Noel Gallagher 'Don't Look Back In Anger Is Our Most Popular Song Live'

"It's the biggest song of the night now, which must do Liam's head in as he doesn't get to sing it but it makes me feel pretty good."

Oasis star Noel Gallagher is delighted the band's hit Don't Look Back In Anger has taken over from Wonderwall as the group's most popular song at live gigs.

Source: www.contactmusic.com

'7 Ages Of Rock' Covers Indie

Noel Gallagher, lead guitarist of the British band Oasis, says he picked up the guitar because of the Manchester band The Smiths.

Gallagher said that after seeing The Smiths on television, he decided to learn to play the instrument, NME.com reported.

"I remember seeing The Smiths on 'Top of the Pops,' and I don't mean this in a sycophantic way, but I wanted to be (Smiths guitarist) Johnny Marr," he said. "He had the Brian Jones haircut, the turtleneck, and the big red semi-acoustic guitar and he was cool."

Gallagher made the comment on the BBC's "7 Ages of Rock," which will recount the rise of Blur, Suede, The Stone Roses and The Libertines, as well as document Oasis' famous Knebworth gigs.

"Knebworth House is Batman's house in the films. Did you know that? Well, when you see the Batman films and they drive through the big gates, well that's Knebworth House," he said. "So there I was driving into Batman's gaff right, in a Rolls Royce, off my head. And I remember driving into this big field, and sitting on my Rolls Royce thinking I was Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, and nearly having a panic attack (because) I'd been up all night drinking, and going yeah! I'll take it. Where do I sign?"

Source: www.earthtimes.org

On This Day In Oasis History...

"Sunday Morning Call" is a song by British rock band Oasis taken from their fourth studio album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, and was released as the third and final single from it on 3 July 2000, peaking at #4 in the UK charts. The song is written and sung by Noel Gallagher, who took over lead vocal from brother Liam Gallagher on an A-side for the first time since "Don't Look Back in Anger" in 1996.

Though the song has the same anthemic feel that popularised many Oasis songs, and departs from the psychedelic feel of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, which had been poorly received by critics, it received a mixed critical reception. NME described it as "a dreary thing indeed", whereas All Music Guide described it as a "self-consciously mature departure from the group's usual ebullience... a deliberately mellow, mid-tempo [song]".

The music video is a take on the Jack Nicholson film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, with characters resembling McMurphy and Nurse Ratched. It was filmed in an old mental institution in Vancouver, Canada and features Scottish actor James Cunningham, who has previously starred in the original play of Trainspotting. Unlike the film, the video begins with the McMurphy character escaping his home and giving chase to the authorities, and ends in a football match. While the inmates celebrate a victory, Oasis are seen watching from the asylum window, and Noel Gallagher makes a 'wanker' hand gesture at Cunningham.

This was, and still is, the only Oasis single to feature Noel Gallagher singing lead vocals on all of the songs.

Click here for the music video, or here for a live performance.

Source: Wikipedia

Paul Weller Praises New Pal Graham Coxon

Paul Weller has been speaking about his collaboration with Graham Coxon, saying the pair have clicked well.

Explaining the sound of the song, Weller told 6music: "It sounds great, its quite an up, rocking sort of tune. Got Zak Starkey playing drums on it, and me and Graham singing on it, and we co-wrote it."

As previously reported, the ex Jam and Blur stars have recorded a song called 'This old Town' together which will be released as a download from today. A physical release will follow on July 30.

Speaking of their time in the studio, Weller says that despite him hitting the booze and Coxon remaining sober, they had a good time together.

He said: "It just seemed really natural and it just really clicked quite easily, it wasn't really too much hard work really. He's about as sort of as shy as I am at times, but it was alright after a while, it was good, it seemed pretty natural I thought.

"I was on the piss obviously, and he was like stone cold sober so that was quite interesting at times, but it was good, good fun as well."

The single comes backed with the Weller penned track 'Black River' and Coxon's song 'Each New Morning.'

Source: www.musicrooms.net

Upcoming George Lamb Show On BBC 6 Music

George Lamb
On: BBC 6 Music
Date: Tuesday 3rd July 2007
Time: 10:00 pm to 1:00 am (UK)

The Main Event is Oasis' Britpop-peak performance in front of 250,000 fans at Knebworth in 1996. The Featured Session is from Mystery Jets, recorded in the 6 Music Hub. Keane's take on U2's With or Without You is tonight's Mutton Dressed as Lamb.

7 Ages of Rock is a landmark BBC 2 series examining rock music's evolution. Here at 6 Music, we have taken a specific look at four of the genres covered in the series to bring you a four part documentary.

Also you can now download a highlights package of this four part documentary by clicking here.

It features highlights from the TV series as well as extra interviews that did not feature in the series. That include Keith Richards, Dave Gilmour, Peter Gabriel, John Lydon, Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Alex James Speaks About Blur, Life And The Rivalry With Oasis.

Alex James has spoken to Sky News about his time with Blur, life and the rivalry with Oasis.

Click Here to watch the interview.

On This Day In Oasis History...

Heathen Chemistry is the fifth studio album by English rock band Oasis, first released on July 1st 2002. It sold over 1 million copies in the UK, ending up in the top ten best selling albums of 2002, and about 4 million worldwide as of 2005.

Heathen Chemistry was received more warmly than the previous Oasis album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, by both fans and critics alike. It spawned four singles, each of which made the top three in the UK charts: "The Hindu Times", their sixth number one single in the UK, "Stop Crying Your Heart Out", a song made famous as it was played on the BBC when the English football team were knocked out of the World Cup, the Double A-Side, sung by Noel — "Little By Little/She Is Love" — and "Songbird", the first single written by Liam.

This album was the last one to feature the band's longtime drummer, Alan White, who left in early 2004, with Noel Gallagher claiming White's commitment to the band wasn't up to scratch. He was effectively replaced with Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey.

Album History

The title of the album, according to Noel, came from a t-shirt he bought in Ibiza which featured a logo reading, "The Society of Heathen Chemists". Similarly, the name of the first single, "The Hindu Times", originated from a logo on a t-shirt that read the same thing, which Noel saw during a photo shoot for GQ's 100 Greatest Guitarists edition. The name was given to the track when it was just an instrumental, as all the instrumentals of this album were given actual titles as opposed to "Instrumental 1", etc., and the name stuck once the track was finished.

The album was recorded during 2001–early 2002, and was the first studio album written and recorded with the two new members, bassist Andy Bell and rhythm guitarist Gem Archer. Bell and Archer wrote one track each, and Liam Gallagher contributed three, thus the album signalled the end of Noel Gallagher songs dominating Oasis albums (though Liam had contributed "Little James" to Standing on the Shoulder of Giants).

The release of the album was overshadowed by an internet leak of all 11 tracks almost three months prior to release. However, listeners of the commercially released album heard slight differences to two tracks, "Little By Little" and "Better Man".

Click Here for the music video for The Hindu Times
Click Here for the music video for Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Click Here for the music video for Little By Little
Click Here for the music video for Songbird

Source: Wikipedia

Oasis Set To Hit The Studio This Tuesday?

Noel Gallagher: From 7 Ages Of Rock

"Good evening my lord, will you be eating at Digsy's Dinner Suite tonight?"

Yep Noel is looking regal, and well he might, Grabbed from the Britpop edition of the 7 Ages Of Rock, this picture something about the Oasis guitarist that NME has known for a long time: he's the governor.

With the show recalling the band's rise and highlights such as Knebworth it's nice to look back, but now Noel is concentrating on the future again with Oasis set to hit the studio next Tuesday.

Source: NME Magazine

More On Gibson Guitartown

Today I received an email from www.petemckee.com containing more pictures of the giant Les Paul Gibson guitar that Paul McKee designed for Noel Gallagher.

The unique guitar will form part of the Gibson Guitartown London charity campaign and be displayed publicly at More London by Tower Bridge, London SE1 from June 25th for ten weeks.

Following the display, Noel Gallagher’s signed guitar will be auctioned off to raise money for The Prince’s Trust, Teenage Cancer Trust and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.


















The guitar was based on Peter's "Good Education" picture that was sent to Noel.

I'm told "You can purchase the very same print from our website that Noel Gallagher has over his fireplace at his home!"

Asked what was Noel's response to the guitar. Pete said that "Noel was absolutely thrilled with his guitar and Paul Weller was apparently quite envious when he saw it too!!"

Source: Email from www.petemckee.com

Tonight On The BBC

The show will be shown on tonight, 9pm BBC Two and repeated tomorrow, 11pm BBC One (UK Only)

The story of British indie, beginning with The Smiths, the archetypal indie group. The film follows The Stone Roses as the heirs to the indie crown, Suede's dark sexuality and the media saturation of Brit-pop's Blur v Oasis. What The World Is Waiting For explores how indie ultimately lost its once cherished intimacy and integrity in front of 250,000 fans at Oasis's Knebworth spectacle in 1996 and how, by returning to its roots in clubs and bars (and even front rooms) with bands such as Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines and The Arctic Monkeys, indie became respectable again.

Featured events in the show

10th September 1994
Oasis release Definitely Maybe

Following the singles, "Live Forever", "Shakermaker", and "Supersonic", this album catapulted Oasis into the top of the charts and announced them as the new kings of British rock. It was radically different from the dance tinged rock or grunge that had come before it, sporting a swagger and Britishness that instantly connected with the indie crowd. Noel Gallagher: "It's all about escapism - a pint in one hand, your best mate in the other, whoever that may be, and just having a good time."

14th August 1995
Blur v Oasis

At the peak of the 'Britpop' years, Blur and Oasis' respective labels decided that as a big marketing stunt they would release their new singles on the same day. This created a huge head to head battle between the two bands. The resulting news coverage turned this event into a bitter class war between the Northern working class Oasis and the Southern middle class Blur. Damon Albarn ended up being interviewed on the Ten O'clock news. In the end Blur's "Country House" won over Oasis' "Roll with it", though neither were the strongest offerings from each of the albums.

11th August 1996
Knebworth Park

At this stage of Oasis's career they were top of the Britpop pile and were looking for the next big conquest. Knebworth was a venue that had long been associated with the biggest acts in rock history; Queen, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones had all played there to vast audiences. Oasis now saw themselves as part of this rock legacy and there were only few UK locations left that could handle the crowds that followed them. Oasis wanted to set a new benchmark for an open-air performance; they hired the biggest PA, the biggest video screens, and reportedly sold over 250,000 tickets for 2 consecutive performances. This moment could be seen as the last great Britpop performance; nothing after would match its scale

The show will include new interviews with Noel Gallagher and Bonehead

More information click Here

Also after the programme

Later Presents Brit Beat
On: BBC 4
Date: Saturday 30th June 2007
Time: 11:15 pm to 12:15 am

Jools Holland introduces a compilation of live studio performances by British guitar-pop bands. Featuring Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Manic Street Preachers, Radiohead, Ash, Ocean Colour Scene, Cast, the Bluetones, and Super Furry Animals.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Noel Gallagher: 'Johnny Marr Made Me Pick Up A Guitar'

Oasis leader admits The Smiths inspired him to form a band

Oasis leader Noel Gallagher has admitted that The Smiths inspired him to pick up a guitar.

The star claims that seeing the Manchester legends on 'Top Of The Pops' for the first time turned his head.

"I remember seeing The Smiths on Top Of The Pops, and I don't mean this in a sycophantic way, but I wanted to be Johnny Marr," he said. "He had the Brian Jones haircut, the turtleneck, and the big red semi-acoustic guitar and he was cool as fuck."

Gallagher made the admission on this week's Britpop edition of '7 Ages Of Rock'.

The show will also recall the rise of a host of indie bands including Blur, Suede, The Stone Roses, The Libertines and will document Oasis's legendary Knebworth gigs.

Reflecting on their famous gigs Gallagher added: "Knebworth House is Batman's house in the films. Did you know that? Well, when you see the Batman films and they drive through the big gates, well that's Knebworth House. So there I was driving into Batman's fucking gaff right, in a Rolls Royce, off my head!

"And I remember driving into this big field, and sitting on my Rolls Royce thinking I was Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, and nearly having a panic attack cos I'd been up all night drinking, and going yeah! I'll take it. Where do I sign?"

'7 Ages Of Rock' will be aired on BBC 2 on Saturday at 9pm and on BBC 1 on Sunday at 11.05pm.

Source: www.nme.com

Blur Star Albarn Premieres Opera In Oasis's Backyard

It has been interpreted by some as an Essex boy's ultimate act of revenge on his old Mancunian rivals. Damon Albarn, whose feuding with Manchester's Oasis was legendary back in the 1990s, takes centre stage in the Gallagher brothers' own back yard tomorrow night when the premiere of his first opera launches the inaugural Manchester International Festival.

But Albarn's opera, which is based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King's enlightenment and premieres at the city's Palace Theatre, has been inspired by something far bigger than settling old scores. It is the centrepiece of a biennial festival featuring only original and new work which, for pure modernity and pizzazz, has given the Edinburgh International Festival's new director, Jonathan Mills, much to think about even before the first curtain goes up.

Manchester's own festival director, Alex Poots, knows a bit about innovation, having taken the English National Opera to sing Wagner at Glastonbury in his last job but getting Albarn to write Monkey: Journey to the West was audacious. Albarn has been to only one opera in his life - Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, directed by Shi-Zheng, the director and original conceiver of the new work.

But Monkey: Journey to the West promises to be one of the great cultural spectaculars of the year, building on a story made famous by the 1980s cult television show Monkey. Although it will travel to a number of international cities, Manchester will be its only UK venue.

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Oasis Should Ride This 90's Wave

With the Verve and the Spice Girls garnering well deserved attention for coming back it is time for Oasis to pull out all stops and release a classic album that rivals 'Whats the Story Morning Glory'. Fans of the band know that they have it in them and with the 90's revival in full swing Noel Gallagher should pull all his efforts into this one. Sell out to a record label if he has to because the bands legacy is at stake here.

Oasis came in with so much hype that the media was determined to knock them down when they had the chance. They did just that 10 years ago when the band released 'Be Here Now' and was met with reviews that called the effort 'bloated', 'excessive', and 'lazy'. They have not gone away and have released quality albums since but they have never been able to regain the pedestal they once stood in the Rock N Roll Pantheon. This is their chance and hopefully they take heed for the sake of their legacy which should be much greater stateside than just "the band who sang 'Wonderwall'.

Source: www.clevelandleader.com

Alex James Gives Wonderwall Props

Blur bassist Alex James wishes he wrote classic Oasis hit 'Wonderwall'.

The musician, whose band famously feuded with the Manchester rockers during their Britpop battle of the 90s, is envious of the song's magic.

He said: "The first time I heard it, I thought it was a really great song. I wish I'd written it to be honest.

"Liam Gallagher has got a great voice, and I think that's their finest moment."

After the two bands' epic 1995 UK chart battle - in which Blur's single 'Country House' beat Oasis' 'Roll With It' to the coveted number one spot - 'Wonderwall' propelled Oasis to worldwide success, while Blur's career faltered.

Alex, 38, recently admitted that beating Oasis to the top spot was one of the highlights of his career.

He wrote in his book 'Bit of a Blur': "I can't deny it, sitting in the car and hearing that we'd won the battle, I felt very smug.

"I couldn't stop smirking for weeks afterwards and there was a lot of satisfaction in knowing how upset Oasis were about it."

Source: www.people.monstersandcritics.com

Noel: Be Here Now Followed "Too Quick"

Noel Gallagher has explained why Oasis' third album, Be Here Now, was 'bloated' saying it followed their second record "too quick".

Speaking on the BBC's Seven Ages of Rock programme, shown on BBC2 this Saturday at 21:00 BST, Noel described the immense freedom thrust upon the band which was mismanaged.

"It was too quick after Morning Glory," Noel said. "There was no kind of time to sit down and think, right, what are we going to do next."

He added: "We were given … unlimited studio time, wherever you want. 'Can I have a 40-piece orhestra?' 'Have a 100'. Why not? At the time we all thought it was the … greatest thing that had ever been committed to tape, but we were all on drugs."

The Oasis elder statesman described what was supposed to be the first single from the album, clocking in at over eight minutes and taking two minutes for the drums to kick in. "It's all feedback," Noel added.

The band also went on what Noel described as a "ridiculous" tour with Be Here Now, emerging from a "12ft phone box" every night.

Concluding the BBC's seven-part series, What the World is Waiting For will document the rise of British indie music from the Smiths to Arctic Monkeys.

Previous episodes have included punk rock, stadium rock and the likes of David Bowie, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Why Ordinary Life Provided McKee's Inspiration

McKee's inspiration comes from what he calls the 'Golden Age' of working class life.

He uses his memories of Sheffield in the late 1960s and early 70s to create universal themes.

His paintings are full of Wednesday and United shirts, lads on bikes, women in headscarves, fairgrounds, pubs, sunshine in Hillsborough, rainy days at Chapel St Leonards.

"My pictures are of normal working-class people doing what they do," said Pete, whose business recently become a limited company.

"It all started for me in Chapel St Leonards when I was five years old. That's where my strongest memories come from.

"I think there was a Golden Age of working class life and my memories are mainly from 1971 and 1972, it's a generational thing but there were a lot of feelgood factors about being working class then.

"People were just starting to be able to afford colour TVs and foreign holidays – before people started wearing tracksuits. It all went a bit wrong after that.
"When I show my paintings elsewhere, people relate to them."

At the moment he is busy finishing a Common People exhibition for Sheffield and 60 paintings to go in an exhbition in Scunthorpe – and he's thinking of hiring an old-fashioned charabanc to take a party of friends to go and see it.

The Good Education picture he sent to Noel Gallagher shows a young boy practising guitar in his bedroom surrounded by posters and album covers of his heroes.

"I thought Noel would like it and when I spoke to him I told him that I had practised guitar like that and he had too. I also told him that my son Charley practices while he's listening to Oasis. He liked that."

The Guitartown painting may be the launchpad for McKee's career to go mega but he has already earned enough to fulfil a couple of long-standing ambitions.

"I am into style and I notice the way people dress. I had always promised myself I would get a made-to-measure suit one day, and a pair of leather brogues that would last me a lifetime.

My Dad used to go to the pub in his made-to-measure suit on Friday and Saturday nights.

"I've done those things now. It feels great."

Source: Sheffied Star

Blur Love Oasis Hit

Blur's Alex James has confessed he wishes he had written Oasis's 1995 hit Wonderwall.

His claim marks an amazing twist in one of the biggest rivalries in pop music history.

The bands often swapped insults in the 90s when they regularly battled for the No1 spot.

But speaking about hearing Wonderwall for the first time, Alex, 38, said: "I thought it was a really good song. Wish I'd written it.

"He's got a great voice Liam (Gallagher) and I think that's their finest moment."

Alex's revelation comes on BBC show The Seven Ages of Rock this week.

Source: www.mirror.co.uk

The Verve To Reunite

Oasis pal Richard Ashcroft reunites with band and writes new songs.

The Verve are set for a winter tour.

The original band of Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe,Simon Jones and Pete Sailsbury have got together for the first time in almost a decade.

In a statement, the band have announced they were: "Getting back together for the joy of the music."

It is believed they will take a summer break and then return to the studio to complete their next album.

The band broke up in 1999, with the tumultuous relationship between Ashcroft and McCabe being well documented with the two exiting the band repeatedly since they began in 1993.

The band are set to play:

Glasgow Academy (November 2,3)
Blackpool Empress Ballroom (November 5,6)
London Roundhouse (November 8,9)

Tickets are set to go on sale on July 6.

Source: www.nme.com

Old Trafford Goes Mad For Classics

Old Trafford will be dancing to the sound of Madchester tonight during Lancashire's Twenty20 clash with old rivals Yorkshire.

Classics from New Order, Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Inspiral Carpets, Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and other Manchester acts like Simply Red, M People, Richard Ashcroft will all be blasted out over the speakers tonight.

The idea came from former Lancashire coach and player, and MEN Sport columnist David Lloyd.

During the recent Test Match, ex-England coach Bumble, who will be on commentary duty tonight, said how great it would be to hear the best of Manchester music blasting around the ground.

Tickets will be available on all main entrances (Great Stone Road, Brian Statham Way and Talbot Road) on a first come, first served basis from 3.30pm this afternoon. Ticket prices on the day are £15 Adults, £7.50 Juniors.

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

More On Pete Mckee's 10ft Gibson Les Paul

He's mixing with some pretty exalted company these days.

The man who once worked for years behind the counter in Sheffield's HMV record shop -and played in local bands Miami Dolphins and Times Will Change - is now rubbing shoulders with musical and artistic legends.

The Gibson Guitartown charity appeal involves some of rock's biggest names - Rod Stewart, Roxy Music, New Order, Gorrilaz, Dirty Pretty Things, Magic Numbers, Ozzy Osbourne, Corinne Bailey Rae, Sir Cliff Richard and James Blunt - who are all having a 10ft guitar hand painted in the theme of their choice.

The thirty Gibson Les Paul guitars will be displayed around More London at Tower Bridge from late June 2007 for ten weeks.

Mckee's work will line up alongside some of the biggest names in art and design world.

Sir Peter Drake, who did The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album cover, is doing Paul Weller's Guitar, Roald Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake will illustrate Ozzy Osbourne's.

"When I heard who else was involved I was stunned" said Pete, who is hoping to open his own gallery on Ecclesall Road later this year.

"Peter Blake is a legend and Noel could have got any number of big names to do this. I'm really grateful that he gave me this chance and I'm delighted to be able to make some contribution to the charities."

It took Pete around two weeks to paint and vanish the guitar - with a few changes - in the conservatory of his manager's house in Dore.

The guitars will be auctioned off in September with all proceeds being split between three associated charities - The Teenage Cancer Trust, The Prince's Trust and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy.

Gallagher's Influences Depicted by McKee are

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
The Damned - The Damned
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks
Bod Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Neil Young - Neil Young
The Beatles - Revolver
The La's - The La's
The Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request
The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society
The Jam - Sound Affects
The Who - My Generation

Source: Sheffield Star