Westlife Loved Up

The chart battle to end all chart battles came down to wire.

The tussle between Oasis and Westlife was close, with the Gallagher brothers' Stop The Clocks collection benefiting from a last minute surge in sales.

Alas, it was too little too late, and Westlife's Love Album triumphed - landing the quartet their sixth No 1 album.

It was nail-bitingly close, though, with Liam and Noel missing out by only 5,000 copies.

The Love Album posted 219,000 sales, Stop The Clocks 213,000 and The Beatles' Love collection 173,500.

Source: Daily Star

Liam Interview From 'Now' Magazine

I still get plastered, just not all the time!

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher still loves the odd bender and scrap with paparazzi, but the wild man of rock'n'roll insists that he's now enjoying family life with his boys and missus, All Saints' Nicole Appleton.

Are you still up for a fight with the paparazzi?

Nah, I've calmed down. But it depends how close they get to me; if they're in my f***ing space then they're going to get a dig. Sometimes they come up and take the piss and that's when I react.

Has being a dad calmed you down?

I suppose so, but not too much. I don't go out as much as I used to because I'm in with my kids and missus and get a buzz off them. But when I do go out I still have a f***ing good time. We don't go out and say: 'Hey, man, we're dads so we're gonna take it easy!' We still go boozing for a couple of days, drink f***ing anything - Guinness, larger, champagne, wine, sambuca - and get high, get plastered. But we're not out on the piss all the time, like we used to be, because there are little people involved now.

How wild did things get when you first made it?

You know what, I can't remember much about that f***ing whole thing, I was very, very drunk alot of the time. It was a wild as you could imagine.

Is music still your biggest passion?

Music's big, but it's no good if you're going to sniff it. So my health, my kids' health, my missus, my mates and my happiness are the most important things now. Then it's music.

Some might say it's not very rock'n'roll to put your kids and missus before your music...

Well, I don't give a f***what anyone thinks. I'll tell you what's wrong: to not put them first. I love hanging out with the kids taking them swimming. And just me a Nic going to dinner or going on holiday together.

So it's going well with Nic?

Yeah, man, of course it is. It's f***ing paradise because she's my baby.

Are you and Nic ever going to tie the knot?

One day, but I'm not gonna go round telling everyone when I do! Hey, we might have already tied the knot, if you know what I mean.

Didn't you say: 'If you want to see the opposite sex sprout four heads, just exchange rings'?

Yeah, but that was just me having a dig at the ex-wife!

What do you think of All Saints reuniting?

I think it's cool. They've just done an album and it sounds great. I was a fan of them before because they were the coolest girl band around. They weren't like all the other girl bands, with their arms around each other, saying: 'Ooh, we love each other', when it was obvious they didn't. They told it like it was - one of you's a c*** and the other one's a bitch! It was refreshing and that's what makes them different.

Is it hard for you and Nic to juggle work and the kids now?

Yeah, now that Nic's back at work she's gasping. We've just got a nanny to help us with Gene [five]. It helps that the eldest [Lennon, seven] is at school, too. We've also got a lady who takes him to school and picks him up.

It sounds like things are pretty cushy for you. Are you abit of a lazybones?

Am I lazy? I'm not f***ing lazy I'm up at seven o'clock every morning - up first and last to bed! I'm not a workaholic , though. Noel's a workaholic; he'll do 18 hours of f***ing graft a day! But then he gets paid more than me, so why f***ing not, eh? Before I had kids I'd stay in bed 'till midday, but now I'm out the door well before that. Even when I'm hungover and I'd like to stay in bed, I just can't sleep! I can come in at 6am and still be up at 8 o'clock, so I'm definately not f***ing lazy.

Has having kids changed the way you see the world?

You get a totally different sense of the world with kids. When you're walking down the road holding their hands, they're just looking around at everything. It makes you stop and look, too, and you start seeing thnigs all over again because you sort of become a kid yourself.

Will your greatest hits album Stop The Clocks be the last for Oasis?

This is just a pause. It's the end of our current record deal, but hopefully we'll get a new deal and crack on. As far as I am concerned, there's plenty more music left in us. I just want to keep making f***ing great Oasis records. I don't think we've made our best album yet. We're gonna do it and it's gonna blow everyone's f***ing face off, you know what I mean? Even the doubters are just gonna go: 'F*** it, man, hands up for that one.' So I think that one's coming soon - our genius record.

Do you have any regrets?

Not really. I'd do it all the f***ing same. I've got two beautiful kids, I've got f***ing money in the bank, I've got a nice house, got a nice missus, my mum and brothers are f***ing happy... It could be worse couldn't it? Even the ex-missus if f***ing coming around, so life's good.

Source: 'Now' magazine

Noel Gallagher Parkinson Interview

Thanks To dabrohymn

Noel's Intimate London Gig

Noel Gallagher plays unique gig at a chapel However Westlife beating Oasis proves 'there is no God.

'Oasis' leader staged an acoustic show at the Union Chapel in Islington as part of the Little Noises Sessions for charity Mencap.

Performing in front of his smallest UK audience for years, Gallagher backed by bandmate Gem on guitar and a percussionist, played a mixture of acoustic b-sides and album tracks adapted for the evening.

Arriving on stage to chants of "Noel! Noel" before opener 'It's Good To Be Free', the guitarist charmed with both his musical performance and his between song banter.

With the likes of 'Cast No Shadow', 'Wonderwall' and 'Don't Look Back In Anger' among the highlights, Gallagher also let the small crowd know his feelings after Oasis' 'Stop The Clocks' was beaten to the Number One slot in the UK Album Charts by Westlife tonight.

"Did someone say Westlife?" he asked the audience. "That goes to prove there is no God!"

However realising he was in a chapel he addressed the almighty saying: "You may strike me down if you wish, but it's true!"

With the set including a cover of The Beatles' 'Strawberry Fields', Gallagher also paid tribute to Bob Dylan.

Introducing single 'Whatever', a track Oasis have not played live in the UK in some while, the guitarist explained he had based his new acoustic version of the song the legend's style, before blending it with the rhythm from 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'.

"I haven't played this next song in what... two weeks," he joked referring to a recent acoustic show in Los Angeles. "But as for you lot you haven't heard in ages. I'm going to do it in the style of Bob Dylan!"

Noel Gallagher played:
'It's Good To Be Free'
'Talk Tonight'
'Fade Away'
'Cast No Shadow'
'The Importance Of Being Idle'
'Listen Up'
'Half The World Away'
'Wonderwall'
'Whatever'
'Slide Away'
'Strawberry Fields'
'Don't Look Back In Anger'
'Married With Children'

Earlier support had come from Shack and Kasabian.

The Liverpool band played a pretty set including the likes of 'As Long As I've Got You' and 'Queen Matilda'.

Meanwhile despite the stripped down set-up, Kasabian were at their rabble rousing best including 'British Legion', 'The Doberman' and Beatles cover 'I'm So Tired' in their set, before getting the whole of the Union Chapel on their feet for closer 'LSF'.

The Little Noises Sessions are set to conclude with the final gig at the same venue tomorrow (November 27), with it strongly rumoured that Lily Allen will be joined onstage by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.~

Source : www.nme.com

Australian Acoustic Shows In December

Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher will play a Melbourne gig with one of the globe-rocking band's members next month.

To promote their new "best of" album, Stop the Clocks, Gallagher and rhythm guitarist Gem Archer will play a semi-acoustic show at the Forum on December 10.

Left at home in Britain are Gallagher's younger brother Liam, who sings most of the band's songs, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Zak Starkey.

The brief Australian tour will include shows in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Tickets will be available from Thursday.

Source: www.theage.com.au

Noel Gallagher Tells All To Zane

It's one of his most revealing interviews ever - don't miss it...

Oasis release their greatest hits album 'Stop The Clocks' this week in a sea of controversy.
But whether Westlife pip 'em to the post or Noel and Liam rip each other's head off before they find out, we still can't get enough of the Gallagher brothers.

So make sure you catch Noel tell it like it is to his mate Zane Lowe on tonight's Gonzo on MTV 2.
It's full of typical gems from the outspoken strummer - including revelations about his solo career, his drug-taking and why his mum once thought he was gay!

You can also watch the whole thing on Overdrive from (November 24) by clicking Here.

Source: www.mtv.co.uk

Westlife Win Battle Of Bands With "Love Album"

Irish boy band Westlife were the surprise winners of a high-profile battle to top the album charts on Sunday, beating Oasis, the Beatles and U2 to the top spot.

Westlife's collection of covers, "The Love Album", outsold greatest hits albums from Oasis and U2 as well as the similarly named "Love", a medley of remixed Beatles songs, the Official UK Charts Company said.

The four albums were all released this week in anticipation of strong sales ahead of Christmas, with many industry observers expecting Oasis's "Stop The Clocks" to top the pile.

In the end Oasis had to be content with second place, ahead of the Beatles at number three and "U218 Singles" from U2 at number four.

Top 10 UK Albums
01 - Westlife - The Love Album
02 - Oasis - Stop The Clocks
03 - Beatles - Love
04 - U2 -U218 Singles
05 - George Michael - Twenty Five
06 - Jamiroquai - High Times - Singles 1992-2006
07 - Girls Aloud - The Sound Of - The Greatest Hits
08 - Sugababes - Overloaded - The Singles Collection
09 - Razorlight - Razorlight
10 - Angelis -Angelis

Source: www.yahoo.co.uk

Gallaghers' Secret Sister Hits Out

Yes, my dad's a lying idiot

The secret sister of Oasis stars Liam and Noel Gallagher has "written off" their dad, just like her famous brothers.

Emma Davies could hardly wait to meet Tommy Gallagher when her mum June finaly told her she'd been born after June's affair with the married Irishman.

But her dreams of finding a loving father - and grandad to her own kids - have been dashed by the man already disowned by his rocker sons.

Emma, 33, told a close pal: "I know now why they want absolutely nothing to do with Tommy." "I accept him for what he is now, which is an idiot. He never took any interest in me. He would never ask about me. And he made out that what had happened between my mum and him was mum's fault. He was a married man and had an affair with my mum. She had no idea he was married. He was full of lies. I feel so stupid for thinking he could be the father I always wanted."

Emma, who lives with her children Jake, 13, and Isabel, 10, in Congleton, Cheshire, spent years of her life wondering what her missing dad was like.

After June told her who he acyually was, she fixed up a meeting with the 62-year-old Tommy at a hotel near his birthplace in the village of Duleek, Co Meath.

She told her friend: "There had been a big build-up to the meeting and it was a very emotional moment. "We talked and got on well and I thaught, 'Let bygones be bygones'."

Emma and her new-found father swapped phone numbers and Tommy promised he would be in touch. Just a few days later, it was her 33rd birthday. But there was no word from Tommy - whose Manchester home is less than 40 miles from Congleton.

Emma sighed to her pal: "I thought that here was his chance to show that he could be a dad. But there was no card, call, nothing." "I texted him to say that he hadn't even bothered to get in touch and it was my birthday and I then switched my phone off."

"Later, I had a message from Tommy saying I'd jumped to conclusions and that he had run out of credit on his phone. He said he would make it up to me when he got back from Ireland."

"I felt he wasn't trying enough, not making enough effort. Here I was after all these years and he wasn't bothered. A few days later I got a call and he said he would like to meet me. But everything had to be on his terms. The time he wanted to meet I was busy but he wanted me to change my plans to meet him."

"We couldn't agree and he kept putting the phone down on me like a big baby. I rang him back three times but he kept putting the ohone down. That was the end of August and I have not heard anything from him since. I was really tearful and I slipped into a depression."

Emma's only hope now is that some good can come out of knowing she has brothers - who suffered at boozer Tommy's hands during his marriage to Peggy that ended in divorce in 1986.

The Oasis stars, whose greatest hits album Stop The Clocks will smash into the charts today, refuse to have anything to do with their dad now.

Liam, 34, has even threatened to break his father's legs if the older man ever goes near him.

Noel, 39, has said: "I think he resented the fact he had kids because we got in the way of his lifestyle. We got hammered."

Tommy was not available for comment.

Source: Daily Star

In Memoriam George Best

On the 25th of November 2005, one of the all time greats of world football passed away.

Here is a video of him in action, with the hit single Live Forever.

Noel Gallagher Wonderwall & Don't Look Back In Anger Radio Deejay 24.11.06

Rocket Man V Thunderbirds

A National controversy may have passed you by. Elton John has entered the debate as to whether Westlife or Oasis have the greatest hits. Elton took great exception to Noel Gallagher of Oasis saying he was too precious to go out and buy a bottle of milk.

Branding Noel as a Parker from Thunderbirds lookalike - which he is - Elton went into his reasoned defence: "After what f****** Noel said about me I couldn't give a s*** about Oasis. I go into f****** shops all the time. He's just a tosser."

This is true. One of the funniest TV clips of Elton is his interview with Posh Spice while buying CDs in a record shop. He was chucking them into his wire basket by the dozen, most of the time without looking. I assume he doesn't do that with the semi-skimmed

Source: www.sundaymirror.co.uk

Oasis vs Westlife Latest

Bookies close the books

25 Nov 06 - It's official - Oasis are being trounced in their chart battle against Westlife.

Bookies are now taking no further bets on anyone other than the Irish boyband topping the album charts tomorrow as sales of their The Love Album are now 20,000 ahead of the Oasis best of Stop The Clocks.

Monday also saw the The Beatles Love album, and U2's U218 .

However, HMV spokesman Genarro Castaldo said the bookies may have been a bit hasty in their decision as Saturday is traditionally the strongest day of the week for sales - so it could all change at the last minute.

And he had these words of comfort for Oasis - whatever the outcome tomorrow.

He said: "There’s no dishonour losing out to Westlife. These guys, whatever people think, have had 14 UK Number One singles. If this album goes to the top, that’ll be their sixth UK Number One album. They are up there with the best in of them in terms of chart success.”

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

Potty To Blow Oasis Chance?

David Potts knew he wasn't cut out to join Oasis when he attempted to rewrite Wonderwall. Right under the cobalt glare of erm, Noel Gallagher.

"The first song that I rehearsed with Oasis was Wonderwall,'' Potts recalls over a lunchtime pint in a city centre bar.

"But a few bars in, and I was starting to change the song. I tried to rewrite the chords to Wonderwall!

"Noel wasn't too pleased. That's the thing about being in Oasis - and in most bands - there's always a leader with an ego.

"And they're the ones whose instructions you have to follow. They tell you what to play, where to stand, what to wear. I'm not the kind of person who can follow someone's orders just like that.''

At 36 - albeit very boyish, complete with Mod-ish hairstyle, Beatles suit jacket and ruddy cheeks - David Potts is coming to terms with the fact that he simply isn't best suited to performing in the dictatorish confines of a rock 'n' roll band.

Which is why, almost 15 years since he first entered the music business as a tea boy in a Rochdale recording studio, he's decided to brave it on his own as a solo artist.
That said, it's been a 15-year learning curve of some fortitude and involving seriously heavyweight musical figures.

Most infamously, there was that Oasis 'audition' in 2000 after original members Bonehead and Guigsy left the band. Potts was the first man Noel Gallagher nominated to play bass.

Loose end

"Noel knew about me through a friend of a friend,'' Potts recalls.

"He knew I was at a loose end and looking to do something new. At the end of the day, you're not gonna turn down an audition with Oasis are you? You'd be a fool to turn it down!

"But I don't really think I was in the best frame of mind to take orders - I wanted success on my own terms. I wasn't prepared to join another band again.''

That previous band he's referring to is the venture Potts is probably most recognisable for being in - the band Monaco.

Formed with New Order bassist Peter Hook in 1995, Monaco released two albums and had three top 20 hits, most famously their breakthrough radio smash, What Do You Want From Me? They split in 2000 after conflicts with their record label Polydor but left behind a reputation as under-rated Britpop battlers, who were unfairly maligned because of the New Order connection.

Nonetheless, Potts argues that leaving Monaco and disregarding the offer of joining Oasis made him feel "like I was 16 again... like I was in my bedroom playing songs for the fun of it''.

Music biz

And he has a salient point. Having first entered the music biz at the age of 18 to work in Peter Hook's Rochdale studio, Potts has spent a sizeable chunk of his musical life operating at the beck and call of others.

Although Monaco were perceived by many as a two-way partnership between him and Peter Hook, Potts felt compromised a great deal musically, although he does harbour a great respect and admiration for Hooky.

"I look back on Monaco as a learning curve,'' he explains.

"Peter Hook was such a big, established character. I felt inferior next to him. Hooky wrote songs in the style of New Order, so I wasn't expressing myself musically like I wanted. I compromised my ideas a lot. It was only after leaving Monaco that I started sitting down at the piano or with an acoustic guitar and wrote songs. It was like being a 16-year-old again.''

Which is why the 2006 incarnation of David Potts feels less like an 'artist reborn' and all those other cliches and more the work of a spirited, dynamic NEW musical artist. You can certainly feel it in his music, in particular, latest EP, I'm The Greatest.

Potts is a lover of all things Mod, Ska and pop psychedelia and his new material sounds like the work of someone paying glorious pop homage to his idols (Weller, The Beatles, The Who), but there's a questing quality to songs like Stop And Wonder and Different Planet, which makes him more contemporaneous with the new Manc music breed.

Released on his own self- financed independent label, Maximum, and with his big mug plastered all over the sleeve artwork, it's a release which leaves you in very little doubt that this is now David Potts on his own terms, very much his own boss.

Compromise

Potts considers: "Hooky used to call it 'ego'. But I think of it more as making the music you want to without compromise. I don't want to take orders from anyone or pander to the music industry. That's why I'm releasing the EP on my own label with independent distribution, independent press. I get everything my own way.

"There's lots of good music in Manchester at the moment... bands like The Vox, The Children, The Wombats. Apart from the age gap, I don't see much difference between what I do and what they do.''

As CityLife bids farewell to Potts as he makes his way back to his car, we notice one of the ubiquitous fly posters for Oasis's greatest hits compilation, Stop The Clocks, released this week.

Potts offers a wry smile.

He says: "I don't think I would have lasted in Oasis anyway. I'm far too gobby. They would have sacked me after a week! Anyway, I think Noel and Liam are doing fine without me.''

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Clocks Stop For Oasis

If you have listened to the radio, picked up a newspaper or magazine, or flicked on the TV in the last week you may think you have stepped back in time to 1995. Oasis-mania is sweeping the country once again and their classic songs are ringing in the ears of music lovers everywhere.
This week Oasis released their best of album 'Stop The Clocks', which comprises of 18 tracks that unofficial band leader Noel Gallagher considers their finest work.

With the globe still buzzing from last year's Oasis assault - critically acclaimed sixth studio album 'Don't Believe The Truth' was a worldwide hit, spawning two UK number one singles, 'Lyla' and 'The Importance of Being Idle', while their world tour covered 26 countries and featured a sell out show at New York's Madison Square Garden - it seems everyone is 'mad fer' the Manchester band.

It is no secret that brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher - the very essence of what Oasis is - never wanted the record to come out.

Noel said: "This is from the horse's mouth. We will only do a best of when we split up. I never understood the Manic Street Preachers and Blur putting out best ofs. It's kind of saying that whatever you're gonna do from there on is not gonna be your best. We'll put one out when we stop."

However, the band were told by their record company Sony - who they are under contract with until the end of the year - that a greatest hits record was going to be released whether they had anything to do with it or not.

Determined the compilation would not be a soulless money-making exercise the rockers - Noel, Liam, guitarist Gem Archer and bass player Andy Bell - decided to get on board and make sure the LP was something they could be proud of.

Every track on 'Stop The Clocks' has been handpicked by Noel, every piece of artwork approved and the cover given the seal of approval by the foursome.

What it makes for is a near perfect record.

Opening with the visceral 'Rock 'n' Roll' star - a raw, raucous rock track that sums up what it means to be young and struggling in a dead-end job in a dead-end town but still being full of hope and still feeling like a star - the record takes the listener on an audio journey made up of songs which for many have become the soundtrack to their lives.

'Some Might Say' - which Noel describes as the archetypical Oasis track - 'Acquiese' 'Supersonic' 'Lyla' 'Champagne Supernova', 'Live Forever', 'Don't Look Back In Anger', 'The Importance of Being Idle', 'Cigarettes and Alcohol', 'Go Let It Out' and 'Morning Glory' all feature.

These are songs that have inspired countless drunken sing-a-longs at pub closing times, been blasted out at parties, provided the background for late night drinking sessions and united thousands of people - most of who were strangers to each other - in one voice at sell-out concerts across the world.

The album's more tender moments 'Talk Tonight', 'Wonderwall', 'Slide Away', 'Half The World Away' and 'Songbird' have given people in love or struggling with life the words to express their feelings that they might not have been able to summon themselves.

While 'The Masterplan' is one of the greatest B-sides ever written.

The final song on the 'Wonderwall' single, the track features Noel at his most philosophical.
When he sings the lines, "we'll dance if they wanna dance, please brother take a chance, you know they're gonna go which way they wanna go, all we know is that we don't know how it's gonna be, please brother let it be, life on the other hand won't make you understand we're all part of the masterplan", it seems as though Noel has the answers. That he knows how everyone feels, no we don't know what's going to happen to us but enjoy the ride because "we're all part of the masterplan".

That's the skill of Gallagher senior as a songwriter, he has the ability to tap into the mass consciousness. He admits he was fascinated by terrace chants when he went to football matches to watch his beloved Manchester City as a child and he has managed to transfer this collective mentality to his music.

Oasis are one of the few bands whose songs sound better when experienced with thousands of other people at a colossal stadium show, with everyone singing every word to every song and at that time it means everything to them.

As fate would have it the release date of Oasis' first best of coincided in the UK with the release of Beatles compilation 'Love'.

The record is a collection of classic tracks reworked by legendary producer and 'fifth Beatle' Sir George Martin, and his son Giles, to accompany the critically acclaimed Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas stage show of the same name.

Despite their unwavering adoration and respect for the Fab Four - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - the record has not escaped a verbal attack from the Gallaghers' razor-sharp tongues.

Noel said: "It's a pointless exercise. I turned it off after five songs."

Liam added: "It's rubbish! If you haven't got The Beatles by now you're not going to get it. I'm all Beatled-up!"

Still fuelled by the competitive streak they have had throughout their career - Noel once said he had never heard Liam have a good word to say about anyone "except his kids" - the brothers were not about to enter into the chart battle they possibly always dreamed about without firing off a few warning shots.

However, it is not a two-horse race. Super-group U2 and Irish boy band Westlife, who released singles compilation '18 Songs' and the 'Love Album' respectively this week, are also in the reckoning. Who wins is yet to be decided but if Oasis' loyal fan base get behind 'Stop The Clocks' they have a great chance.

Of course Oasis are no strangers to an epic chart battle.

In August 1995 they went toe-to-toe with the other Britpop heavyweight Blur when 'Roll With It' was released the same week as 'Country House'.

The nation was completely gripped by the epic race - the story famously made the 'News At Ten' as a news item of "cultural significance".

Although Liam and Noel lost the battle - 'Roll With It' entered the singles chart at number two behind 'Country House' - they went onto win the war with second album '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' selling almost 30 million copies worldwide and becoming the third biggest-selling LP in UK history.

Its success landed the group a trio of prizes at the 1996 BRIT Awards, Best British Album, Best British Group and Best British Video for 'Wonderwall', and it is at the same awards ceremony where Oasis will cement their status as rock 'n' roll royalty.

The band are to be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution To Music prize and have agreed to perform a selection of their classic hits.

Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry Peter Jamieson said: "Oasis set the standard for many of the young rock bands who are currently enjoying success in the UK charts. As the BRIT Awards go live for the first time in nearly two decades, it is appropriate that we should honour one of the most exciting live acts the UK has ever produced."

Although they snubbed last year's ceremony, despite being up for two accolades, Best Rock Act and Best Live Act, the Gallaghers seem genuinely excited to be receiving the prize and the prospect of causing mayhem as they have done at so many BRITs in the past.

In 1996, a drunken Liam famously insulted the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence on stage as he collected a statuette, saying: "has beens shouldn't be given out awards to gonna bes!"
Noel has even invited his former bandmates Bonehead and Guigsy to join the current line-up on stage for the first time since they both quit the band in 1999 during the recording of the band's fourth studio album 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants'.

He said: "I bear them no malice. With the thing coming up at the BRITs it'd be nice if they came along and get up with us. It'd actually be nice to sit down with them."

The award is generally associated with artists whose careers are coming to an end or are losing their cultural significance, so it seems strange that an act still clearly as important and vibrant as Oasis should be getting it.

They are a band who never went away, whose songs never lost their appeal. Indeed you can put on a copy of debut album 'Definitely Maybe' -unquestionably one of the greatest records of all time - and it still sounds as relevant and fresh as it did way back in 1994.

Although Liam, now 34, and Noel, 39, may never have matched the creative achievements of The Beatles they have mirrored their idols in one significant way - they have become part of the fabric of Britain.

Their songs are loved by the nation and have become interwoven into people's lives. The Oasis story is one of struggle and triumph and love and hate - themes that most individuals can instantly relate to.

John Lennon once sang the lyric "a working class hero is something to be". Liam and Noel are those heroes.

By Philip Hamilton.

Source: www.femalefirst.co.uk

Westlife Set To Win Chart Race

Tomorrow will be remembered as The Day The Music Died.

William Hill have now stopped taking bets on whether Pestlife will beat Oasis to No1 when this Sunday’s album chart is revealed.

The latest midweek figures show the Oirish crooners have shifted 159,000 copies of their dreadful release The Love Album, while Oasis’ Stop The Clocks has sold 139,000. There’s still time for Oasis fans to prevent this grave miscarriage of musical justice if they mount a giant stampede on record stores up and down the country.

But I’d say it is less likely to happen than Michael Jackson taking over from Konnie Huq as the new Blue Peter presenter.

This week I risked a barrage of abuse from Westlife fans when I called on Bizarre’s loyal army of readers to help thwart the boy band. hitting No1 with my Stop The C*cks campaign. And while you put up a brave fight, I fear the end is nigh.

Tomorrow, barring divine intervention, I’m afraid De Loife will be crowned No1 — thereby sounding the death knell for British music as we know it.

They saw off rock’s Holy Trinity of The Beatles, U2 and Oasis in what will go down in pop history as Black Sunday — or should that be Sunday Bloody Sunday?

Perhaps it is now time for Liam Gallagher to show his mettle and prove he really Is God and the saviour of rock ’n’ roll. Above I’ve conjured up a frightening image of how the future might look should the likes of Westlife and G4 conquer our once great nation.

Stools, cheesy covers and plastic grins will become obligatory for any budding rock star hoping to crack the British charts.

I’ve got my design wizards to mock up how Bono, Paul McCartney, Liam and Noel Gallagher would look if they were forced to adopt the Westlife way.

I’m sure Britain’s stool manufacturers are rubbing their hands with glee.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Noel On Parkinson This Saturday!

Noel will be on Michael Parkinson's show this Saturday 25th Nov (UK ONLY). The program starts at 10.50pm on ITV 1.

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Sun Readers Quiz Oasis

WE asked you to send in YOUR questions for OASIS, and you did – in your thousands.

In an exclusive interview with SFTW, Liam, Noel, Gem and Andy answer what you wanted to know.

In the first part of our chat with the band (the second follows next week) read what they have to say about Oasis members past and present, why they will never tour when they are as old as the Stones and whether Noel will ever make a solo album.

A FEW years ago Noel said Oasis would never release a greatest hits album unless it was the end of the road for the band.
MALCOLM WEARING, Dumfries

Liam: I think you say that when you’re just starting out. We haven’t made the greatest hits — they’re all songs that we made ages ago.I’m proud of it. It’s got some of our best tunes and I wouldn’t have done it unless the record company forced us to do it. I’d rather be involved in it rather than not involved. But I prefer to be doing the new record, to tell the truth.

Noel: We didn’t have to get involved with any of it but we’re never going to do another “best of”. I was trying to be as hardcore as possible but there are about 10 more songs that should have been on there.

Andy: A lot of tunes were left off. My personal favourite would have been Whatever but it was Noel who picked the tunes. This is his baby.
Gem: I would have had Listen Up, D’You Know What I Mean? and Let There Be Love on there. But there you go. I totally understand the way Noel’s done it. It’s not meant to be the box set, it’s meant to run like a good gig — and everyone knows about all the other tunes not on there anyway.

WHY are there no tracks from Be Here Now? Has Noel missed off any tracks, do you think? TINA HALLADAY, Liverpool

Liam: Yes, I think he’s missed a few. I’d have put on Rockin’ Chair, D’You Know What I Mean? I would have put some off Be Here Now. If he didn’t like the record that much, he shouldn’t have put the f***ing record out in the first place. I don’t know what’s up with him but it’s a top record, man, and I’m proud of it — it’s just a little bit long.

Andy: Noel has purged Be Here Now from his mind — I don’t think he even remembers it. I’d like to play some of the songs live. I tried to get us to rehearse My Big Mouth but Noel doesn’t like these songs as they are all too long and take up two tracks in the set and the same for the “best of”. He probably associates it with a time he doesn’t want to go back to.

Noel: D’You Know What I Mean? was on it right up to the day before it was mastered. But it’s just too long. It upset the flow of the album. When we recorded Be Here Now I thought it was the greatest thing ever but the novelty of that record wore off pretty soon. Andy’s wrong. It was a great period. The money had just come in from Morning Glory so we had become very, very wealthy overnight. Sony had given us a private jet, I was given a Rolls-Royce but, unfortunately, the music suffered. I don’t know why Liam is saying that because, when it comes to playing them live, he won’t sing them!

LIAM, if John Lennon was still alive and you had 24 hours with him, what would you do? TRACY WHINNETT, St Albans, Herts

Liam: Good f***ing question, man, but I haven’t a clue. I’d freak him out by looking at him, stare him out — but I don’t know. I’d probably b*m him.

ACQUIESCE is a great record. Is it true it was written while the band were on a train – and that the title totally confused Liam?
TANJA BENDER, by email

Liam: I can’t remember, man, I don’t know when it was written as I was too busy having a f***ing good time. Yes, the title did confuse me. It still confuses me — I haven’t got a clue what it means. I’ve never asked Noel what it means either. The less I have to talk to him, the better.
Noel: It was written going to a studio in Wales to record Some Might Say. The train broke down and I was stuck for four hours and I wrote that song. Someone had said “Acquiesce” on the phone and I’d written it down. Liam still doesn’t know what it means. People have the misconception that song is about me and Liam, which annoys me to f***, as the lyrics in the second verse are, “To sing my soul to sleep, And take me back to bed.” It’s absolutely not about me and Our Kid and we’ve never shared a bed — and if I was looking for someone to take me to bed it wouldn’t be Liam!

HOW close did the band ever come to breaking up?
MARTIN MACDONALD, Kidderminster

Liam: Never. We just needed a couple of days off instead of going into another country. I don’t think it’s ever come close really. We’ve had some serious arguments but as you get older you think, nah, f***. Ask Noel.

Noel: The real low point was Barcelona for the Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants tour. In that period we were all drinking a lot and taking drugs.

IS it true Noel wants to make a solo album but never seems to have time. Would Liam let him? MICHELLE GEMMELL, Ayr

Noel: I’ll do one eventually as life’s too short and none of us is getting any younger. I’d like to make one while I still look good and before I look like Phil Collins, which, eventually, I will. It’s nothing to do with

Liam. I’ve got the songs — I could do four solo albums

LIAM once said he was John Lennon reincarnated. So who does he think Noel could be?
KEV HOLMES, by email

Liam: He’s f***ing Buzz Lightyear.

Noel: Buzz Lightyear? So I’m a superhero, then? Liam is Arthur Mullard.

WITH all the band members that have left over the years, if you had to pick one of them to rejoin Oasis, who would it be?
CLIVE KEARNS, by email

Noel: None of them — and I don’t say that with any malice towards them as they were all f***ing brilliant and I wish they’d never left. But it led to better things.

WHO do you believe is the most talented member of the band?
WAYNE BURTON, Rotherham

Liam: I’d say it’s Noel but we’re all talented in our different ways. He’s good at writing songs and I’m better at singing them. We’re all the same man. If it’s about f***ing looks, then it’s totally me.

Noel: Everyone’s got their own individual talent. Liam’s got many subtle little talents. 99 per cent of them I can’t see but he must be talented as everyone keeps telling me. Gem is a brilliant producer, Andy is a whizz at everything and a great songwriter. Obviously, everyone else will say me.

Andy: We are a band of equals. That’s the feeling that I got when I started to play with this lot. We’re all super good at what we’re doing.

Gem: I think we’re all really talented in different ways but Liam’s voice is an absolute gift from the gods. But I think Andy is the best musician in the band, and Noel’s songs — he’s one of the all-time greats.

WOULD Oasis have ever been as successful if you were all bald?
ENDA BURKE, Galway

Liam: No chance. I wouldn’t go and see a band with a load of bald f***ers. You’ve got to have a barnet or it doesn’t work.

Andy: The hair’s getting a little thinner but we’re stapling it together.

Gem: In my world it goes hand in hand — shoes, guitars, hair. That’s the triangle.

Noel: Absolutely not. The way Liam looks is a big part of it. Back in the day I didn’t look that great as I was too busy getting off my head, Bonehead was bald, Guigs looked like an average man. And shoes are always good as we’re Mancunians. We dress from the feet upwards.
AFTER 12 years at the top, how long do you think you will continue?

Will you be like the Rolling Stones or go gracefully?
DARREN MUGFORD, by email

Liam: I dunno. I didn’t join the band to split up. I joined the band because I like being in a band and I like to make music. If the tunes are f***ing good and we all look half-decent, then people will want to buy the records. I still love everything about it. This is what I like doing and it never gets boring. So who knows, man? All those bands that split up after a couple of records, well, they can suck my ****!I love singing Our Kid’s songs and I love doing the gigs. I like the way our band’s perceived and we’ve got the best fans in the world. So why would you not like it? I’ve got nothing in common with other bands — wearing their tight kecks and pointy shoes.

Noel: We just take everything one step at a time. I don’t know how long it will go on. As long as we’re all still into it. I’d say longer after the last tour, as I’ve seen a new generation of Oasis fans.

IF Tony Blair told the Queen to give Noel a knighthood as his parting gesture before stepping down, would you accept it?
RICHARD JONES, Australia

Noel: I’d initially accept it and not turn up. I’m not a big fan of the monarchy.

YOU’VE got one bullet. Who do you shoot, Robbie Williams or Phil Collins?
STEPHEN BAILEY, by email

Noel: It always comes out wrong about Phil. I don’t give a f*** about Phil Collins. I wouldn’t shoot him. I think he’s bit of a knob though. As for Robbie, I’d load the gun for him as he’s eventually going to do it himself as he is a grossly unhappy person.

MORRISSEY used his celebrity to reform the New York Dolls. What about using your power to get The Smiths back together.
CRAIG WELLS, by email

Noel: Well if The Smiths announced a gig anywhere in the world tomorrow I’d be there and the same goes for The Stone Roses. But they properly fell out. As bad as things get in Oasis there’s always this sibling thing that draws us back together or my Mam gets involved. So it’s a pipe dream.

THE Beatles have had their music adapted for Cirque Du Soleil and Queen have had their songs turned into a musical. Any plans for Madferit: The Story Of Oasis?
JAMES, by email

Liam: Nah, I wouldn’t be up for it. Not sure what Noel would say as he’s getting weirder the older he gets — especially as he’s coming up to 40. I bet he’ll have a yellow f***ing Ferrari next, so who knows where his head will be at in a couple of years’ time? But it’s not my cuppa tea. It’s not rock ’n’ roll is it?

Andy: The Cirque De Soleil is a mad one. I’ve heard some of the music and it’s amazing. I’ll see it next time I’m in Vegas.

Gem: I sincerely hope not. I really do. I think it’s an un-Beatles thing to do.

Noel: I bought the album and I had to switch it off. I thought it was ridiculous and I didn’t get it. It was like Stars On 45. A musical? I don’t know. It sounds that f***ing ridiculous that I’m kind of getting into it.

WAS Songbird included just to stop Liam whingeing?
BEN GOULSON, London

Liam: Our Kid put it on! It’s a f***ing tune! And I don’t f***ing whinge. Who asked that? Tell Ben he’ll be whingeing when I take my foot off his head.

Noel: No, because it’s a bona fide good Oasis song and I wish I’d written it as I f***ing love it.

DOES your success and commitment to touring and promotion interfere with your creativity?GARY STANFORD, by email

Noel: I’d say yes it does. I used to aggressively pursue creativity. Ten years ago if I wasn’t writing a song every day I’d panic. But now I’ve nothing left to prove and I don’t mean that in a defeatist way. The only things I’ve got to prove are to myself. So even if I go four months I don’t stress. I used to chase after my creativity but now I let it find me.

ANDY/GEM, if you could have played on any songs before your time which would they be? Do you ever regret not being a part of Definitely Maybe?
SARAH DYSON, Wigan

Andy: I would’ve liked to have played on all my favourites like Slide Away, Champagne Supernova, Live Forever — all those kind of tunes. But it doesn’t really matter as I play them live now anyway. I don’t have any regrets in life as everything led me to where I am now. When they did Definitely Maybe I was seeing Liam and Noel as we were in the same studios a few weeks apart as I was making Ride’s third album.

Gem: It’s all what it was, what it is. It’s carved in stone. Now they’ve got a different life in my head played live. Champagne Supernova is a different record when I play it live.

DO you envisage a time when the band no longer tour?
BRENDAN FINNEGAN, by email

Liam: I hope not because sitting in the studio all day is great but I’ve got to see people’s reactions. It’s a top day out at an Oasis gig, whether you’re on the stage or in the crowd so why would you want to cut that stuff short?

Andy: Yes I can, well maybe not tour so much. I can look forward to a day when we do tone it down but right now we’re still in our prime and none of us want to stop now.

Gem: No I think you’ve got to tour and that’s why all the great bands, us included, have our fans because we go and play to them. Simple as that.

Noel: Me and Andy look at things more objectively. I’m not going on the road when I’m 50! And it depends on how I look. We’ll still be touring in five years but I don’t ever want to end up like Pink Floyd. Now I f***ing love Pink Floyd but on stage at Live 8, well I’m not going out like that. I want our last photo shoot to look good. I don’t see an end to it yet but we’re not going to be like the Rolling Stones, no f***ing way — all that macrobiotic food and tights? No way.

NOEL and Gem, will you make an acoustic album after your tour?
SIMON MANGERS, Luton

Gem: Who knows? We’ve done loads of stuff, radio sessions and everything so all they need is for someone to put them in a sleeve. It’s weird as everything with Oasis is this rock ’n’ roll lad thing but this shows a really tender and quiet side of us.

Noel: We had a good laugh doing that tour but I wouldn’t like to make it a bigger tour. Doing the acoustic tour I was centre of attention and I’m not sure I like that. It’s weird.

YOU’VE got a docu coming out, but if Hollywood was to make the Oasis film, who would play who?
NEIL RENTON, Edinburgh

Noel: Nobody really looks like Liam and fortunately no one looks like me. We’re pretty unplayable I guess. Rhys Ifans would do a good Liam if he could get the accent right.

WAS it difficult for the band to adjust to being musical celebs?
ALEX MacGREGOR-DEVLIN, by email

Liam: Nah, if people ask for an autograph, sign it and move on. I don’t like it if there’s a load of people mithering me but apart from that it’s not hard.

Andy: I haven’t the same profile as the brothers so I can go down Woolworths, do my shopping and I don’t get bothered.

NOEL featured on the Radio 2 superstar line-up telly advert. Who would you have in your fantasy line-up?
DAVE MYERS, Liverpool

Liam: I wouldn’t have had Sheryl Crow. I would have had Keith Moon for a start. I would have f***ed Our Kid off and got Jimi Hendrix in. Elvis would go and I would have been in there. For backing singers, The Supremes.

Andy: I’d keep Keith Moon on drums, Noel on guitar. I’d get rid of Sheryl Crow and get John Power from The LA’s in and yes, maybe Elvis on vocals.

Noel: I’d go for Reni from the Stone Roses. Lee Mavers from The LA’s singing and playing guitar and me on another guitar. On lead guitar Johnny Marr and on bass Mani.

I SAW Oasis in Colorado and it was amazing. Do they still care about breaking the US?
RICH JONES, Denver

Liam: What’s breaking it? We tour there. I would never want to be that huge that you’re on Oprah. I’d never want to be that big in America as they’re all f***ing weirdos. If it means going out there all the time then I’d rather be big here. The money would be nice but if that’s the only reason, then nah.

Andy: Last time we played Red Rocks, Hollywood Bowl and Madison Square Garden so have we not made it playing those places? I feel like we have, though I feel we should be bigger. Americans would like it if they heard us more on the radio.

Noel: Our US label is conservative, Celine Dion’s on it. They’re ultra-professional and we weren’t bothered about the meet-and-greet side of it but the older I get the more I like going there. It would be great to have a No1 American album but I know what it takes to get that. The reason we didn’t break America wasn’t anything to do with the music — how can it be, our music is f***ing great. A lot of it has to do with mine and Liam’s personalities — they just don’t get it. Our record company never really got us, but I can live with that.

SO, will there be another record?
MARTIN PETERS, Manchester

Liam: We’ve done stuff for the next record. When we recorded the last one, we recorded about 50 tunes and I think there’s an album there definitely. We’ve just got to wait for Our Kid to decide what he wants to do. If he wants to make a new record let’s go. I’m ready to go. If Noel wants to take a f***ing break then I’ll be doing the f***ing record with Gem as I don’t take breaks. He always says: “Our Kid loves the limelight, he can’t relax” Well where were you last week? In Tokyo you f***ing knobhead.

Noel: Is that right Liam? Liam sees things very differently to the rest of us. After The Brits I don’t know. Liam needs to go to anger management classes and get some manners and then maybe we’ll make another record.

Read more next week

Gallagher Brother Blasts Oasis Greatest Hits Compilation

Oasis star Liam Gallagher is furious with his brother and bandmate Noel for "missing out" some of the rockers' best tracks on their newly released greatest hits collection. Stop The Clocks is tipped to be a huge festive hit in the UK but Oasis frontman Liam wishes he'd had more input in the content. He fumes, "I think Noel's missed a few. "I'd have put on Rockin' Chair, D'You Know What I Mean? I would have put some off Be Here Now. "If he didn't like the record (Be Here Now) that much, he shouldn't have put the f**king record out in the first place. I don't know what's up with him but it's a top record, man, and I'm proud of it - it's just a little bit long."

Source: www.contactmusic.com

It's Official, Westlife Are Better Than Oasis

William Hill have closed the book on which Album will be number 1 this weekend having been inundated with bets on Westlife.

William Hill have hardly taken a bet on the other big bands. Oasis started as the 1/12 favourites to win and drifted out to 8/1 conversely Westlife starting at 6/1 and finishing at 1/20 on favourites!

"We could not have got this more wrong and have be whopped by Westlife, Oasis is a dirty word in our office," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

Source: www.casinotimes.co.uk

Barlow Joins Oasis/Westlife Debate

Gary Barlow has joined the current chart debate, backing Oasis to win the album battle against Westlife.

The Take That singer reportedly told The Sun, "I just don't get the whole Westlife thing. I don't understand who would go out and buy their records.

"I haven't got it and I won't be buying it, but I have got the Oasis album. I'm definitely backing Oasis over them."

The comments come after Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell both expressed their support for Westlife earlier this week.

The latest midweek sales figures show that Westlife's Love album is slightly out-selling the Oasis greatest hits collection Stop The Clocks.

Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk