On This Day In Oasis History...

"Songbird" is a song by British rock band Oasis, from their fifth studio album Heathen Chemistry. It was released as the fourth single from that album on 3 February 2003 and peaked at #3 in the UK charts. Being written by lead singer Liam Gallagher, it was the first time the band had released a single not written by his brother Noel.

Upon joining Oasis in the early nineties, Noel Gallagher claimed sole-songwriting responsibilities, and allowing little-to-no leeway from the rest of the band. He openly mocked the songwriting output of Liam and Bonehead, who had been in charge of Oasis' songwriting prior to his joining and had written a handful of tracks such as "Take Me" and an acoustic number titled "Life In Vain". Liam elaborated on the situation in 1994, after the release of Definitely Maybe saying "Noel won't let me (write), but I can't really write anyway... In the future if I started writing top tunes, I still don't think he'd be up for it... I know for a fact, even if he was going dry, he wouldn't play my songs... I'm not happy with that, but that's the way it is innit?".



However, after Oasis' third album Be Here Now received a cold reception from music critics, Noel began to loosen his control and allowed Liam to contribute songs. Though his first effort, "Little James" which appeared on Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, was criticised for being too simple and childlike (in particular, rhyming "plasticine" with "trampoline"), Songbird was fairly well received, despite only being based around two simple chords (G + Em7).

The song, written for Liam's long term girlfriend Nicole Appleton, was seen as a surprising break away from Liam's "Hard-Man" image. He explained this away saying "I like beautiful things...It's not all dark in Liam World. I take me shades off every now and again and have a look at the world and see some nice things."



The simplistic video was filmed in Regent's Park in London, and featured Liam playing an acoustic guitar under a tree, and also being chased by a dog.

Songbird is the shortest running Oasis single, at 2:07.

The song is included on Oasis' 2006 'best-of' album Stop The Clocks.

Source: Wikipedia

Win A Signed Les Paul Guitar

O2 and Q are offering one Q reader the chance to win the beautiful Gibson Les Paul Custom Plus VS guitar pictured here. A genuine one-off, the iconic axe was signed by the likes of Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Razorlight, The Kooks, Peter Gabriel, Gnarls Barkley, Smokey Robinson and the Manic Street Preachers at last year's Q Awards ceremony.

To be in with a chance of winning this splendid artefact all you need to do is answer this simple question:

WHICH GROUP WAS VOTED BEST BAND IN THE WORLD TODAY AT LAST YEAR'S Q AWARDS?

A: U2. B: Oasis. C: Arctic Monkeys. Text 'Q' followed by your answer A, B or C to '82070'

Texts cost £1.50. Standard T & Cs apply. Postal entries to: Q/O2 Guitar Competition, Mappin House, 4 Winsley Street, London W1W 8HF. No cash alternative available. The Editor's decision is final. Competition closes at 6pm, 1 March 2007. All employees and contractors of O2 UK Ltd and Emap and their families are excluded from entering.

Source: www.live4ever.us

Pampered Liam Slams Russell

BB star is Branded as a 'tatty head'

Liam Gallagher has given comic Russell Brand a tongue-lashing by branding him a "tosser with bad hair".

The catty comments flowed while lovely Liam, 34, spent eight hours in a North London beauty salon being preened and pampered.

Our spy said "Liam had been enjoying various treatments at one of the salons on Englands Lane, Haverstock Hill. He started off with an hour-long body massage, a half-hour Indian head massage and some reflexology. Liam next had his hair done, which is a lengthy process, then a full body scrub".

"He was in there for ages and eventually finished off by having a pedicure. But one of the staff mentioned Russell Brand's name and the fact that he is hosting this years Brit Awards. Liam smirked, laughed and muttered the word "Tosser". Then he started giggling and said he always wants to run a brush through Brand's 'bad hair' whenever he sees him".

"Liam had everyone in stitches. He has a great sense of humour. Liam also went on to explain that Russell is pals with his big brother Noel and texts him frequently."

We can always rely on the lovely Burnage boy for some serious entertainment.

And we can't wait to watch the sparks fly at London's Earls Court on Februsry 14 when Brand, 31, hosts the Brit Awards at which Oasis are due to perform on stage.

Our mole added: "There could well be a tense atmosphere - particularly on Liam's side. He doesn't like ant kind of fuss before he goes on stage, so it could all turn out to be very interesting."

"One thing is for sure, you don't mess with a Gallagher. Not only are Liam and Noel a tight team but they're so well connected it's amazing."

Supersonic stuff.

Source: Daily Star

Beatle To Hand Oasis Top Award

Some Might Say Brits bosses have played a blinder by getting Ringo Starr to help them out of a tight spot.

The Beatles drummer is to hand over an award to the legendary band’s biggest fans — Oasis.

And just as well — Noel and Liam Gallagher are still so angry at their album Don’t Believe The Truth being sensationally overlooked in last year’s award nominations that they had vowed they would only turn up to accept their Outstanding Contribution gong if someone “amazing” could hand it to them.

Brits bosses had thought they were on a winner when they lined up Johnny Depp to do the honours.

But the Hollywood star has pulled out of his duties at the last minute due to a clash with his filming schedule.

So organisers — desperate to get the boys to the ceremony at London’s Earls Court on February 14 — thought big and nabbed Ringo for the role.

It is the perfect lure for band members Liam, Andy Bell, Noel and Gem Archer.

Oasis — whose hits include Go Let It Out — credit The Beatles as their biggest musical influence.
The boys even recruited Ringo’s son Zak Starkey to play with them at live dates in 2005 and got him in as drummer on their album Don’t Believe The Truth that same year. At the time, I told you that Noel was “gutted” that despite coming to know Zak so well, he had still not managed to meet Ringo.

He said: “It’s obviously not meant to be.”

So it’s no surprise the band are over the moon about the drummer’s role at the Brits.

A source said: “Noel is well chuffed. It is the ultimate accolade for the lads to be honoured by their heroes.

“It is something they have dreamed of ever since they were starting out in their Manchester bedrooms.”

Back in 1977 The Beatles were the first band to receive the Brits’ Outstanding Contribution prize.

So having a member of the group passing the baton to Oasis will be a magic moment on what is set to be a magic evening.

Hosted by Russel Brand and going out live on ITV1, acts performing on the night will include Amy Winehouse, Scissor Sisters, The Killers, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Take That.

Let’s just hope the great moment really does happen.

Sources tell me Noel and Liam have had another of their rows and are on grunting-only terms at the moment — meaning one or both might decide to be a no-show.

Come on lads — you owe it to your heroes to Let It Be.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Noel Gallagher With Special Guests Semi-Acoustic Shows In Support Of Teenage Cancer Trust

Following the success of last year’s celebrated tour of the UK, Europe, America, Australia and Japan, Noel Gallagher announces two very special shows in London. Noel will perform with a semi-acoustic line up of special guests at the Royal Albert Hall in support of The Teenage Cancer Trust on 26th and 27th March.

Monday 26th March
Noel Gallagher plus The View plus special guests

Tuesday 27th March
Noel Gallagher plus The Coral plus special guests

Tickets, limited to two per purchaser, are available from the following outlets from 9am on Friday 2nd February:

Teenage Cancer Trust, 0870 060 6030

The Royal Albert Hall, 020 7589 8212 (no personal callers to the box office)

Aloud, 0870 998 8888

Seetickets , 0870 606030

The last 100 top priced seats on each night Noel Gallagher is performing will be held back and sold by internet auction two weeks before the shows, with all proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Tickets are priced at £70, £47.50, £37, £19.50 (all plus booking fee).

Oasis ended 2006 with Stop The clocks a compilation of the band’s favourite tracks from their incredible album career to date scoring top tens across the world. The band will collect the Contribution to Music Award at this year’s Brit Award Ceremony where they will play a short set.

Source: www.oasisinet.com

Stop The Clocks Among Moneymakers For Sony

Net income for Sony BMG Music Entertainment saw an increase when compared to the third quarter of the previous year. The label brought in $110 million in net income in the quarter, an increase of over $23 million. Sales revenue was down for the quarter by 1.6 percent compared to the third quarter of the previous year. The company attributed the drop "to greater contraction in physical compact disc sales than growth in digital download sales in many markets." However, income for the label was up by 10.3 percent due to "lower overhead and restructuring costs." The label also noted that its top selling albums for the quarter included Il Divo's Siempre, NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 23 and Oasis' Stop The Clocks best-of set.

Source: www.fmqb.com

Richard Dunne: Oasis Gave Me My Baby's Name

In a major interview to be published next month by Hot Press, Manchester City and (more importantly) Ireland centre-half Richard Dunne reveals that him and his partner have named their 10-month-old daughter ‘Lyla’ in honour of City supporters Oasis.

Source: www.hotpress.com

Noel On The Best Albums Of Last Year

Kasabian - Empire

Obviously. That's my album of the year, because I really want those chaps - actually, don't put chaps - those geezers to do well. They're friends of ours now, and I love Tom and I love Serge, but "Empire", "Shoot The Runner", "By My Side", "The Doberman" - all of it's f***ing colossal. I think they've really done it with this record. And I'm not having all this, "the first record was sketchy nonsense"business, either!

Jet - Shine On

At first I was abit like, 'It's not really my thing' with these guys. I thought they were abit too metal. I liked "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?", but then they came on tour with us and I realised all their songs were great. And everyone says that this new one just sounds like Oasis, but I think it's f***ing great.

Source: Uncut Magazine

Oasis In Top 100 Earners Of 2006

Number 21

£11 Million (Last Years Position 20)

They completed their huge world tour playing 27 gigs in Europe, Asia, South America and the USA. They also released their first ever compilation album, Stop The Clocks, in time for christmas. At the Q Awards they picked up the prize for Best Act In The World Today and this year they will be picking up the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award at the Brits.

Source: OK Magazine

Blitz Magazine Scans Portugal

Thanks To Oasisbrother

Countdown To The Brits - Part One

With Oasis about to receive their Outstanding Contribution to Music BRIT award, I thought over the next couple of weeks I would remind people about how they got where they are today - the Best Band In The World.

(1991–1993) Early Years And Breakthrough

Oasis evolved from an earlier band called The Rain, who took their name from a 1966 Beatles B-side. It was comprised of Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan (bass guitar), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs (guitar), Tony McCarroll (drums) and Chris Hutton (vocals). When McGuigan invited school friend Liam Gallagher to join the group, Gallagher accepted, and quickly pushed for the band's name to be changed to Oasis. Although there have been many theories on where Liam got the name from, he got it from an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which was in his and Noel's bedroom. One of the venues on it was the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon.

Oasis first played live in August of 1991 at the Boardwalk club in Manchester. Noel Gallagher, who had heard of Liam's involvement when he phoned his mother whilst on tour in Germany as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets, came to watch his younger brother play. A few months later he was invited to join the band. Although he had been critical of them, he agreed, with the provision that he would become the band's sole songwriter and leader, and that they would commit to an earnest pursuit of commercial success. Oasis under Noel Gallagher crafted their musical approach to rely on simplicity: with Arthurs and McGuigan restricted to playing barre chords and root bass notes, respectively, McCarroll playing basic rhythms, and the band's amplifiers turned up until the sound distorted, Oasis created a sound "so devoid of finesse and complexity that it came out sounding pretty much unstoppable."

After over a year of live shows, rehearsals and even taking the time out to record a proper demo (known as the Live Demonstration tape), the band's big break came in May 1993 when they were spotted by Creation Records co-owner Alan McGee. Oasis were invited to play a gig at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut club in Glasgow, Scotland, by a band called Sister Lovers, who shared their rehearsal rooms. Oasis, along with a group of friends, found the money to hire a van and make the six-hour journey to Glasgow.

When they arrived, they were refused entry to the club as they were not on that night's set list, which reportedly caused the band to bully their way in (although both the band and Alan McGee have given contradicting statements about how they actually managed to get into the club on that night). They were given the opening slot and impressed McGee, who was there to see 18 Wheeler, one of his own bands, that night. McGee was so impressed by what he saw he signed the band to Creation four days later.

Source: Wikipedia

Oasis Tipped For Top Gong In Confused NME Awards:

Oasis have been named among the top bands in the country by the NME, which has nominated the ageing Manchester rockers for its Best British Band title.

But the Madchester lads have a fair bit of competition from Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, Pete Doherty's Babyshambles and Muse, with the winners announced at the NME Awards on March 1st.

There are, however, a few contradictions in the nominations, revealing a certain amount of fickleness in the music industry.

Lily Allen, for instance, is up for Best Solo Artist and Sexiest Woman, but also Worst Dressed and Worst Album, while indie rockers The Kooks are up for Best New Band and also Worst Album.

Both Razorlight and lead singer Johnny Borrell have come in for a bashing from the NME, with Borrell nominated for Villain of the Year and Worst Dressed and the band up for Worst Album and Worst Band.

Source: www.contactmusic.com

More Info On Guitar Exhibit

The event starts in London this week

Guitars played by Noel Gallagher, Kasabian and Franz Ferdinand will all feature at Europe's largest ever guitar exhibition, which kicks off in London later this week (February 2).

The event, called 'Harrods Rocks', takes place at the Harrods store in Knightsbridge from February 2 until March 3.

The collection includes many rare and extremely valuable guitars, both vintage and modern. Other famous names whose guitars are included in the collection include The Edge, Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Marc Bolan.

There will also be a collection of personally customised guitars from the likes of Neil Young, Bono, Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, Graham Coxon and Jennifer Lopez.

The exhibition space includes an art exhibition featuring the work of Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood , who will also be staging his own art installation in one of Harrods' main windows.

Further information is available now at www.harrods.com

Source: www.nme.com

Shockwaves NME Awards 2007: Best British Band Nominations

The nominations for Best British Band at this year's Shockwaves NME Awards have been announced tonight (January 29).

This year's awards will pit relative newcomers like Arctic Monkeys alongside legends like Oasis.

The full nominations are:

Arctic Monkeys
Babyshambles
Kasabian
Muse
Oasis

Source: www.nme.com

Bag Your Free BRITs Mag Today!

The Official BRIT Awards magazine 2007 is out today. It’s filled to the brim with exclusive features, and includes unique interviews with this year’s top acts. From Outstanding Contribution To Music recipients Oasis to the Comeback Kings Take That, we’ve got ‘em all — plus Corinne Bailey Rae, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Razorlight and more! There’s even a sneaky peek at what host Russell Brand’s planning for the big night…

Getting hold of a copy is easy. Just pop down to you local High Street music retailer, and 68 pages of behind-the-scenes BRITs news could be yours. Stockists include HMV, Woolworths, WH Smith and Virgin. Be quick… or they’ll be gone!

BRITs magazine stockists
Woolworths
Virgin Megastores
ASDA
WHSmith
Sainsburys
O2
Choices UK
Borders UK Ltd
FOPP
Plus over 50 Independent stores...

Source: www.thebrits.co.uk

The BRITs Are Coming

Hurrah! Worry no more — you have a hot date for Valentine’s day!

Yep, you can forget booking a table at the most expensive restaurant table in town. All you’ve gotta do is just settle down on the sofa — this is your invite to the biggest event of the music industry year!

The BRIT Awards 2007 will be broadcast on ITV1 on Wednesday February 14. The completely live show is hosted by man-of-the-moment Russell Brand, so you can expect some off-the-wall-moments as well as memorable performances by the biggest names in showbiz.

We’ve already arranged a truly unique set from Oasis, winners of our Outstanding Contribution To Music award. To see Liam, Noel, and loads more gob-smacking performers, just tune in! And if you can’t wait, keep logged on to brits.co.uk. We’re first for big BRITs exclusives!

UK TV Times

The BRITs Are Coming

Presented by Fearne Cotton — watch the teaser
Show #1: Sat 20 Jan 4.10pm, ITV 1
Repeated: Tue 23 Jan 11pm, ITV 1

Show #2: Sat 27 Jan 4.40pm, ITV 1
Repeated: Tue 30 Jan 11pm, ITV 1

Show #3: Sat 3 Feb 1.15pm, ITV 1
Repeated: Tue 6 Feb 11pm, ITV 1

Show #4: Sat 10 Feb 4.30pm, ITV 1
Repeated: Tues 13 Feb 11.00pm, ITV 1

The BRITs Red Carpet
Presented by Matt Willis
Wed 14 Feb 7pm, ITV 2

The BRIT Awards 2007 — LIVE
Presented by Russell Brand — watch the teaser
Wed 14 Feb 8pm, ITV 1

The BRITs 2007 Encore
Presented by Matt Willis
Wed 14 Feb 10pm, ITV 2

The BRITs Backstage
Presented by Fearne Cotton
Fri 16 Feb 11pm, ITV 1

International TV And Radio
To be announced…

Source: www.brits.co.uk

Noel Gallagher Interview On Rock TV 2 Live & Two Songs

Thanks to DabrowHymn

Noel Gallagher & Paul Weller In German Rollingstone Magazine

Thanks To James for the scans.

Manchester Band Is United

England’s glory, Oasis, the Beatles of the ‘90s and beyond, introduce their double-disc greatest hits album Stop the Clocks with Rock and Roll Star.

It’s a smart and fitting choice, for nobody embraced the benefits of success better in their heyday than these cocky Brits.

This song is the aural equivalent of the Oasis attitude: brash, confident, celebratory and enjoyably arrogant. Like most of Oasis’ popular cuts, it has a raw, melodic cut mated to the strutting riffs.

And of course it has Liam Gallagher’s classic call, part appeal and proclamation. This style has won Oasis legions of fans, and the spectacle of the Gallagher brothers’ escapades has been a welcome diversion from the whiny ‘90s and the angst-ridden ‘00s.

These lads from Manchester openly draw their inspiration from the front of rock immortality, The Beatles. They do resemble the Fab Four in a sonic sense, but have stamped their own raucous melodic edge on the style. They play like they believe in themselves and have faith in the good time liberation that their rock brings to the believer.

If one follows the British rock scene, there’s always been a dividing line between bands from London and its suburbs and the rest of the country (or island, for that matter.) For a period in the ‘80s and ‘90s Manchester had a certain zeitgeist and became the new Liverpool, and the focus of a cool Britannia feeling that hadn’t been seen since the bright times of swinging London in the ‘60s. Manchester spawned influential groups such as The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Inspiral Carpets, (whom Noel Gallagher roadied for) and then Oasis. Did I forget The Bee Gees? That was a different decade!

There are others, but I can’t remember ‘em.

There might be something in the water in that northern town. It’s entirely in keeping with Oasis’ proud regionalism that they released a double hits CD.

It occurred to me in listening a few times to both sides that many people won’t be familiar with some of these songs. Songs such as The Importance of Being Idle, which sounds like it might’ve been conceived in 1965, but recorded in 2005. That notion might well apply to Oasis in general. But no matter, these are very smartly written and inspired-sounding pieces of song and production.

When Wonderwall comes drifting in after The Importance... then you can hear the effect and drive of the group’s spirit, and begin to connect the dots. The mood of Wonderwall is so strong that it can’t really be ignored whether you like the song or not. This is the same for Oasis’ music overall.

Every song on Stop the Clocks is written, played and presented as if it’s a huge hit waiting to be discovered, even though some of the material sounds unfamiliar. The songs have a sense of the grand and the gritty that can cause shrugging of the shoulders and acceptance of Oasis’ lofty ambitions and dreams. They have believability and their songs reflect this. Anyone else probably would have been content with a single disc hit release, but with 18 songs of this caliber it doesn’t matter. They fill the spaces with big numbers and stately noises.

Cigarettes and Alcohol defines their piratical and well-meaning takeover of rock and roll from the navel-gazing and over-sensitive concerns of the grunge era.

Supersonic and Acquiesce similarly carry themselves in a head-held-high swagger that rolls along like doors opening off a drab street into a pub pulsing with energy.

In The Masterplan they use this bold stroke in a different fashion, utilizing sparkling guitar hooks and acoustic textures.

This is the other side of Oasis; the yearning far-reaching spirit that inhabits Don’t Look Back in Anger, which could be an English football chant realized in music.

This liberating sound has been suggested as the real British national anthem, and contains the essence of what one writer calls “English Soul.” That could be a realistic summing up of Oasis’ sound and appeal.

Source: www.vernonmorningstar.com

Paul Weller And Noel Gallagher Interviewed Together For German Rolling Stone Magazine

They have been friendly for years, but never however gave an interview together. In our Britpop summit meeting, Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher talk about good music, bad fashion and the light that never goes out...

Source: www.rollingstone.de