Cane Serge Really Beat Noel?

Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno fancies himself as a match for the mighty Noel Gallagher.

He reckons he outdrinks last year’s Bizarre Caner Of The Year every time he goes out on the town with the Oasis star.

He said: “I can drink him under the table — I should be top of the Caners’ League. I’ve only been to bed three times in the last ten days. The Bizarre team need to follow me around and monitor my drinking.”

See you down the pub then, Serge.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Noel Alone & Loving It

Oasis might not be the same without the surly, unpredictable talent of Liam Gallagher, but that doesn't mean his brother Noel can't manage perfectly well without him, thanks very much.

At this show, in aid of the charity Teenage Cancer Trust, Noel looked perfectly at ease facing the audience alone, getting straight down to business.

Dressed smartly, despite his increasingly giant mop of hair, he perched on a stool with his guitar throughout the gig. While that's often a reliable warning sign that things are about to take a tedious turn, this stripped-back show simply allowed Noel's staggering back catalogue to take deserving centre stage.

From the tender, wistful Talk Tonight to the more recent Importance Of Being Idle, Noel breezed through some of Oasis's most memorable hits with casual grace, his voice on top form as ever.

Backed by a female string section on some songs, he was joined by ever-present pal Paul Weller for two tracks but it was classics such as Wonderwall that really got the crowd excited.

Noel seemed to be enjoying it all too, lapping up the applause, commenting with characteristic dryness on Liam's complete lack of interest in doing anything for charity and chuckling merrily when he messed up the lyrics to Strawberry Fields Forever. Impending second-time fatherhood (with girlfriend Sara MacDonald) obviously suits him, as he was even moved to dedicate the ever-wonderful Slide Away to his "lovely missus".


Certainly, as the house lights went on for a rousing, singalong version of Don't Look Back In Anger, one thing was for sure. Liam missed a great show.

Source: www.sundaymirror.co.uk

Thanks For Your Nominations

Nominations have now closed in the Best of Brit Blog Awards 2007, brought to you by Ask.com and Metro!

A special thank you to the people who took the time and nominated this blog in the Entertainment category.

Blast From The Past....

Whatever (1994)



Cast No Shadow (1996)



Stand By Me (1997)



Songbird (2002)



Guess God Thinks I'm Abel (2005)

Some of my favourite live acoustic performances from Liam.

Noel Still Excited At Being A Rock And Roll Star

The rocker has revealed he would have walked out on brother Liam at the same time original members Bonehead and Guigsy did in 1999 if he didn't have the responsibility of writing the majority of their hits.

Speaking before his Teenage Cancer Trust show on Monday night (26.03.07), Noel told Virgin radio: "If I wasn't a songwriter I'd have gone the same way as Bonehead and just quit and retired. But I can be sat at home and it is my passion for writing that drives me into the studio. Then if you put a record out you are obliged to go out and make more millions."

Noel insists he now has no intention of disbanding Oasis because he still loves being a rock star.

He added: "I just want to carry on doing it and to be happy doing it. There's nothing really I haven't achieved. As long as I can still get excited being a rock and roll star then I'll carry on doing it.

Source: BANG Media International

Versus Cancer @ M.E.N Arena Review

Last year Manchester Versus Cancer organiser Andy Rourke staged a partial reformation of The Smiths. This time he managed to get three Stone Roses on stage to perform I am The Resurrection.

Nothing short of the Bee Gees jamming with the Happy Mondays, Morrissey on backing vocals, while John Squire plays guitar, will be enough to beat this if Versus Cancer does return for a third time.

This, the second in the Versus Cancer concert series in aid of Christie hospital, was one of those nights when special things just kept on happening.

Things started well enough with the Scratch, a new band who won the chance to appear on stage via an XFM competition. They were followed by what was billed as a supergroup, former Oasis man Bonehead working alongside Mondays' percussionist Gaz Whelan in a band which started their set as The Electric Milk Band and ended it by announcing a name change to the Hippy Mafia. I hope we hear much more of them.

Then it was the first of some extra special occurrences, David McAlmont and Bernard Butler conspiring to turn a number of Smiths' standards into stadium numbers with help from Andy Rourke on bass.

'Magnificent'

McAlmont's androgynous vocal meant that Still Ill was magnificent, while Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody loved Me set sentiment soaring in to the roof space.

And if that was good, they were joined by sometimes Primal Scream collaborator Denise Johnson for the Phil Spector-esque sounds of one of their own.

Linking all of that to the sublime Echo and The Bunnymen were the comedians John Thomson, Frank Sidebottom and Johnny Vegas.

The Liverpudlians broke away from an incredible greatest hits medley to welcome Peter Hook on board for a script-aided rendition of the New Order classic Ceremony.

The Charlatans were on top form, Tim Burgess belting through a list of favourites before enlisting the help of a man called Paul Weller for A Town Called Malice.

The Northwich band, which has also has its brush with cancer, played Can't Get Out Of Bed with Weller on rhythm guitar.

Poignantly, lead singer Tim Burgess dedicated a song to veteran Mancunian music figure Tony Wilson, who is himself battling cancer at the moment.

Yet despite the worthy cause, the mood was light throughout.

If there had to be one disappointment, I'd like to have seen more of Paul Weller. Another sad fact was the appearance of some stars on stage smoking cigarettes. Strange thing to see at an anti-cancer concert.

He made a short appearance later with Noel Gallagher but didn't really do anywhere near enough to satisfy the crowd.

'Kung-fu Jimmy Savile'

But then the heroes were always going to be Mancunian and the first of the uber-Gods emerged in the guise of Ian Brown.

In truth, Ian Brown is a much better recording artist than he is a live singer. He looked a little bit like a kung-fu Jimmy Savile, pounding the stage in a black track suit top and sporting easily the longest side burns in local history.

Simon Cowell would have kicked him off the stage, but the crowd loved him. High points were F.E.A.R. and the finale, but more of that later.

Someone had to take top billing and it didn't seem to overly faze Noel Gallagher.

There was no Liam to spoil the mood, Noel suggesting that his silly sibling was "moving house".

His semi-acoustic numbers were nothing short of spine tingling, with Cast No Shadow a particular highpoint.

He was joined by his "friend" Paul Weller, who strummed away while Noel held court.

Then one local hero handed proceedings over to another with the words that we were looking forward to the "car crash" all-star jamboree.

He was right. It was the most shambolic moment in an otherwise hitch-free night. But to hear I Am The Resurrection like this was unmissable nevertheless.

Ian Brown returned to the stage again while Mani and Andy Rourke played bass guitar, with Roses' dancer Cressa moving incongruously between them like someone the bouncers had forgotten to throw back into the pit.

A bit more of that trademark Stone Roses' lead guitar would have been nice, but then there's always next year!

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Manchester vs Cancer

31 Mar 07 - The cream of Manchester's musicians and more were on stage last night at the MEN Arena for the Manchester Versus Cancer gig.

As well as sets from Freebase, Echo and the Bunnymen and Noel Gallagher there were plenty of one-off collaborations, making it a unique event.

For the finale, former Stone Roses Mani and Ian Brown performed I Am The Resurrection, with some help from ex-Smith Andy Rourke and New Order's Peter Hook.

Paul Weller collaborated with Noel Gallagher on The Jam's The Butterfly Collector, and he joined The Charlatans on stage for a rendition of Town Called Malice. And McAlmont and Butler played with Rourke on the Smiths classics Still Ill and Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.

Noel told 6 Music that Weller is never hard to persuade to get involved:

"The thing about Paul is that if you don't ask him, he'll say 'why didn't you ask me?' , and if you do ask him, he's like 'well go on then.'

"You know, I kind of get on and play with Paul - we enjoy each other's company."

Noel also explained what the whole event was in aid of: "It's for Christies hospital, which is where the cancer victims in Manchester are - and it's to raise money for that."

Charlatans keyboardist Tony Rodgers has recovered from cancer himself, and he told us that's one of the reasons they were involved:

"It's a subject very close to us as a band and me personally, and I think it's kind of our duty as well to raise awareness, to help, and to offer our services in any way we can."

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

Noel Gallagher & Gem Archer In Moscow Fan Made Video

Thanks to wedontaskwhy for the video.

Setlist From The MEN Versus Cancer Gig

Setlist from the show at Manchester MEN last night.

Talk Tonight
Cast No Shadow
Half The World Away
Importance Of Being Idle
Butterfly Collector
Don't Go Away
Listen Up
Slide Away
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Don't Look Back In Anger

Wired Strings Invited By Oasis To Perform At The Royal Albert Hall And Mancheser MEN For The Versus Cancer Gig.

Noel Gallagher has approached arranger and cellist Rosie Danvers to collaborate on 8 songs for a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and Mancheser MEN for the Versus Cancer Gig.

The Oasis star will be performing with the Wired Strings 8 piece string section along with Liam and Gem. Paul Weller will also be performing.

The songs include little known B sides, such as Listen Up and Don't Go Away, plus a Smiths cover and of course, Wonder Wall and Don't Look Back in Anger.

They begin rehearsals this week at the Oasis studio, Wheeler End.

Source: www.wiredstrings.com

Daltry, " I Think It's Fantastic That Noel's Doing The Show On His Own With An Orchestra"

The Who will perform on Saturday, March 31st, at London's Royal Albert Hall for the for the last of the three Teenage Cancer Trust (TNC) benefit concerts. The charity shows, which are organized by frontman Roger Daltrey, are celebrating their seventh year at the Albert Hall.

Prior to the shows, Daltrey said that he was proud to have Oasis' Noel Gallagher perform acoustically with an orchestra for two of the shows: "My son was a huge fan, so I was exposed to all of their records. I think it's fantastic that Noel's doing the show on his own with an orchestra. I think it's a really good thing to do at the Albert Hall. It sold out -- I mean it crashed all the computers. The whole Teenage Cancer Trust Week sold out so fast, every ticket outlet computer crashed. So the whole thing is sold out. The whole thing has gone on. (I'm) very thankful for that."

The Who first performed at the first TNC benefit in 2000. In 2003 the Who released their Live At The Royal Albert Hall album, which featured tracks from their 2000 and 2002 TNC appearances.

Over the years the benefit has included performances by Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Oasis, Madness and the Cure.

The Who, who wrapped up their U.S. on Monday in Florida, have a six-week break before kicking off their final European leg on May 16th in Lisbon, Portugal.

For the final dates of the band's U.S. shows, the Who dropped their latest mini-opera from their Endless Wire album, titled Wire And Glass. The band replaced the songs with '60s fan favorites "Substitute," "The Kids Are Alright," and "Naked Eye," all of which have been absent from the band's recent setlists.

Source: The Rock Radio Online

Paul Weller Spits On Sting

The Modfather gobs on The Police star

Paul Weller spat on a portrait of Sting on Wednesday (March 28) at the Teenage Cancer Trust gig.

As previously reported Weller joined Noel Gallagher at the charity event for a version of The Jam's 'The Butterfly Collector' and The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love'.

According to The Mirror, during the interval of the event at London's Royal Albert Hall Weller saw a picture of Sting's gig from 2000 and decided to deliver his own style of music criticism.

According to the report, Weller "marched straight up to it [the photo], coughed-up as much phlegm as he could muster and planted it plum in the middle of The Police frontman's head... as he walked away, Weller then snarled: 'Fucking twat!'".

Weller has never shy of expressing his opinions of Sting, recently stating: "He's a f**king horrible man. Not my cup of tea at all. Fucking rubbish. No edge, no attitude, no nothing."

Source: www.nme.com

X-clusive: Kasabian On Glastonbury And Bloc Party vs Oasis

On the eve of their gig at the Royal Albert Hall, one of a series of concerts in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, Kasabian spoke exclusively to Xfm about Glastonbury, new material, and that Oasis vs Bloc Party feud.

The concerts were part of a week long series of gigs, taking place at the Royal Albert Hall to raise money and awareness for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Turning first to festival plans for the summer frontman Tom Meighan finally confirmed all those Glastonbury rumours and revealed they'll be playing on the Pyramid Stage,

"Yeah well I can't wait", Tom enthused, "That's gonna be monumental. Yeah Glastonbury is wonderful. Its good to be playing it. It's gonna be fantastic, they've got some amazing bands, Monkeys, Killers, its gonna be fantastic. Yeah, its gonna be really good."

And following the recent war of words between Bloc Party and Kasabian's bosom buddies Oasis (Liam Gallagher called Bloc Party a 'University Challenge' band, they retorted that Oasis are 'over-rated' and 'made stupidity hip'), Tom was uncharacteristically keeping his opinions tight to his chest, happy to let the Gallagher brothers handle this particular battle themselves.

"Silly innit?", He explained, "You know what i mean? It all gets a little bit out of hand. I'm learning to grow up, trying to grow up and not comment on this.

"Let them go to war on it", he continued, "I'm sure Liam will have something to say about them anyway, i know he will. Its all good fun. I'm not saying anything [laughs]. You wait, it will be a while. I'll think of something soon. Its all fun."

Turning next to plans for a third Kasabian album Tom divulged that it'll be a good few months until they start recording anything new,

"I reckon we're gonna be going into the studio after all the summer dies down, all the fesivals." Tom explained, "I reckon about October, November. We're just gonna go in there and try and make a better record than 'Empire', thats all we can do. As long as we're happy with it, that's the main thing."

Source: www.xfm.co.uk

Noel In A Pickle Over A Name

Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher may inflict a wacky celebrity name on his first child with long-term girlfriend Sara MacDonald.

He said: "Chutney is one I fancy, if it's a geezer. Gizmo Gallagher or Gilly Gallagher.

"If it's a girl, Sarah's already got the names picked out."

Speaking to Manchester radio station Xfm, he added: "But you know, suffice to say it's gonna be legendary."

We wouldn't expect anything less...

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Noel" Can I Play Glasto Please"

This week will see Noel Gallagher play his biggest ever solo gigs as he takes to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London for two shows in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

With support coming from The View and The Coral, the dates sold out in seconds - not bad for someone who is supposed to be "taking time off".

Having begun his acoustic run last year playing a charity show at KOKO for pal Russell Brand, Noel ended up performing shows across the globe last winter supporting 'Stop The Clocks'.

However Oasis' leader has now asked us to help get him another gig - a slol slot at Glastonbury.

"Playing the acoustic stuff at the festivals, that would be good," admitted Noel, before making a direct appeal through NME to play the Somerset bash.

"Actually, Glastonbury Acoustic tent sounds nice! That would be good," he declared. "Yeah, do us a favour stick that in and Mr Eavis will give me a call!"

The guitarist did, however, joke that if his last-minute request is successful, he could find himself playing against all the bands he wants to check out this year.

"Saying that, he'd probably put me on at the same time as Arctic Monkeys," mused Noel. "The best slot is second on the bill on the other stage. I've never had that slot at Glastonbury, but we've done it at foreign festivals and it's great."



Also in the magazine in the NME gig guide, Noel's show at the Manchester News Arena was Pick Of The Week.


Pick Of The Week

A whole gaggle of legends including Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, The Charlatans, Peter Hook and Echo & The Bunnymen will turn to support Andy Rourke's cancer awarness event.

A line-up worthy of the course.

Source: NME Magazine

Hands Off My Mum, Russell

Brand Plans Stay With Gallagher

Russel Brand is set for a weekend break at the home of Liam Gallagher's mum up in Burnage.

But the Oasis frontman has made the promiscuous one promise to be on his very best behaviour.

The funny fella, 31, hosted the Teenage Cancer Trust Comedy Night at London's Royal Albert Hall, alongside comedian Noel Fielding, 33.

During randy Russel's solo stint on stage, he told how he had initislly been "terrified" when he'd first met Liam, 34, at last months Brit Awards, but was flattered to hear the Gallagher mum Peggy is a huge fan of his.

But things have developed since Russell became close pals with Liam's older brother Noel, 39.

An insider said: "Russell is good mates with Noel and said as soon as he gets the chance he'll go up to Peggy's house in Manchester for the weekend.

"But in a really sweet, protective way. Liam growled a bit and stressed he is over-protective when it comes to his mum.

"Like most sons, Liam made a point of how close he is to Irish Peggy and all his family."

"Russel loves parents and wants Peggy to give him a tour of where the Gallaghers grew up - and will give a exclusive performance for her and the Gallagher clan in return."

Source: Daily Star

Noel: Bring Back The Noose

Rock superstar Noel Gallagher wants to run for Prime Minister – and bring back hanging.

The Oasis guitarist yesterday vowed to reinstate the death penalty if he were to get the keys to 10 Downing Street.

Noel, 39, said: “I might stand for election myself, to be honest.

“I’ve worked this out and I reckon I could sort out the country in a year-and-a-half.

“I’d definitely bring back hanging – that’s for starters.

“All these violent offenders – you get convicted three times by three separate juries then you’re going to the gallows.”

But he said that he would show some mercy.

He added: “If by any off-chance some evidence comes up that you might have been innocent and could prove it beyond reasonable doubt, then your next of kin gets £500,000. Vote for me.”

And he said he could succeed on public transport where Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, 68, had failed miserably.

He said: “The streets would be a lot safer and I could sort public transport out – half a year, that would take.”

The Labour Party supporter said Gordon Brown, 56, would not get his vote.

Noel said: “The last three times I voted I believed. I believed in it.

“But I don’t believe in The Left or The Right or The Middle anymore because they all pretty much say the same thing.”

Noel also told Radio 1’s Newsbeat he was desperate for girlfriend Sara MacDonald, 31, to give birth a few weeks before the September due date.

“We are trying to hurry it up so it doesn’t come out the same star sign as Liam. One of them is enough in our family.”

Liam, 34, was born on September 21 under the sign of Virgo.

Source: Daily Star

Reeves Challenged To Arm Wrestle By Gallagher

British comedian Vic Reeves was once left shocked when Liam Gallagher challenged him to an arm wrestle because the Oasis wildman thought he was posh.

Reeves and his comic partner Bob Mortimer were sat in a hotel at the time, when the Wonderwall singer approached.

He recalls, "Liam Gallagher had a go once.

I was sitting with Bob in a hotel after some awards ceremony - the Brits, I think. "Liam came over and said, 'You two are upper class. You've had everything laid on a plate. I'm working class and I've had to work to get where I am.' "Then he said we should arm wrestle to sort it out. I won."

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Noel Gallagher "Caner Of The Year Will Be Staying With Me"

Bizarre’s Caner Of The Year Noel Gallagher has vowed that his 40th birthday bash will be “bigger and better” than Elton John's 60th.

The Oasis star turns 40 in May and is planning the mother of all parties to celebrate.

Noel invited me in to his dressing room after his triumphant Royal Albert Hall gig on Tuesday, and proved he’s in with a strong chance of winning my 2007 Caner gong.

The boozy singer had a huge grin as he partied with Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno, Modfather Paul Weller, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie and Mani and Hollywood star Jude Law — there with son Rafferty — following the star-studded gig in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.

Talking of Elt’s do at the weekend Noel told me: “F*** Elton John.

“My 40th birthday party is gonna be bigger and better than his — he hasn’t seen nothing. Mine’s gonna be the dog’s b*******!”

Despite impending fatherhood, Noel says he plans to carry on partying hard until the baby is born — just so he can win my Caner award again. He said: “I’m ’avin’ it — it’s mine.” Noel also revealed he WON’T be playing at Glastonbury this year — but plans to go there to party with new best pal Serge.

He said: “I’ll be ’avin it large with Serge in a caravan at Glastonbury.”

Noel partied with Serge, pregnant missus SARA MacDONALD and the Bizarre team until the early hours at various drinking dens including the Groucho club and the grungy Gerry’s bar.

www.thesun.co.uk

Noel On Forthcoming Oasis Album And His Solo Gigs

Following two triumphant sets at the Royal Albert Hall for this year's Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, Noel Gallagher spoke with Xfm about the events and the forthcoming Oasis album.

The concerts on Monday and Tuesday opened a week of Teenage Cancer Trust gigs, and saw Noel - joined by Paul Weller – play covers of The Jam's 'The Butterfly Collector' and The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, during which Noel seemed to forget the words.

“No it wasn’t that, it was Gem”, he laughed, “Gem made an absolute howler on the guitar and I couldn’t contain the laughter. When we’re on tour with Oasis if he plays one wrong note he beats himself up about it for ages. But to do one last night when it’s kinda so prominent.

“I just found that really amusing, cos I know that he would’ve gone home and locked himself in a darkened room, going ‘Oh fuck’. That’s why I started laughing. And on that song! We weren’t even going to do it, and it was kinda like, ‘Oh go on then, so we’ll go on and do it’. We should’ve quit while we were ahead, but I don’t think it spoiled the evening.”

And going on to explain why he initially called the event organisers up himself and offered to play two nights in a row Noel told us,

“They came asking a couple of years ago and we were on the road and we couldn’t’ do it cos we were in Thailand or somewhere like that. And I said, ‘The next time we’re available, we’ll do it’. But of course Zak [Starkey – Oasis drummer] went off and played with The Who, so Roger [Daltry] didn’t think we were available. So I said, ‘Well look, I’ll do it’, and they were like, ‘What really? Oh wow! Oh, alright then’. So that’s how that came about. I don’t want anybody to think I sit by the phone going, ‘Roger, let us play the Albert Hall…”

Turning next to news from the Oasis camp Noel divulged that most of the new material for what will be their seventh studio album has already being written – though he has other things on his mind.

"Oasis land is very quiet at the moment, there’s not a great deal going on. But a lot of the preparation for the next record has already been done. Because we wrote 60 odd songs for the last one, and out of that we used obviously eleven of for ‘Don’t Believe The Truth’. Then a lot of them, listening back to them, weren’t very good really, but there were eleven that we thought were really good.

“And out of that eleven we thought seven were really good. Out of that seven, that’s now gone up to eight, so we now think eight’s really good.

“So that’s virtually an album recorded, so there won’t be a great deal of work to do once we start, but as my lovely missus is making a baby that kinda puts most of this year out I would’ve thought.

source: XFM