Glasto: "We Definitely Want Noel"

The licence is sorted, festival sold out - now Michael Eavis is taking the Oasis man up on his offer to play this year's bash

Michael Eavis has promised to call Noel Gallagher after the Oasis guitarist asked to play the Glastonbury festival. Speaking in last week's NME (march 31), he declared he would like to bring his acoustic solo show to this year's bash and hoped that, bu telling NME, the festival chief would give him a bell.

He said: "Glastonbury's acoustic tent sounds nice. Do us a favour - stick that in and Mr Eavis will give me a call."

Well, it's been a busy week for Michael. Last Tuesday (March 27) the festival was granted a licence to take place by Mendip District Council and then on Sunday (April 1) festival tickets went onsale and were all snapped up by eager fans in hours.

And despite experiencing a hectic few days, Michael and his daughter, co-organiser Emily, insist they'll now take Noel up on his offer.

"We definitely want Noel!" declared Emily, who encouraged Michael to ring him.

"I don't know whether to phone Noel or not, that's the thing. Has he still got the same phone number?" asked the farmer.

"I've got his mobile number, so I should phone him, should I? I will do then, but if he tells me to get lost it will be NME's fault!

Source: NME

Manchester Videos

Listen Up



There Is A Light That Never Goes Out



Noel Gallagher And Paul Weller Butterfly Collector




Don't Go Away Video One



Noel Gallagher Dont Go Away Video Two

Thanks to Weebrian for the videos.

Inside This Weeks NME Magazine

Glastonbury: "We definitely want Noel." Michael Eavis takes the Oasis guitarist up on his offer to play the festival




















Don't forget NME's fantastic new Gallery pages - the pick of the week's best rock photography. This week includes: Oasis in Russia...

Source: www.nme.com

Noel Gallagher On Radio One Entertainment Podcast

Right click and save here to download the Radio One Entertainment Podcast, it features a hilarious interview with Noel Gallagher.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1

Rourke: It Will Be Even Bigger Next Year

After entertaining the Manchester masses, it was on to the serious business of partying for the rock stars and organisers of the Versus Cancer gig.

The official after-show party was at the city's Hard Rock Café, with event organiser, ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, finally getting to kick back his heels after months of hectic planning for the huge event in aid of Manchester's Christie hospital.

He was joined by stars including guitarist Bernard Butler, ex-Stone Roses bassist Mani, Shameless actors Jody Latham and Elliott Tittensor and Corrie's Tupele Dorgu who got to tuck into huge beef burgers and chicken drumsticks laid on for the bash.

Andy was suitably pleased with the show's success, although he's already plotting how to build on that for next year.

He told me: "We're thinking about maybe holding it outdoors next year, making it into a four-day event. We've thought about holding it at the City of Manchester Stadium or Heaton Park.

"We just need to think about how we can top this year's line-up and entertainment."

Meanwhile, across town some of the show's other stars chose to hold their own exclusive soirees.

Headliner and legendary hellraiser Noel Gallagher held his own intimate bash at the Malmaison Hotel in Piccadilly where guests partied until gone 4am. Noel, who arrived with beer in hand, was joined by his girlfriend and mum-to-be Sara MacDonald, who looked stunning in a black shift dress and shoes.

Joining him in the revels were Oasis guitarist Gem Archer and M People's Mike Pickering.

Noel's buddy and modfather Paul Weller was set to have his own soiree over at the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate - although I hear he decided to call it an early night when he arrived back from the gig.

Now who said rock and roll is dead?

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Gizmo Gallagher ....?

Noel Gallagher wants to name his baby Chutney or Gizmo if it is a boy.

The Oasis guitarist, who is expecting his first child with long-termgirlfriend Sara MacDonald, doesn't want his son to have an ordinary moniker and has been thinking of unusual names for the unborn tot.

Noel, who has been dating Sara for seven years, said: "Chutney is a name I fancy if the baby is a geezer. Maybe Gizmo Gallagher, or Gilly Gallagher."

However, the 39-year-old rocker - who already has a seven-year-old daughter, Anais, with ex-wife Meg Matthews - is banned from choosing the name if the baby is a girl.

He added: "If it's a girl, Sara's already got the names picked out. But either way it's gonna be legendary."

Noel has also revealed the pregnancy could put Oasis' seventh album on hold.

Although the musician insists the band have "eight really good tracks"ready, he plans to devote as much time to Sara - who is around four months'pregnant - as he can.

He said: "We virtually have an entire album ready to go, so there won't be agreat deal of work to do once we start. But as Sara is making a baby thatkind of puts most of this year out, I would have thought."

Noel's brother Liam was less creative with his choice of names for his two sons.

The singer named his son with ex-wife Patsy Kensit Lennon after his idol John Lennon, while he and his fiancée Nicole Appleton named their son Gene.

Liam also has a daughter, Molly, with British singer Lisa Moorish.

Source: Bang Media

Rockocracy Inspires A 1,000-Pint Toast

Andy Rourke may have taken third billing to Morrissey and Johnny Marr in the Smiths, but the diffident bassist apparently kept the best contacts book. For this second annual charity concert, he recruited the crowned heads of Manchester's rock aristocracy plus distinguished visitors.

Ian Brown
Simian charisma: Ian Brown's grinning arrival boosted the party atmosphere

Mancunian Rourke, who recently lost a close friend to cancer, staged the first concert after learning that his home town has the country's highest death rate from the disease.

Last year, he persuaded Marr to perform with him for the first time since the Smiths' acrimonious break-up, so a packed MEN Arena was primed for some unique collaborations. Peter Hook guested with Echo and the Bunnymen on a poignant rendition of New Order's Ceremony, which the bassist dedicated to Tony Wilson, the Manchester impresario who is battling kidney cancer.

The Charlatans followed with a solid greatest-hits set that ignited with the entrance of Paul Weller. The angular Modfather strutted on stage and unleashed dazzling versions of the Jam's Town Called Malice and John Lennon's Power to the People - the Charlatans' floating keyboards providing an ample foil to Weller's stinging guitar.

Ian Brown's grinning arrival boosted the party atmosphere - what the former Stone Roses frontman lacked in vocal finesse, he made up for in simian charisma. Striking ironic Mr Universe poses and jogging on the spot, he shuffled through Golden Gaze and Time Is My Everything before the opening synth whooshes to his biggest hit F.E.A.R. sparked an ecstatic reaction.

With trademark contrariness, Brown closed by debuting two brooding orchestral tracks from his forthcoming album. Backed by Rourke on bass, he introduced Goodbye to the Broken by instructing the Manchester faithful to "keep off the class As".

Luckily, headliner Noel Gallagher only had to stroll on stage to send the arena back into overdrive.

In fine voice, and with backing from Oasis colleague Gem Archer and percussionist Terry Kirkbride, the 39-year-old led semi-acoustic, mid-tempo singalongs of Talk Tonight, Half the World Away, The Importance of Being Idle and Cast No Shadow, for which a thousand plastic pint glasses were held aloft.

Weller re-emerged to duet on a shimmering version of the Jam's The Butterfly Collector before leaving Gallagher to deliver a nod to Rourke's heritage with a faithful rendering of the Smiths' There is a Light That Never Goes Out, and a predictable but irresistible Don't Look Back in Anger.

The finale saw Ian Brown lead a joyously ramshackle I Am the Resurrection with a little help from Mani, the Roses-turned-Primal Scream bassist. Despite the fluffed cues, Manchester belted out the euphoric chorus to close the night triumphant.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Don't Sink That In Anger

New vodka is named after boozy Oasis boys

Legendary boozers Oasis have been given the ultimate rock honour - a new vodka has been named after them.

Cult label Red Square has brought out a special edition spirit in tribute to the band and the Gallagher brothers' hell raising reputation.

The tipple is called Oasis Vodka Supernova, a reference to the band's classic track Champagne Supernova.

Noel's Moscow gig last month, which went down a storm with fans, was the inspiration for the drink.

The in-demand bottle is stamped with the concert date of 23.03.07, and with Club B1, Moscow, and has Oasis written down the side.

Noel, 39, teamed up with band-mate Gem Archer, 40, to wow fans in the Russian Capital.

Liam, 34, is also said to be facinated by the popularity of Oasis - whose hits include Don't Look Back In Anger - in the former Communist country.

A pal of the pair said: "Both Liam and Noel were delighted when they heard about being honoured. They have always had a keen eye on the drinks industry, having spent such a large part of their lives in the pub. They are both huge fans of the drink"

"Liam likes his with Coke, so he was lapping it up all night at the launch party with lots of fizzy"

"But Noel prefers to have his vodka with lime and lemonade, or Red Bull. It seems that they can't even agree on how to mix their drinks."

Drinks experts have already hailed the clean, crisp finish of Vodka Supernova. And they are predicting that it has the potential to become a serious rival to more established brands.

An industry insider said: "Given how much they love a tipple, it's very fitting they they are having a vodka dedicated to them. Noel was so proud of seeing Vodka Supernova. And he was boasting about it to anyone in earshot"

"The boys were given some of the bottles as prezzies. But given their taste for alcohol, it's anyone's guess how much is left"

Source: Daily Star

Son & Airwaves

A Mum has named her baby after a radio station.

Frankie Strong, 22, agreed to call her son Clyde Juan to win a trip to the Brit Awards.

It followed a challenge by Clyde 1 DJ George Bowie for listeners to come up with ideas proving how desperate they were to land tickets.

Property administrator Frankie and fiance Gary Bishop, 21, won the competition by offering to let listeners vote on a name for their son - who was born early on Wednesday.

Yesterday, Frankie said: "I think Clyde Juan is actually a nice name.

"His dad and I are quite relieved it got more votes than the runner-up, which was not so hot.


"Apparently, Argos was a close second. That got a lot of backing because he was a home delivery."


She and sales assistant Gary said they were thrilled with their prize.


They were put up in a posh hotel in Kensington, London, after taking in the Valentine's Day show at Earls Court.


Frankie said: "It was an amazing experience. They had the red carpet out and there were so many famous faces milling around.


"Gary's a big Oasis fan and they were up for a lifetime achievement award, so seeing them was a special moment for him."


After the Valentine's Day ceremony, votes for names piled in.


Frankie said: "Lots of people wanted to name the baby after celebrities at the awards. I think Russell Brand and Lily Allen were among the front-runners at one point."


Clyde's birth was almost as unusual as the way he was named. He was delivered, weighing 8lb 2oz, in the toilet of his Renfrew home.


Frankie said: "We went to the hospital on Tuesday night because I thought I was getting labour pains. "We thought it was a false alarm and went home.


"But the pain started again at 2am and my waters broke before we could get into the car.


"I knew the baby was coming so we called an ambulance. An hour later, Gary helped deliver him in our toilet.


"What with being born in the lavvy and being named after a radio station, we'll certainly have some stories to tell Clyde Juan when he's older."


Radio host Bowie said the couple were worthy winners.


He added: "Everyone at Clyde 1 wishes them and little baby Clyde Juan all the very best."

Source: www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Rocker Liam Finds A New Berth

Lairy Liam Gallagher has decided he prefers rowing boats to rowing with blokes.

The Oasis frontman has been househunting for months after a spat with his neighbours in Primrose Hill, North London, and moved on Friday to Henley-on-Thames.

The pretty Oxfordshire market town is famous for boat races between toffs from Oxford and Cambridge universities.

As Noel boozes his way towards my Caner Of The Year award, his brother has obviously decided to settle down by buying this sedate country retreat.

Liam enjoyed his first taste of the riverside lifestyle at the weekend during a trip out with partner Nicole Appleton and family.

They will clearly fit in. They arrived in the town’s must-have transport — a 4x4.

Liam will now have to swap his cans of Red Stripe for Pimm’s and lemonade and keep an eye on his language if he wants to fit in with the boating crowd.

He will take the title of Henley’s No1 rock ’n’ roll star.

It was held by The Beatles George Harrison before his death in 2001.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

Noel Trusted To Play It Twice

Noel Gallagher begged organisers of the Teenage Cancer Trust to let him do two nights at the Royal Albert Hall — because he’s a huge fan of the charity.

He has performed at the same, multi-gig event with Oasis in the past and was desperate to be involved again this time.

Noel explained: “It’s a great charity and I wanted to be part of the whole thing.

“I’ve lost three people close to me to cancer so it’s something I feel strongly about.”

The charity was set up by The Who's Roger Daltrey. It helps fund hospices for teen sufferers of cancer.

The gigs are becoming one of the events of the year.

Bands performing this week include Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, The Who, The View and The Coral. Russel Brand also hosted a comedy night.

Meanwhile, Noel’s girlfriend Sara MacDonald showed off her bump for the first time as she hit the town.

She looked chic and was out until the early hours despite being off the booze.

She told me: “It can be dull when everyone is drinking but I’m having fun.

“I’m excited about the baby and a bit scared too.”

I exclusively revealed earlier this month that Sara and Noel were expecting their first baby together.

Source: www.thesun.co.uk

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