Noel And Gem Videos From Melbourne

Slide Away


Don't Look Back in Anger


Half The World Away

Thanks to rdw23,littleladylove89 & marksupernova

Oasis Radio

Music lovers BBC Music 6 are giving UK lads Oasis the right to the mike on December 12 when Liam, Gem and Andy step up for a very special programming session on '6 Music Selector'.

The guys will talk about their biggest musical influences to date while
digging through the healthy Music 6 archives to produce the albums and live
music recordings that have shaped their tastes enough to produce their own
massive swag of career-defining hits (find 'em all on their latest "best of"
retrospective 'Stop The Clocks' in stores this week).

Best of all, they've recruited personal faves (and northern neighbours from
merseyside) The Coral to record an exclusive four track session at Noel's own studio, which will also be played during the show.

It's an honour that's been accepted by only a handful of worthy artists
(including Franz Ferdinand) so check it all out at bbc.co.uk/6music on
December 12.

Noel Gallagher And Gem Archer Live @ The Union Chapel On Channel 4 This Saturday.

The Union Chapel Gig from November is being shown on Channel 4 (UK) this coming Saturday (16th). At 11.45 pm -12.50 am.

A semi-acoustic performance by Noel Gallagher and Gem of Oasis as part of a special season of gigs recorded at London's Union Chapel in November 2006.

Older But Not Slowing Down

It was literally in a matter of days that Noel Gallagher went from being unable to pay for a round of pints at his local, to receiving a phone call informing him that a £1 million royalty cheque was to be deposited in his bank account.

"With hindsight, they were crazy times," he said in a room upstairs at the Forum Theatre this week where he was preparing for the first of two Melbourne shows. "You suddenly just waste a lot of money on shit, utter rubbish. God knows how much money I've blown on drugs, shit cars I can't drive, and daft houses I've never lived in.

"It takes you ages to get back on an even keel. I went mad with it for a good three and a bit years before I started to come around. You forget who you are."

Gallagher, now 39, is in town as part of a three-month world tour for Oasis' new best-of album, Stop the Clocks. The jaunt has been an outstanding success - tickets sold out in less than an hour.

On this tour, in which Gallagher is accompanied by Oasis guitarist Gem Archer, brother Liam Gallagher is a conspicuous absentee. On stage on Sunday, when a punter inquired of Liam's whereabouts, Noel was typically candid. "He couldn't be with us," he declared. "He was washing his hair . . . Actually, truth is, he couldn't be f---ed."

Offstage, he was a tad more decorous.

"Liam lives in Disneyland, y'know what I mean?" he said. "He's started to carry a man bag, which is very disturbing. Apart from that, he's the usual him. I kind of give him the wide berth. Liam doesn't do acoustic shows or interviews, anyway."

The best-of campaign has hardly lacked controversy. Two weeks ago, a widely reported tirade about troops in Iraq landed Gallagher in hot water with veterans' associations.

"I'm regularly grossly misquoted in the press," he said. "They made it sound like I was saying British soldiers deserved to get shot at. I was talking about soldiers in general in America, and I was just, like, 'If you don't like getting shot at, don't join the army.' "

Gallagher was also bemused by the storm that surrounded his sarcastic remark about the Socceroos.

"All things like that I've said very tongue-in-cheek," he said, with a grin. "But I'm yet to master the art of making my quotes look good in print. My point was, Australians are that good at cricket and rugby, why do you bother about football? Please leave football to the rest of us."

Last night, after a show at Vodafone Live at the Chapel, Gallagher also participated in a Q&A session at the Kino cinema for a screening of the band's new documentary film, Lord Don't Slow Me Down. He will also take in the Ashes Test in Perth.

Gallagher says that after spending more than two years recording and touring their last album Don't Believe the Truth, the band agreed to take a year off. They plan to reconvene in June. Gallagher has spent most of his time in his eight-bedroom mansion in Buckinghamshire. He also took his daughter to Sea World in Florida.

"I took my little daughter to see the killer whale," he said. "She was more underwhelmed than I was."

The band has experienced an odd history in Australia. Due to various internal calamities, the band never made it out here in their mid-1990s heyday. It was a tension-filled, bleary-eyed 1998 tour that introduced Australian fans to the band's live show.

"I wouldn't like to think I'm apologising to the Australian nation," Gallagher says, "but we let ourselves down on that tour. I was here for about a month and was out of it every day. We almost had to start from scratch when we came back again. We've only really had a career here for the last five years. I do like coming here, though."

Next year they will be honoured at the Brit Awards, the UK equivalent of the Grammys.

"We've been gently pushed into all this," he says. "Let's get this out of the way before I'm 40. I don't want to be like Pink Floyd going up there as an old fella. I might as well do it while I can still look good in a leather jacket."

To view footage of Gallagher's show at Vodafone Live at the Chapel, visit www.liveatthechapel.com

Source: www.theage.com.au

Liam Gallagher Lashes Out At Music Fans

Liam Gallagher believes that people who like various styles of music are "ignorant".

The Oasis frontman revealed his forthright views to The Sun, saying: "A lot of people like lots of music. I don’t. I think that’s ignorant. It’s like having loads of girlfriends. I don’t like lots of styles of music, I just like rock ’n’ roll."

Gallagher also spoke of his fondness for taking the glory in the band despite his brother's hard work: "I’m the geezer with the champagne getting Man Of The Match. I think we all know that. I’m the one who scores in the last minute. Noel’s the defender who drives it and that. You do the work and I’ll just have a laugh and look good."

Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk

Manc Of The Match For Liam

Liam Gallagher reckons being the lead singer in Oasis is like winning Man Of The Match at football.

The gobby Mancunian said: “I’m the geezer with the champagne getting Man Of The Match. I think we all know that.

“I’m the one who scores in the last minute. NOEL’s the defender who drives it and that. You do the work and I’ll just have a laugh and look good.” Liam also reckons it’s wrong to like different types of music. He says: “A lot of people like lots of music. I don’t. I think that’s ignorant.

“It’s like having loads of girlfriends. I don’t like lots of styles of music, I just like rock ’n’ roll.”

He also insisted: “I want Oasis to be bigger. I want to make great records that people love. I think there’s a special one round the corner.”

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

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