in with a chance of asking Noel some questions at the end of the screening!

If you want to enter email tictalk@celticfc.co.uk with the subject Oasis and tell us Noel and Liam's surname!

Closing date for entries is Sunday, November 19

www.celticfc.net

Liam To Open A Pub With Pete

Liam Gallagher is joining forces with Pete Doherty to open a late-night north London pub.

The 34 year old Oasis star came up with the plan after being persuaded by the Babyshambles singer during a chat in a boozer near the home of Pete's lover Kate Moss.

An insider said: "Liam loves the old days of north London where his group would hang at cool boozers such as the Good Mixer in Camden.

"But there just isn't the same vibe anymore, even at the live music venues there.

"Pete knows Liam through singer Lisa Moorish, with whom they both have children, and got talking to him one night and suggested they start their own cool venue. Somewhere with traditional ales, largers and spirits with a good old fashioned pub grub vibe - square pies, bangers and mash and all that.

But the main element is somewhere late where up-and-coming artists and bands can showcase their new music.

"It would have a retro feel and be some where cool where luvvies, music industry types and models could feel at home."

And it certainly sounds like somewhere that supermodel Kate, 32, would fit it.

Having arrived wearing a white fake fur coat, the catwalk queen headed to the Ritz for a few hours before leaving in this leopard print number.

Pete, 27, was snapped at the airport after flying to a gig in Toulouse, France.

Our mole added: "Pete and Liam are looking at a place in Kentish Town near the Pineapple pub on Leverton Street."

We're sure there will be Cigarettes and Alcohol all round...

Source: Daily Star

'Nobody Has Ever Bettered Definitely Maybe'

Noel Gallagher has branded people who like Oasis' second album the best "squares".The guitarist - who insists he has never bettered his debut album 'Definitely Maybe' - has mocked people who favour the band's worldwide hit LP '(What's The Story Morning Glory?' for not being cool.Noel said: "If you stop the man in the street and ask, 'What's Oasis' best album?' a few might say 'Don't Believe The Truth', which is great, the squares will say 'Morning Glory' and the cool people will say 'Definitely Maybe'."Noel has also praised British band the Artic Monkeys for being the only group that has come close to making a debut album as good as Oasis' 1994 offering.He said: "Nobody has ever bettered 'Definitely Maybe', don't pin it on my shoulders. The Arctic Monkeys came close, but that's it. They've got the tunes and the attitude. If only they could front it out."(C)

BANG Media International

Tom Atkin Scraps With Liam

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher was left red-faced recently when a young British rock rival told him to "grow up" during a backstage confrontation.The Wonderwall singer was left fuming when The Paddingtons frontman TOM ATKIN called him a "tw*t" in a recent interview, and decided to vent his frustration at a DIRTY PRETTY THINGS gig.But Atkin was less than intimidated by Gallagher's fearsome reputation, and gave him a piece of his mind before walking away. He says, "Liam was having a go and in the end I told him to grow up. "NOEL's (GALLAGHER) a great songwriter, but Liam's a toothless tw*t."

Source: World Entertainment News Network

Blur Spark New Oasis Feud

Blur bass player Alex James has reignited his band's feud with Oasis by describing the Gallagher brothers as "grotesque".

The two bands had an infamous rivalry in the mid-nineties when their records went head to head in the charts and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was quoted as saying he wanted James to "catch AIDS and die" along with Blur singer Damon Albarn.

Now James has criticised the Gallaghers again after learning their 1995 album '(What's The Story) Morning Glory' is one of the biggest selling records in UK history.

He said: "I think Oasis are slightly ridiculous characters. They've been grotesque for a while."
The bassist, who is set to host a rundown of The Nation's Favourite Albums for music channel VH1, also had harsh words for two other big rock bands.

"I take solace from the fact that the two biggest bands in the world, U2 and The Rolling Stones, are not in it," he added.

The Nation's Favourite Album top 100 countdown premieres on Saturday November 18 on VH1.

Source: www.musicnews.virgin.net

Fopps London Store Oasis Photo Exhibition

To coincide with the new ‘Stop the Clocks’ album launch on the 20th November 2006, Rockarchive.com present an exclusive collection of images by photographer Jill Furmanovsky taken from her ground-breaking Oasis exhibition 'Was There Then’. The music store FOPP play host to these iconic images at their flagship store on Tottenham Court Road from the 13th Nov 2006 to the 17th Dec 2006.

You will be able to view the photos at the store and images will be available for sale as limited edition signed prints. For sizes and pricing information, please contact fopp@rockarchive.com.

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Oasis At The Controls

Oasis will inhabit the studios here at 6 Music next month.

That’s after Steve LaMacq announced they’d be taking over the controls as one of the Selector artists in December.

Selector is now in its 4th year, and gives artists the opportunity to take over the network for a day, meaning they can play their favourite music, pick sessions from the BBC Archive as well as their choice of documentary and a Headline Slot for Dream Ticket.

Speaking to 6 Music earlier, Andy Bell, bassist for the band, admitted this was something he was really excited about:“I was a late night listener to radio when I was a kid. That was how I heard The Smiths for the first time, and many other bands like that, I am really looking forward to it.”

He also claims that after they do this DJ slot, and when Christmas festivities have died down the whole band want to hit their own studio to start work on the next Oasis album:

“We’re going to start the new album, maybe not start the real album, but start demos and getting our ideas together, but I don’t think we are in any big rush to get it out like right now.”

Suggestions that an Oasis band on the airwaves might turn riotous was dismissed by Bell, he says he’s confident they can all agree on what songs to play and picking the album of the day will be easy:

“To be honest we are all pretty single minded about music, so it will come down to one or two albums so that shouldn’t be a problem.”Previous artists that have taken part in Selector are Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and in 2005, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand.

Oasis will take over 6Music on Tuesday 12 December and Moby on Thursday 14 December.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/6music/

You Must Bey Joking, Liam

Beyonce gave a super-sexy performance at the Radio 1 Chart Show.

But it was Liam Gallagher who provided the biggest surprise.

The OASIS wildman gushed compliments at Jordon and Peter Andre after they performed their duet A Whole New World.

Jordan said: “Liam said his mum is a big fan and he’d ring her to say he’d heard us sing.”

I’m sure Liam meant every word but he had been on an all-day pub crawl before rolling up to see girlfriend Nicole Appleton and her All Saints pals perform with Girls Aloud, Mcfly and Nelly Furtado at Brighton’s Dome on Sunday.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

(What's The Story) Cover Glory

A brief history of Oasis in NME covers according to Noel Gallagher













THE VS BLUR ONE
12 AUGUST 1994

"Shit Cover. The thing about that whole 'Roll With It' versus 'Country House' thing, was that they were both shit songs. I thought I'd written the hit of the summer, Damon thought he'd written the hit of the summer, then Supergrass come along with 'Alright' and just 'ave it! Thing is about (Damon) , is that he still thinks I hate him, which fascinates me. He thought he was the king of London, and I was like 'No, I am the f***ing king of London!, he was desperate for all that 'spokesman for a generation 'shit - he went f***bald trying to be me!"













THE GLORY BOYS ONE
30 SEPTEMBER 1995

"This was around the time of'... Morning Glory?'. I tell you, I can pinpoint exactly when I started using cocaine excessively by the clothes. You'd just look in the mirror and go, 'Yeah! That looks fucking mega.' Really you just needed someone to tap you on the shoulder and go, 'The fur coat does look great... but not on you.'''













THE 'BE HERE NOW' ONE
12 JULY 1997

"That's the single worst cover shoot we ever did. Look at me! I look like Windy Miller out of f**kin' Trumpton! That was typical: I'd just bought this hat which I thought was f**king cool, then Liam shows up in a hat as well. So it's all, 'Are you wearing that f**king hat?, 'Yeah, why, are you wearing that f**king hat?' Looking at those pictures now, I just think, 'Where the f**k has that jacket gone?' That's a really nice jacket!"













THE 'BONEHEAD'S QUIT' ONE
14 AUGUST 1999

"That was at Air Studios. it hadn't been properly announced but people knew. I'm going to the shops and this Northern Irish geezer comes up and starts asking about it, then wants a quick photo. I didn't think anything of it then it ends up on the cover of NME. I next saw that guy at the NME Awards and was like 'Oi, you sly little c**t - what you doing? Well done, but what you doing?!'''













THE 9/11 ONE
30 SEPTEMBER 2001

"That was done about two or three days after 9/11. When it actually happened, I was on the phone to some geezer from the Daily Mirror, and he just went, 'F**king hell, see you later, mate'. We heard about the first tower being hit, because there's an American girl who works in our office and she saw the second tower get hit live on the f**king TV. I still just cannot get my head around it, or the impact it's had".













THE GLASTO' 04 ONE
10 JULY 2004

"This is one of those occasions where Liam just comes out of his trailer and you're just like, 'What the f**k is he doing?' I'll go to him, 'You're not wearing that, are you?' I mean, I know you're trying to make a statement, that it's Glastonbury, everybody's dirty and you're wearing white, but f**king hell... looks shit with a skinhead, that's all I'm saying."

Source: NME Magazine

It's All About The Charts

Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher has hit out at music legends The Clash and Radiohead for refusing to compete in the charts. The rocker is proud of his band's mainstream status, and casts a critical eye on alternative acts who try to avoid featuring in the top ten. Gallagher says, "I've never understood that kind of thing. Like The Clash going, 'We're not playing on telly.' Well f**k off then. "When we first started we said we were the greatest band in the world. We should have said we were the best band in the charts. 'Cos to me, the world is the charts. "I don't give a f**k about Radiohead and all that indie nonsense. I was brought up on the top 10. Slade, T Rex, David Bowie. "If you're not in the charts, you don't exist."

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Oasis Weekend On Channel 4 Including Preview Of The Film Lord Don't Slow Me Down

To celebrate the release of Stop The Clocks on the 20th November. Channel 4 (UK ONLY) will be running an Oasis week on Sunday 19th to Sunday 26th November. Fans will be able to watch a preview of the film ‘Lord Don't Slow Me Down' on Sunday 19th November at 23.35. As well as the film viewers will be able to watch Oasis: Live from Manchester ( live concert performance of the band at their Manchester City Stadium show last year) straight after the film.

Amongst loads of other Oasis programming over the weekend fans will also have another chance to watch the documentary ‘There We Were Now Here We Are – The Making of Oasis’ on Friday 24th November at 24.30. For more details check out www.channel4.com

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Girls Aloud Babes In New Oasis Video

Girls Aloud are appearing in Oasis's new video.

Unlikely as it may seem, the babe band and the Manc rockers are gently building a chummy relationship.

I'm told: "They've got a cameo in the new Oasis DVD. The lads were shooting their documentary Lord Don't Slow Me Down and they happened to bump into each other at the same recording studios."

Kimberley Walsh, 24, said: "Noel said to Liam 'Our lad come on out it's Girls Aloud.' We had our photo taken with them - it meant a lot to me, coming from their neck of the woods."

The footage is currently on the DVD - out next year. But if reports are to be believed, the girls' spat with All Saints might change all that. Despite protests from Sarah Harding, 24, that the war of words between bands has been spun up, I reckon Nicole Appleton, 31 - the other half of Liam Gallagher, 34, might not want them in the documentary.

Source: Daily Star

On This Day In Oasis History...

Familiar to Millions is a live album by Oasis from their July 21, 2000 concert at Wembley Stadium and was released on 13th November 2000. Familiar to Millions debuted at a respectable #5 in the UK charts with 57,000 copies sold in the first week. To date Familiar to Millions has sold around 310,000 copies in Britain alone (Platinum) and has estimated world sales of 1 million. The album was initially released simultaneously on six formats: DVD, VHS, Double CD, Double Cassette, Triple Vinyl and MiniDisc.

Track listing
All tracks written by Noel Gallagher, except where noted. Times are taken from the Double CD edition of the album.

Fuckin' In The Bushes (intro tape) – 3:04
Go Let It Out – 5:32
Who Feels Love? – 5:59
Supersonic – 4:30
Shakermaker – 5:13
Acquiesce – 4:18
Step Out (Gallagher/Wonder/Cosby/Moy) – 4:05
Gas Panic! – 8:01
Roll With It – 4:43
Stand By Me – 5:49
Wonderwall – 4:46
Cigarettes & Alcohol – 6:52
Don't Look Back in Anger – 5:27
Live Forever – 5:09
Hey Hey, My My (Young) – 3:45
Champagne Supernova – 6:32
Rock 'N' Roll Star – 7:26

Video Version (DVD / VHS)

As well as the whole show the DVD features the following:

45 minute documentary shot in and around Wembley by Grant Gee including backstage interviews and fans footage.

Multicamera angles on the track "Cigarettes & Alcohol".

Live screen films for "Go Let It Out", "Supersonic", "Live Forever" and "Rock 'n' Roll Star".

Complete Discography (inc. international releases) with audio clips and artwork.

Stunning Dolby 5.0 stereo sound.

CDRom element - links to an exclusive page on the Oasis website with as-yet unseen photos and Songplayer module where fans can teach themselves to play 'Live Forever'.

'Tambourine' icon - click it and it takes you to and from the documentary in real time. A first for a non-film release.

The VHS features the whole show and a 20 minute documentary (entitled 'Mad Fer It') featuring exclusive interviews with Liam and Noel Gallagher. This documentary is unique to the VHS format.

Audio Version (CD / Vinyl / Cassette / MiniDisc)


The CD features a extra bonus track, a cover of The Beatles' song "Helter Skelter", which was recorded at the Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, USA on April 16, 2000.

A highlights CD was released on October 1, 2001 to celebrate Oasis' tenth anniversary as a band. "Fuckin' In The Bushes", "Step Out", "Stand By Me", "Hey Hey My My", and "Helter Skelter" were all ommitted.

As Liam didn't bother to sing the choruses of "Wonderwall" and also changed the words to other parts of the song ("By now you should have somehow... realised not to sniff glue" / "And all the lights that light the way are... doin' me fuckin' 'ead in!") at the July 21 gig, the version on the various audio formats features a different vocal track to the original one recorded at Wembley. This also applies to Noel's backing vocals. Most of these overdubbed vocals were recorded live at Oasis' gig at the Yokohama Arena, Tokyo, on March 5, 2000. Only one line: "I'm sure you heard it all before, but you never really had a doubt", is from the actual Wembley gig, as Liam slightly messed up this line in the Tokyo performance.

The audio version of the album is also missing various bits of between-track banter.

Other Trivia

A promo video of the Wembley version of "Gas Panic!" was distributed to music channels. The video featured visuals from throughout the gig and was slightly edited down to 6:57.

A "Gas Panic!" promo CD was issued in Brazil to promote Oasis' appearance at the Rock In Rio festival on January 14, 2001. The 2-track CD included the album version and an edited version of the Wembley track, which was edited down to 4:28.

The live album came about after the chaotic Wembley gig of July 22, 2000. This concert was being broadcast live to dozens of countries across the world but was hampered by an extremely drunk Liam Gallagher, whose out-of-tune singing and general ranting made it into an unappealing showcase of Oasis' live capabilities in the eyes of Sony BMG, who were worried about a large number of bootleg recordings being distributed.

Each of the six different formats (plus the 2001 highlights CD) had a different colour for its own cover art.

Source: Wikpedia

Stop The Clocks EP Out Today

Today in the UK Oasis release a brand new collectors EP of classic songs. The EP is led by Acquiesce, for many the finest Oasis song never to be a single, and book-ended by The Masterplan, the master-ful b-side to ‘Wonderwall’ released a decade ago. Also included on the EP are never before heard recordings of Cigarettes and Alcohol and Some Might Say, that were unearthed during the mastering of the forthcoming Best Of album.

The EP is available only as a one-off collectors edition CD and Double gatefold 7” including an exclusive sheet of stickers:


Acquiesce
Cigarettes and Alcohol (demo version)
Some Might Say (live in 1995, venue unknown)
The Masterplan

The Stop The Clocks EP is a preview from the first ever Oasis Best Of collection, released on 20th November. Stop the Clocks is an eighteen-song journey through a decade-plus defined by Oasis. It is imbued with the sort of wilfulness that has helped make Oasis the favourite band of millions worldwide and its running order – singles, b-sides, album tracks – chosen by the band themselves.

More From Lord Don't Slow Me Down And A New Song

It's Only Clock And Roll

When Noel Gallagher moves up a gear into verbal overdrive it's best to sit back, relax and enjoy the no-holds-barred ride.

The Oasis guitarist carefully picks off his targets with the skill of a deadly assassin.

So who's in his sights? H is volatile brother Liam for a start. Try this for size.

"We're in a period of unrest at the minute because he's a ******* idiot who insults my intelligence," said Noel, 39, sternly."

I have to supress all my working class urges not to smash a chair over his head.

"The polite thing to say is that we do a dance around each other. He doesn't get in my way and I don't get in his."

I know for a fact Liam doesn't like me. It's because I'm much more talented than him.

"I love him because he's my brother but I don't LIKE him. He says he loves me but I don't see much coming from him.

"Trouble is, Liam can never take yes for an answer. He tells me he's written a great song for the next Oasis record and I say: 'Okay, we'll put it on.' But then he'll start shouting that it should be included on the CD. I've just said yes, what part of that does Liam not get?"

Noel invited me to Oasis' secluded studio bolthole in the Buckinghamshire countryside to talk about the group's first greatest hits compilation, Stop The Clocks, due for release on November 20.

He is compelling company and our conversation covered a variety of diverse topics.

Last month, it was revealed Oasis are to receive an Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the Brits in February.

The group have publicly snubbed the ceremony since winning a trio of gongs in 1996, so why the U-turn?Noel told me: "Last year when we should have been nominated for best single they chose Shane Ward and Tony Christie. We should also have been in the running for best album and in there was Kate Bush and Westlife."

That p***** me off, big time. They've asked us to accept this Outstanding Contribution award for the last few years and we've always said no.

"With Stop The Clocks coming out we thought, This isn't gonna go away so we either do it now or when we NEED to do it in five years and look more like a bunch of old fellas.

"I'd like to do it before I'm 40. It means Oasis will be the youngest ever band to get such an award. That's colossal.

"But it's live on telly. God help them - they've made the biggest mistake of their life."

The promo schedule for Stop The Clocks is relentless. On November 19, Channel Four screen Lord Don't Slow Me Down - a fly-on-the-wall tour documentary.

While Noel has agreed to be a guest on Parkinson on November 25.

He said: "About 70 per cent of the tracks on Stop The Clocks chose themselves then we had to work out which B-sides to use.

"Initially, I wrote down a list of 30-odd tracks but I didn't want to run to three CDs. The only criteria was to look at every track and say: 'Why should this song NOT be on the record?' In the end, it was put together like an Oasis fantasy set list."

Noel claims success sits comfortably on his shoulders. Not only is he one of rock's greatest ever songwriters ... he's also one of the richest.

Royalties from hits such as Live Forever, Morning Glory and Don't Look Back In Anger have made him a multi-millionaire.

What was it like when the huge royalty cheques dropped through his letter box?

He said "I went mental. I spent s*** loads of money buying cars and I don't have a driving licence."I've got a Rolls Royce that Alan McGee bought me for making him a multi-millionaire. Sixteen grand it cost him ... and I made him £20million."

I've also got a 1967 Mark II Jaguar and a big black Range Rover. But I can't be a**** taking driving lessons. I was told I had to sit a written test. There's no chance of me taking an exam in a school gym with a load of toerags from Slough. It would be like sitting my 11 - plus again. No way.

"If that's what it takes, I'll go buy a HORSE!"

Noel added: "I've also spent a lot on s*** - drugs, clothes and parties. I've never been ashamed of that. I earned that money.

"An Oasis CD costs £16 and from that the five of us get a pound to share between us while somebody else earns £7.

"I've got a huge house. It's ******* enormous and takes me an hour and a half just to walk a round the grounds. But what do you expect me to do? Live in a council flat?"

At 39, Noel is wiser than the young upstart who exploded on to the UK rock scene in 1994.

He's sussed enough to realise he has occasionally overstepped the mark but says he has no regrets, despite once infamously saying he hoped Damon Albarn of arch-rivals Blur died of Aids.

He also dismissed Robbie Williams as "the fat dancer from Take That" sparking a 10-year feud which continues to this day. He said: "The Blur stuff was out of order and fuelled on booze and drugs. You could pick out just one line from any of my interviews, stick it in a magazine and it would look offensive."

I've only ever spoken my mind. But I don't wish Damon any bad luck at all. I felt I was goaded into it by the guy doing the interview and I was a bit too dumb not to take the bait.

"So what about Robbie?Noel told me: "I don't like Robbie Williams' records, it's not my bag at all. But the guy has carved out a career for himself after really only being a backing dancer.

"I remember seeing him once at the Brits after he'd had one of his six-month periods of mouthing off. He put his hand out to shake mine and I said: 'Not when you're wearing eye liner, Sonny Jim.'"

Again, I bear Robbie no malice at all because he doesn't enter my way of thinking.

"I've heard about the secret track on his latest album Rudebox attacking us but I can't be bothered with it any more. He's got his thing, he sells out stadiums around the world - good luck to him." Noel did fire a warning to Mr. Williams though. The guitarist sings lead vocals on several of the hits on Stop The Clocks. Has he considered a solo career?

"Robbie is probably the biggest solo artist in the country but I'd eat him for breakfast," he said.

"Why? Because I write better songs, I'm a better singer and I've got soul. End of ******* argument.

"If I decided to go solo I'd be enormous. Just be thankful I can't dance AND play guitar at the same time or you'd be looking at the first gunslinging John Travolta.

"My heroes were Johnny Marr of The Smiths and John Squire of The Stone Roses and they never moved a muscle. So I'm not starting any of that.

"Much as Liam and me don't get on you DON'T leave a band like Oasis."Luckily, my head has never been turned by the prospect of making a country and western album."

Source: www.sundaymail.co.uk

Noel On.. Tony Blair

It was the image which defined the Cool Britannia era... Noel Gallagher sipping red wine with Tony Blair at Downing Street prior to the 1997 general election.

But has the superstar lived to regret pinning his colours so firmly to the New Labour mast?

The answer appears to be definitely ... maybe.

Noel told me: "I didn't want to meet Tony Blair - he wanted to meet ME! I was the king of London. Looking back, it was a cynical ploy by his spin doctor Alistair Campbell.

"I was in a euphoric state of mind thinking: 'Of course Blair wants to meet me. I'm ******* amazing. Who wouldn't?'

"But I don't feel conned or used. As trivial as it sounds now, the fact that a guy who'd been in a band, owned an electric guitar and has probably had a spliff was Prime Minister really meant something at the time.

"It felt like it might be important after years of John Major and Margaret Thatcher. He just MIGHT be one of us.

"In hindsight, it turned out he was just a politician like all the rest. Initially, we all thought something was gonna change... it didn't.

"I was brought up as a Labour voter. I come from a working class family and was on the dole for seven years.

"I admit I got carried away by the whole Britpop-Cool Britannia thing. It was euphoric when the Labour Party got into power. I didn't realise it wasn't New Labour at all - it was the Tories dressed in red.

"History has shown it's really the Bank of England who got into power."What does Noel think of those calling for Blair to resign and pull our troops out of Iraq?

He said: "What a lot of people fail to grasp is it doesn't matter who was in No. 10, Britain would still have gone to war. We're in America's a*** pocket and that's the end of that."

"We have this big inferiority complex because we're this tiny little island in the middle of nowhere. If there's something going on in Turkmanistan WE need to be involved. Why?

"We're a nation built on war. We still Troop the Colour... like anybodygivesa ****."

But Noel did have some words of praise for the PM.

"If you were to take the Iraq thing out of the equation, Labour do seem to have made a difference with things like the minimum wage.

"They also made education and health a priority."

Source: www.sundaymail.co.uk

Noel On.. The Future

Noel admits he's not sure if Oasis will still be on the go in another 10 years.

"I'd be 49 then," he said. "To be quite honest, I get up in the morning and it's a struggle pulling my socks on. I've got a bad back, a stiff neck and I don't get enough sleep.

"When I was young I was kind of fascist about not making music when I got to 30. Then I thought, 'I'll pack it in when I'm 35' and so it goes on. It all depends on how trim we look.

"Groups like Pink Floyd started out playing middle-aged music and it's STILL middle-aged music. Oasis songs are more up.

"Will I be playing Cigarettes And Alcohol at 50? Probably not... but who knows?"One thing Noel is determined to do again however is gig in Scotland.

"Scotland has always been a very special place for us. It's the whole Celtic thing.

"Scots see themselves as rebels. They saw Liam and me giving two fingers to society and instantly related to us. Our gigs there have always been extra special."

Source: www.sundaymail.co.uk