Marriage? I'm So Made Fer It

Oasis wildman Liam Gallagher will be swaggering his way down the aisle to say "I effin' do mate".

I can exclusively reveal that the singer will tie the knot with his All Saints bride Nicole Appleton in the new year.

The good news comes courtesy of Liam's big bro, Noel. The guitarist let it slip at a boozy bash hosted by XFM in Manchester.

Way to Go Let It Out, Noel.

Source: News Of The World

Army Major Slams 'Whingeing' Gallagher

A British Army major has hit back at Noel Gallagher after the Oasis rocker insisted British soldiers serving in Iraq shouldn't be allowed to seek compensation if they are wounded. Earlier this month, Gallagher sparked controversy by claiming troops have no right to seek compensation because they are "loving it until they get shot".

But Major Ben Wrench of the Black Watch battalion hits back at the mouthy rocker, saying, "If we were all getting pop star wages, maybe we would have the luxury of whingeing a lot more. "I would caution anyone about passing comment on the servicemen and women who are injured in the line of duty. Yes, we volunteer to join the Army and of course everyone is aware of the operational risks. "But no, we don't volunteer to be blown up by roadside bombs, to be killed or maimed and to lose limbs. I don't think anybody who has been injured could be accused of whingeing."

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Noel At The Phoenix?

Noel Gallagher may record a single with Phoenix Nights star Peter Kay after chatting backstage at an exclusive XFM gig this week.

Comedian Kay partied with Noel after the Oasis star performed a secret concert at the Quays Theatre in Manchester.

An onlooker said: "They decided they'd like to work together. Everyone thought it was a good idea."

Source: www.people.co.uk

Rules Of A Rock God

Want to know the Ten Commandments of Rock? I can't reveal them to you unless you're a rock star. Oh, all right. Here are a few:

• Thou must wear shades at all times (especially indoors).

• Thou must own at least one black leather jacket.

• Thou must have a taste for the finest wines and the hardest drugs.

These were given to me by that learned older brother in rock, Oasis guitarist-songwriter-everything-man Noel Gallagher, 39.

It's what he tells young bands when they meet him for the first time, he says.

"What, when they come up shaking, going, 'You're, like, the coolest man in the history of all the world.' I just go, (adopts super-cool, calm, God-like voice) 'I know. Stop shaking. What can I do for you?' And they go, 'Please tell us how to be better rock stars!'

"And I say, 'Well, you have to follow the 10 commandments I've set out for myself'. And they go, 'Wow, you're like a Jedi!' And I say, 'Well, yes I am.' "

Australian Oasis fans will share space with the Cool One when he performs at Brisbane's Tivoli with Oasis rhythm guitarist Gem Archer this week.

After more than a decade leading one of Britain's biggest bands, Gallagher can indeed claim Jedi status. He has weathered the storms caused by his tempestuous younger brother, Liam, as well as various musical feuds and the ups and downs of a fickle industry. Somehow, he's managed to stay down-to-earth and funny. British music mag NME dubbed him "the wisest man in rock".

He's on the phone to promote Oasis's new (whisper it) "best of". But didn't Noel say he wasn't going to release one until the band split? What's the story? Oasis are jumping ship from record label SonyBMG. Sony decided to release a "best of" and the band had the choice to be involved or not. So Noel got involved.

He chose the 18 tracks on the collection, entitled Stop the Clocks, which begins with Rock 'n' Roll Star and ends with Don't Look Back in Anger. The other members didn't get a say.

"Well, they're all my songs! I can't have (bassist) Andy Bell telling me that Rocking Chair is better than f---ing Half a World Away."
What about Liam, the band's singer?

"F--- him. He's an idiot," he says, almost to order.

Liam recently turned 34. Noel didn't get him a gift. "We don't have that kind of a relationship. I'm not even interested in how old he is. 'Cos I know deep down he's still acting like a f---ing 14-year-old."

The highlight of his career, Noel says, has been meeting his own idols, such as Paul Weller, Neil Young, Morrissey and Johnny Marr. In his 15 years in the band he's learned "nothing and everything".

"When you start off, it's all magic. To be in a band and 'in the music scene, man', it's all magic. I guess you learn cynicism as you go along. You learn a lot of things that you thought were true, they're not true at all."

So what's a day in the life of a Jedi-cum-rock star like?

"I haven't got like a fireman's pole running down through my house; I don't descend from the heavens into my kitchen in a catsuit and eat breakfast and then go maraud around London and act like a rock star. Underneath it all, we're kind of all the same. I get up in the morning. I eat breakfast. I watch the news. I smoke some cigarettes. I have some tea and the phone will start ringing in the office and they'll tell me what I've got to do today, and if I don't have to do anything, I just go and annoy my girlfriend."

I tell him that Oasis have been nominated for the British Q Magazine Award for Best Act in the World Today. He says: "Well, what can I say? We've won that award quite a few times, so the novelty has worn off."

There will be more Oasis albums. But he's in no rush. He has slowed down, but his ego is as big as ever.

"It was pretty f---ing big to start with, I've got to say. And I have mellowed a great deal and it's still huge."

Would you expect anything less from the Best Band in the World Today? You might like to know that Oasis did win the award.

Noel Gallagher plays the Tivoli, Fortitude Valley, on Tuesday. Stop the Clocks is out now.

source: www.news.com.au

Matt Willis Says Liam Loves Him

Mr Willis tells us about a very surprise phone call...

King of the jungle Matt Willis has revealed to MTV UK News that Liam Gallagher is one of his biggest fans.

The 'I'm A Celebrity...' star told us, "David Gest rang me the other day and he passed me the phone and goes, 'There’s some guy here and he keeps on kissing me, and telling me I’m awesome. He is with lots of girls and his name is Liam.'

"Suddenly I got, 'Hey, sound! You're f*cking ace kid. You did really well.' I was like, 'Hello Liam Gallagher on my mobile telephone, how the bloody hell are you?!' I was like, 'Wow, that’s amazing.' (And) All Saints voted for me. How cool is that?"

The former Busted dude, whose new single 'Don't Let It Go To Waste' is out now, made no bones about why he went on the reality show either.

"I went on it is for selfish reasons, because I have an album out. I wanted to promote that. It was that reason, I’m not gonna lie.

"I’m not gonna write a book. I’m not going to do any magazine deals, it’s not really me. As long as I sell enough records to make another one, I will be happy. It’s back to work for me, which is nice."

And if his plans go well don't rule out the release of a jungle-inspired duet.

"(Jason Donovan and I) talked about writing a song together. He is a really cool guy. I hope he does some cool stuff, we will see more of Jason Donovan. 'Especially For You' - I could sing the Kylie bit!"

Classic...

Source: www.mtv.co.uk

Liam's Birthday Blunder

Some Might Say that you should never get your girl-friends age wrong on her birthday cake - mightn't they, Liam Gallagher?

The Manc, 34, earned big brownie points when he took gorgeous Nicole Appleton to the Ivy in London to celebrate her 32nd year on the plant.

But he lost them all by dessert, when he plonked a birthday cake in front of her, declaring: "Happy 33rd Birthday".

The All Saints sassbucket Looked Back In Anger, removed the extra candle and blew out the rest with a giant sigh.

Our man with the party poppers said: "If she made a birthday wish when she blew out the candles, it was for her boyfriend to start paying attention to important details - like her age.

Miffed

"It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd thought she was a year younger. But he'd thought she was a year younger: But he added a year on!"

But it's difficult to be miffed with your fella when he's the virtually edible Liam.

And although he's got a rubbish memory, he's got a big heart and a bigger bank balance, which he blew on crates of Champagne Supernovas and piles of nosh.

He then took the birthday girl to London's star vacuum, The Met Bar, for more Cigarettes and Alcohol with his bro Paul, her sister Natalie and an unlikely cocktail ot other shlebs.

Lamentably, plastic-faced Tarzan David Gest, 53, decided to chat up Natalie's best pal Tamzin Outhwaite, 36.

An insider said: "Paul told Liam, who was furious. He let it slide - but he kept threatening to 'Rearrange Gest's face."

Source: Daily Star

Don't Look Bag In Anger, Liam

At last I can out Liam Gallagher for carrying his infamous manbag to a nightclub.

The Oasis hardman got the designer satchel for his birthday from fiancée Nicole Appleton – but has been too scared to take it out for fear of ridicule.

Big brother Noel recently told me Liam got the idea for the accessory after he spotted idol Paul Weller carrying one.

So he bit the bullet and took his manbag to London’s trendy Met bar to celebrate Nicole’s 32nd birthday.

Nic’s big sister Natalie was also at the bash with Prodigy star hubby Liam Howlett, who looked suitably sloshed in a red jacket as he clutched a glass of champers.

Liam also invited new bessie mates – I’m A Celeb winner Matt Willis and jungle pal David Gest – to join in the fun.

Earlier in the night, the Manc singer took Nic for a slap up meal at The Ivy.

She later emerged showing off a humorous T-shirt with the slogan: Your boyfriend’s band suck.

I hope that wasn’t a dig at Natalie and Liam.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Oasis Nemesis Blur Back

This week could see another resurgence in Britpop bands, after recent reports that Blur could be reforming gather pace.

After a flurry of rumours that the famous rivals of Oasis in the 90s could be getting back together for one last album, bassist Alex James told BBC Radio 5 Live that he had met Graham Coxon recently and they had chatted about reforming.

Although the group are well known for their side projects, such as Damon Albarn's Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad And The Queen, bassist James also recently told music show The Tube that he was "going to have to beg" Coxon to rejoin to make sure of a "happy four-piece ending".

Meanwhile, longstanding indie rockers The Super Furry Animals are the latest group to admit they are in the throes of a comeback. The Welsh outfit told the NME that they are "working on about three different Furries records at the moment".

The band claim to have about 20 hours of music recorded, but are dumping all the slow songs and "just doing rocky numbers".

But frontman Gruff Rhys was keeping his cards close to his chest regarding an album release date, but that the "sooner the better" is most likely.

The Super Furry Animals' last album, Love Kraft, came out in summer 2005, but it's not unusual for big name bands to be able to take a break and come back with a new album with little pressure, at least according to one master of longevity.

Oasis legend Noel Gallagher told the BBC earlier this year that "success gives you a lot of time to take time on stuff".

He explained: "It's not considered commercial suicide for a band like OASIS to disappear for three years and come back with a record."

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Gallagher Set To Rock Myspace

Australian fans - and bars - feature in the Oasis concert documentary Lord Don't Slow Me Down, which will premiere next week with a Myspace black carpet screening.

Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher will unveil the acclaimed film at screenings in Melbourne on December 11 and in Sydney on December 13.

He said "great chunks" of the film was shot in Australia a year ago.

"For me, it's just us travelling around the world getting drunk," he said.

"(And) there's the show we did at the Hordern Pavilion; that was a good one."

To register for the exclusive screening and Q&A session with Noel Gallagher, go to www.myspace.com

Source: www.myspace.com

Liam Is David's Gest Of Honour

Liam Gallagherhas two new Celebrity pals — David Gest and Matt Willis.

The Oasis singer was having lunch at London’s Wolseley restaurant with girlfriend Nicole Appleton and X Factor host Kate Thornton when he spotted the I’m A Celeb snorer nearby.

The rock wildman bounded over and gushed: “I love you, man. I voted for you in the jungle.”

David had no idea who Liam was, but a few glasses of wine later Liam asked him to phone Matt. The jungle king later revealed: “David rang me and goes, ‘There's some guy here and he keeps kissing me and telling me I’m awesome. He’s with lots of girls and his name’s Liam.’

“Suddenly I hear, ‘Hey, sound! You're ace, kid. You did really well.’ I was like, ‘Hello Liam, how the bloody hell are you?!’”

I reckon producers should offer Liam £1million to go on the next series. I’d watch every second.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

In Memoriam: John Lennon

John Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon, 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founder of The Beatles. He and fellow-Beatle Paul McCartney formed the massively successful Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership throughout the 1960s, writing songs for The Beatles and other artists to record.


Noel, Gem & Johnny Marr - Tomorrow Never Knows

Lennon's songwriting was often full of pain and hope. His melodies were at times beautiful and at times dark. His lyrics reflected his personal and career demands, philosophical outlook, his unease with his fame, and current events. As a writing pair, Lennon's hard-edged and McCartney's optimistic styles complemented one another. The Beatles, largely under Lennon and McCartney's influence and with their record producer George Martin, revolutionised rock music with their lyrics, instrumentation, harmony, and electronic effects, changing the nature of popular music at the time and paving the way for the music of the 1970s, 1980s and beyond. In his solo career distinct from The Beatles, Lennon wrote and recorded songs that became icons of the age, such as "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance".


Help

Lennon, on television and in films such as A Hard Day's Night (1964), and by press conferences and interviews, revealed his rebellious, iconoclastic nature and quick, irreverent wit. He channeled his fame and penchant for controversy into his work as a peace activist, artist and author.

He had one son, Julian, with his first wife, Cynthia; he later married his second wife, avant-garde artist Yoko Ono, and they had one son, Sean. John Lennon was murdered in New York City on December 8, 1980 by a deranged fan, as he and Ono returned home from a recording session; he was, and continues to be, mourned throughout the world.


I Am The Walrus

In 2002, respondents to a BBC poll about the 100 Greatest Britons voted Lennon into eighth place.

Source: Wikpedia

Fun Lovin' Kasabian Set For City Date

“In case there’s any remaining doubt, we’re bang up for it!” With this very quip, delivered wryly to an Orlando audience last month, wiry guitarist Serge Pizzorno inadvertently pinpointed why music fans have embraced Kasabian to their collective bosom.

In the last three years the kaleidoscopic rockers have picked up the 'band of the people' baton once grasped by The Stone Roses and Oasis and well and truly run with it.

And, although they hail from unfashionable Leicester, there’s no doubt a chunk of the quartet’s musical heart lies in Manchester too.

Led by pocket rocket frontman Tom Meighan, the four-piece have infused the passion and everyman spirit of Oasis with the Stone Roses’ feel for a groove.

Thankfully, for Kasabian, the feeling appears to be mutual. Ex-Stone Roses bassist Mani championed the band early on, while Liam Gallagher once turned up backstage just to flourish them with superlatives.

One thing led to another and Kasabian joined Oasis on a memorable US tour.

From a Paris hotel room drummer Ian Matthews describes their first proper meeting: “We met up with them at a Portuguese festival and got beckoned to their area and a genuine relationship developed over the next few weeks.

“Liam and Noel have just been so supportive, they’ve become mates, you know? “We go out with them for beers and watch the football.”

Pleasingly, Matthews is thrilled a natural friendship between the two bands has blossomed.

“It’s nice because they are great guys, but they don’t suffer fools - if they don’t like you, they let you know! So having them on your side is amazing!”

While hyperactive Meighan maybe Liam to Pizzorno’s more reserved Noel, because of the relentless nature of the band’s music - particularly in the live arena - Matthews’ role should not be underestimated.

Impact

A Bristolian, he met the rest of the band in a local studio and is proud of the impact he has made.
“When we play live my job is to make the crowd jump to the beats, it’s an incredibly powerful position to be in as I’m driving the band, the crowd, even the bar staff and the bouncers stood outside!”

In the luxurious state of being in a successful band, yet still relatively unknown, does Matthews enjoy being out of the limelight?

“I don’t know really, it is nice to be able to go to Sainsbury’s and no one know,” he concedes. “It’s like leading a double life.”

“If you want fame, it’s there; I just love what I do though. For me it’s the best job in the world - I get to travel, meet people and play to really receptive audiences.”

Does he agree the group have taken on Oasis’ mantle?

Bard

“I can see why people say that. Tom is the people’s singer, the people’s bard.

“Personally, I’m just an honest musician who wears his heart on his sleeve. I’m not a lord, you know?”

If they share the same outlook on life though, Matthews confirms their music does benefit from their eclectic tastes.

“Our iPods tell different stories, we’ve all got common ground of course, but we’ve all got our own ways.

“We want to experiment and not stay stuck waiting at the bus stop. We want to move things on with each LP and not stand still.”

So with a host of the country’s biggest venues primed what can we expect from the tour?

“We’ve put a lot of thought into it as we want to give the crowd maximum bang for their buck and make it the best night out possible, a real party!”

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Noel Gallagher Turns Down X Factor Role

Rocker Liam Gallagher was reportedly keen for Oasis to act as a mentors on 'The X Factor' but his brother Noel said no.

According to Life Style Extra, Liam Gallagher is a big fan of the reality show and thought that appearing on the programme might boost the group's album sales.

Liam Gallagher reportedly said in a recent interview: "We should have done it. The contestants would have been singing Oasis songs."

"I would have loved that. If Tony Bennett can go on, why can't we?" he said.

"We'd have made it to number one in the album charts without a doubt, but our kid said no and that was that."

Lionel Richie, Tony Bennett, Rod Stewart and Westlife have already acted as mentors to the contestants during the themed nights in the current series of the show.

Source: www.rte.ie

Happy Birthday Gem Archer

Colin Murray Archer (born December 7, 1966 County Durham), better known as Gem (pronounced with a hard "G" - like "gift", after the Scottish footballer Archie Gemmill), is an English musician best known for his work with Heavy Stereo and Oasis. He joined Oasis as rhythm guitar player in November 1999, and now writes some of their songs.

Archer is a vegetarian. He is married to Lou, with whom he has a son, Joel, and a daughter, Libby.




Whirlpool
Archer began his musical career in Whirlpool in the mid-80s. Ironically, in 1987, when Whirlpool were auditioning for a drummer, he stumbled across a young Alan White (then just 15 years old) who impressed everyone at the audition. Archer remembers "I thought he was mega but the others were worried what a 15-years-old kid on the road and on the lager would be like. I rang his dad and told him, Sorry. But don't worry he's fantastic. He'll go all the way". Archer's words were to prove true when White joined Oasis in 1995. Archer was to join him 12 years after their initial meeting.



Heavy Stereo

When Whirlpool split in the early 90s, Archer graduated to singer and guitarist status with Creation Records signing Heavy Stereo, a glam-rock band. Their only album, 1996's Déjà Voodoo, did not enjoy a much critical or commercial success. However, though it never came to pass, Heavy Stereo's next release did receive more attention through demos of new material, a critically acclaimed contribution to The Jam tribute album, Fire and Skill - Songs Of The Jam, and opening on a Paul Weller tour. Archer recalls "We'd got a Paul Weller tour and our new music was our best ever... I thought '99 really might be a good year for us." However, work on the record was put on hold when Archer's mother fell seriously ill.



Oasis

Whilst at home in Newcastle, having returned to care for his mother, Archer - laying in front of the fire - heard a report on The Big Breakfast that Bonehead had left Oasis after a massive row with Noel Gallagher. He claims "I thought, Shit! They'll split now. I was a real fan, and I'm not just saying that. For me, Oasis had breathed life back into rock 'n' roll." He was unaware that Noel Gallagher - who knew Archer from both their days on the Creation Records label - had rung his home in London where it was Archer's son Joel's birthday party. Once Archer's mother had recovered, Gallagher invited him to Olympic Studios, where Oasis were mixing Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. "We went to the pub and I couldn't stand not knowing if I was a part of the band. After less than half a pint of Guinness I said, What does Liam say? And Noel said, It's my fucking band. I'll have who I want." Archer claims the rest of Heavy Stereo were pleased for him to join Oasis.

As Archer did not perform on the Giants album, he received no royalties and, for the first few performances, was paid a standard session wage, about £85 a gig, as the new Oasis rhythm guitarist.[citation needed] His first official duty was to appear on the "Go Let It Out" video - on which he played lead guitar, as Andy Bell had yet to take over bass, so Noel played bass with Liam on rhythm - and played his first rhythm guitar set at a session for alternative radio in Philadelphia.

Though Archer is officially referred to as Oasis' rhythm guitarist, his role in Oasis is much more than that. In live setting he and Noel often switch between lead and rhythm guitar and both Noel and Liam Gallagher have praised Archer for his contributions in the studio. Archer also has a role as a songwriter. His first songwriting contribution after joining Oasis was "Hung in a Bad Place", which appeared on Oasis' 5th album Heathen Chemistry and was said to resemble Heavy Stereo. His role has expanded on Oasis' most recent album, Don't Believe the Truth, which features Archer's "A Bell Will Ring" and "Love Like a Bomb", the latter of which he co-wrote with singer Liam Gallagher. He also contributed the B-sides "Eyeball Tickler" and "The Quiet Ones" - an acoustic song much like Liam's "Songbird". Gem has said that he finds it quite daunting to submit songs for consideration to the band because of Noel Gallagher's stature as a songwriter, whom he cites as one of his favourite songwriters.

Andy Bell highlights Archer's significance to Oasis saying "Oasis has completely evolved. Noel's old mates left, he's been divorced and really changed his own life around. He still has Liam but his relationship with Liam is different - It's more tempestuous. He needs a less extreme mate and Gem's it. Gem chills Noel out. And that makes Oasis a more stable ship."

Gem also had a role in making the Nine Inch Nails' latest record With Teeth in middle-2004 before starting final sessions in October 2004 for Don't Believe the Truth. He also assisted Noel Gallagher in producing the first Proud Mary album, a band signed to Gallagher's Sour Mash record label.

Source: Wikpedia

Gallagher Spooked By Lennon Ghost

Oasis star Liam Gallagher wasn't always a fan of John Lennon - the late Beatle icon once haunted the Wonderwall singer. The rock wildman is adamant he was haunted by a presence one night- and is adamant it was the Imagine hitmaker. Gallagher says, "I was in Manchester (north England) at a mate's house having a kip (sleep). I remember getting up and feeling really weird. I turned round and there I was, lying on the bed, and I sort of fell back into my body. "There was a presence there and it was him. Lennon."

Source: www.contactmusic.com

The All-TIME 100 Albums

So here's how we chose the albums for the All-TIME 100. We researched and listened and agonized until we had a list of the greatest and most influential records ever - and then everyone complained because there was no Pink Floyd on it. And that's exactly how it should be. We hope you'll treat the All-TIME 100 as a great musical parlor game. Read and listen to the arguments for the selections, then tell us what we missed or got wrong. Or even possibly what we got right.

The 1990's

Sunrise Elvis Presley
BMG / Elvis
1999

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Universal
1998

OK Computer
Radiohead
Capitol
1997

Time Out of Mind
Bob Dylan
Sony
1997

Endtroducing...
DJ Shadow
Mo' Wax
1996

(What's the Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Sony
1995

Live Through This
Hole
Geffen
1994

My Life
Mary J. Blige
MCA
1994

Ready to Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Bad Boy
1994

Slanted and Enchanted
Pavement
Matador
1992

The Chronic
Dr. Dre
Death Row/Interscope
1992

Achtung Baby
U2
Island
1991

Nevermind
Nirvana
DGC Records
1991

Out of Time
R.E.M.
Warner Brothers
1991

Phil Spector
Back to Mono (1958 - 1969)
Various Artists
Abkco
1991

Ropin' The Wind
Garth Brooks
Capitol
1991

Star Time
James Brown
Polydor
1991

The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Jive
1991

Ckick Here for full list.

Source: www.time.com

Videos From The Lowry: Manchester

Thanks To Marie74

Zak And The Revision Of History

Zak came to see me in Boston to say that he felt Who fans might be angry with him after my description of events in an article published in a Boston newspaper. I had said that Zak's work with Oasis in 2005 had meant Roger and I had to wait until the spring of 2006 to move ahead with recording plans. I think I must have made it clear in other interviews that what also contributed to the delay - after an announcement in late 2004 that we planned an album and a tour for 2005 - was the fact that the songs were slow in coming to me.

Zak had asked to hear some songs in early 2005, and I was uneasy about letting him hear stuff I was unsure about. When he took on the work with Oasis it was not exactly good news for Roger and me, but we could offer Zak no certain future until we had songs. At the time we wished him well, and thought we might have to replace him if we needed to start touring before he was finished with Oasis.

In the long run everything worked out well. Oasis got a good lung run with Zak in the drummer's chair, and I had time to develop material for the new Who album ready by the summer of this year. It would have been great if Zak and I had had more time to work in the studio, but we are all together on the road and that's really where Zak shines like the beacon for the Who he really is.

There is no one who can fill the drummer's chair in the Who quite like Zak. His long history with the band (he was a constant presence when he was young and a fan of Keith Moon's) and his experience as the son of one of the Beatles gives him the credentials, and the serenity and authority he needs to do his job with the Who with panache.

Who fans should not look for anyone to blame for delays - especially not Zak. Zak would work for the Who all the hours he had if only the Who worked all the hours he had. We have never been a band that toured constantly, something that particulalry frustrated John Entwistle who ended up going out on his own quite a bit.

It now looks likely that this tour will end in July 2007 rather than continue until the autumn. That means our proposed return trip to Japan and Australia may be postponed for a while. I suppose one result of that is that Zak may pick up his sticks for Oasis again later next year - and as Noel and Liam wished him good luck when he came to play this tour with us, Roger and I will wish him luck if he goes to play with them. We are all friends. Life is too short for petty recriminations and in this matter Zak has nothing to apologise for. He was available to work in early 2005, but I wasn't ready for him.

I look forward to the next seven months of shows with Zak - he's been playing really well, and the whole band is in great shape.

One small thing - some of you may have noticed in one of my recent diary postings that I welcomed Zak into the Who as a permanent member. This is something he doesn't feel he needs or wants. Let's just say that the door is always open to this amazing musician, and - whenever we can - we will always try to make it possible for Zak to work with the Who in the future.

Source: www.petetownshend.co.uk

New Interview With Noel

Click Here to watch Noel's recent interview for CBCs 'The Hour' .

Source: www.cbc.ca

Noel Gallagher And Gem At The Lowry

SPECIAL SET: Gem and Noel03/12/06 (5/5 Stars)

WHAT would you expect from an exclusive and intimate Oasis homecoming gig? Cosy revelations about the Gallagher brothers’ life growing up down the road in Burnage? Heartfelt tales of missing Manchester?

When Noel Gallagher and bandmate Gem Archer take the stage for their acoustic gig in front of 400 Xfm competition winners at The Lowry theatre we get nothing of the sort.

Turns out he’s not really the kiss and tell, gut-spilling, tea and sympathy type.

But, if we don’t get up close and personal with Noel himself, we do get more intimate than ever with his songs. Which, let’s face it, more than makes up for that lack of chat.

This is Oasis, after all, not Oprah. And what songs. Stripped back, toned down, and minus the trademark strut of little brother Liam, these are Oasis tunes as you have never heard them before.

How Noel perhaps wants them to be. Take blast from the past Whatever – a string-laden single from the back catalogue which teeters dangerously on the brink of schmaltz.

Transformed here into a feisty folky number, it comes alive with a bit of Noel re-mastering.

“The original way we done this was ****,” he mumbles. “But we was all on drugs.”

Yes, he’s a man of few words. But when he does use them to answer back the (frequent) hecklers, he’s quick off the mark.

Mop top

“Lend us a tenner,” comes the cry from the audience. “I only carry fifties, cock.” And not a hair on that mop top barnet ruffled.

But if the crowd are less than gushingly star struck by the presence of this modern day music icon on stage, you get the impression that’s just how he likes it.

He certainly comes without any of the airs and graces of the super famous, preferring instead to dress down in trademark jeans and polo shirt, as though he’s strolled straight off the street.

It soon becomes clear there’s little need for rock n’ roll swagger anyway.

Even without all the hype, the tough talking, and the hard-faced controversy, these are simply some of the greatest songs of the past decade.

From the anthemic Wonderwall to the recent chart comeback, The Importance of Being Idle, each one sounds great once more with just some simple guitar and Noel’s vulnerable vocals breathed up close into the mic.

Heard without the posturing of frontman Liam (who barely gets a mention all night), it simply proves what a great singer/songwriter he is in his own right.

Ostensibly, these intimate forays of Noel’s around the country are to promote the band’s 'best of' album, Stop the Clocks.

Less of an advert for the band, maybe. Definitely a good sign for any future solo career

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk