Russell Brand is planning to live out his Robin Hood fantasies for his upcoming bachelor party. “I’ll do adventurous things and activities.
My friend who is my best man says we’re going to go white-water rafting and shoot arrows,” Brand says on Britain’s Capital Breakfast Show radio program. “We’ll be like merry men. Perhaps we’ll become outlaws, bandits for a while.”
Brand also admits he’s been turning to famous pals — like Oasis’ Noel Gallagher — for advice on keeping future wife Katy Perry happy. “I asked Noel how to get by in a relationship and he said, ‘Just say yes to everything they say,’” Brand says. “It works, I’ve been using that system and it’s working well.”
Beady Eye are currently in the studio with producer Steve Lillywhite working on their way of looking at the world.
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Here is a chance for you to take part in a new Microdot competition - Answer the following three questions correctly to be entered into a draw. Prize will be a numbered copy of the Microdot portfolio book (currently retailing for £85).
1. What event is depicted for 1994 in the Microdot website homepage movie? 2. Which piece of work on the site is described as 'Not strictly a Microdot project'? 3. What was the first ever Microdot album sleeve design?
Oasis' complete singles collection 'Time Flies... 1994-2009' entered the UK album chart at number 1 on Sunday, selling four times as many as the second best selling album of the week.
It is the band's eighth number one album (the fifth of the past ten years) and has the highest first week sales of any album released this year!
It was also confirmed by the OCC (Official Charts Company) that 'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is the 900th number 1 album in the history of the UK's official album charts, the first being Frank Sinatra's 'Songs For Swingin' Lovers' back in 1956!
We'd like to say a big thank you to all the fans for their continued support!
It may not be the most flattering homage, but Russell Brand has said his portrayal of the arrogant, wild and obnoxious rocker Aldous Snow in new flick was inspired by his friend Noel Gallagher.
Speaking to ShortList Magazine, Brand said of his Oasis front man pal: "He tells you stories and you think, 'Oh my God, you decadent lunatics.'
"Tales of when there was still money in the music industry and they were all carrying on. So there are no direct references, but Noel is someone I have in mind. Mostly because Noel Gallagher doesn't care.
"Most people say, 'Oh I don't care what people think about me.' He actually doesn't. You're like, 'Don't say that! You'll ruin everything you've worked for,' and he's like, 'Don't f*cking care, say what I want.'
"The way he sees it, as long as he can play guitar, people will always give him 10 quid and he'll be all right."
However, when asked if he’d made use of any other Gallagher characteristics, Brand explained: "No, just the attitude. Because if I nicked some personal anecdote from Noel's life about robbing houses in Greater Manchester I don't see how that would have helped the plot, to be honest."
The comedian also confessed he would love to be a real life rock star: "Yeah, it was like sanctioning a part of yourself you're always embarrassed about.
“Part of you thinks, 'I could be a rock star, couldn't I? Let me prove that by dancing along to Deep Purple.'
"It sanctions that kind of conduct, which normally takes place in bathrooms, like all good masturbation should.
"But it felt good, it was a good exercise for me."
Read the full interview in ShortList Magazine, out on Thursday.
Oasis have triumphed over Blur after the battle of Britpop was re-staged, 15 years on.
The two bands were famously locked in conflict as they raced for the No 1 spot in 1995 with Blur's Country House winning out.
But now a poll of listeners for the launch of new station Absolute Radio 90s has found that Oasis's Roll With It is actually the most popular track after all these years.
Source: The Press Association
'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.
A piece of Manchester music history is up for grabs on Thursday – when the first ever recording of Oasis goes under the hammer.
Auctioneers Christie's are offering the cassette, which was captured at legendary Little Peter Street venue The Boardwalk in 1992.
It features five songs from the band's second-ever gig - the first with Noel Gallagher at the helm.
Christie's say the tape is the first 'live' recording of Oasis in existence and have set an estimate of £4,000 to £6,000.
Former music promoter Dean Hanley is selling the recording.
He was given the cassette by a desperate Noel at offices on Mount Street, in a bid to promote the fledgling band.
Dean made some demos from the tape and sent them to record labels to no avail. However, he did manage to secure Oasis a support slot for Peter Hook's off-shoot band Revenge.
Other than an early version of Columbia, which appeared on the classic first album Definitely Maybe, none of the tracks that feature on the recording were released.
There is also one song recorded in the studio.
The cassette, labelled in blue ballpoint pen and fluorescent green marker by Noel is offered without any reproduction rights.
It captures the four-piece around two years before they shot to fame.
Christie's say the band sound heavily influenced by fellow Manchester legends The Smiths and The Stone Roses.
They add that the Beatlesque chord changes that later became an Oasis trademark and Liam's 'yet to completely mature voice' it is 'still recognisably Oasis'.
The band were spotted by Scottish record label boss Alan McGee around a year after the recording in 1993.
He signed them up and their first single Supersonic, released a year later, set them on the way to success.
Millions of record sales followed, along with seven albums.
Last June they played sell out shows to huge acclaim at Heaton Park.
But in August the band announced they had split, with the final straw said to be a row between Liam and Noel backstage before a gig in Paris.
Source: manchestereveningnews
'Time Flies... 1994-2009' is out now for more details click here.
The combined skills of Ghandi, Kofi Annan, Nelson Mandela and Terry Waite would struggle to broker peace between the warring Oasis brothers.
But Lionel Messi - the planet's most special footballer since Archie Gemmill - reckons he can smooth the volatile diplomatic minefield between Noel and Liam Gallagher.
The little wizard has spent the World Cup receiving a masterclass in Oasis from his Argentina team-mate, Manchester City star Carlos Tevez.
And the Barcelona Lord has fallen in love with the band, vowing to do everything in his power to get them back together if the Argies win the World Cup. Messi said: "Ever since he has been playing in Manchester, Carlitos has told me how great Oasis was. I kept promising I would listen to them, but I never got round to it.
"On the plane on the way to the World Cup Carlitos made me listen to their first two albums. I have to say I wasn't expecting much but it is some of the best material I have ever heard. They are absolutely amazing.
"Their songs are incredible. I would have to say Supersonic and Live Forever are my favourites. I have been listening to their stuff on my iPod dock in the hotel room, on the way to the matches and in the dressing room. I can't believe it's taken me all this time to finally listen to them.
"I've been watching their live performances on YouTube and they look like they'd be amazing to see in concert.
"I asked Carlitos if we could go and see them in Manchester or London in concert, but he told me they have split up.
"I showed the rest of the boys in the Argentina squad their stuff and I promise you, everybody absolutely loves it.
"A few knew a couple of their songs but for most of them it was their first listen.
"We have agreed that if we win the World Cup we want to fly them over to Argentina for our celebration party.
"We just need them to name their price."
I'm sure Noel would enjoy a spot of chin-stroking contemplation about that after an early afternoon bag of Monster Munch.
Argentina boss Maradona is a fan of the Man City supporting boys too. He met them in Buenos Aires back in 1997, months before he was sentenced for shooting journalists.
It would take an act from the Hand of God to repair the biblical scrap between the most famous feuding brothers.
He has been there and done it. Lived the rock 'n' roll dream with the biggest British band of the past two decades.
But Paul Arthurs, better known as Bonehead, who walked out on Oasis in 1999 declaring "there was no fun in it any more", is starting again with The Vortex, a Manchester five-piece that merges rock guitars with dance.
Alan McGee, who discovered Oasis, described the guitarist's new outfit as "set for big things... setting the controls for the heart of the northern anthem as if Kasabian never existed."
You can make up your own mind when they play The Maze in a couple of weeks.
Indie guitars and dance – are you reviving Madchester?
"No. There are full-on guitar lines, they're big songs but we use a lot of dance samples and loops. We have a girl on backing vocals. I get a Screamadelica/Primal Scream vibe off it."
Isn't it hard playing the pub circuit after 250,000 people at Knebworth in one weekend?
"It's a joy. Something like Knebworth was amazing, every boy's dream. But I like being on the road, going back to basics. I missed that with Oasis. It's what I've always loved about being in a band."
Is it better for you not being in the shadow of Noel and Liam, having greater control?
"I wouldn't say control but I've developed a lot more of my playing. I have got more freedom. It's got an energy I feel Oasis were lacking, at the point that I left, anyway. It's more edgy. I'm really enjoying it."
What happened with your previous band The Seers?
"We did all right, we did a lot of gigs but it fizzled out."
Are people still asking you about Oasis at the gigs?
"It used to be 'why did you leave Oasis?' but people have got over that. All I get off people is pure love. They respect me for what I did in Oasis and they're respecting what I'm doing with The Vortex. They do come to the gigs out of curiosity but when I come off stage they want to know about The Vortex."
Are you a better musician now than a decade ago?
"A lot better I think. I'm learning loads more in the studio. I'm a lot more hands-on these days."
Aren't you fed up of hearing new bands trying to sound like Oasis?
"I don't know if they're trying to sound like Oasis but they're influenced by us and that's not a bad thing."
When will The Vortex release an album?
We're finishing it now. We're paying for it ourselves. So by the end of summer we'll have one ready. We've got interest (from record labels) but we're just getting on with it"
What is your take on the Oasis split?
"I was sad it happened how it did, ending with a fight. I look forward to hearing their solo stuff. I just hope what Noel and Liam come out with is as good as I expect it to be."
Peter Kay will have his name permanently etched on to a new “eco” art installation at Manchester Airport.
Work has already begun on a glass-covered walkway which will feature the names of the North West’s most famous people and places.
The Bolton comedy legend will be one of hundreds of names ‘hidden’ in a giant wordsearch as part of the walkway which is being built to link terminals one and three.
Designers are hoping that people using the walkway will try to solve the puzzle, which aims to celebrate the best of Greater Manchester and pay tribute to its heritage.
The design will also help the airport in its bid to be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2015 by using third generation LED lighting to cut energy consumption by about 40 per cent, airport bosses say.
Other famous names will include Manchester’s Oasis stars Liam and Noel Gallagher and indie group The Stone Roses.
Oasis have scored the UK album chart's 900th number one this week with their Time Flies... singles collection LP. The first being "Songs For Swingin' Lovers" by Frank Sinatra in 1956.
Oasis who split up last year, were given their eighth album triumph in their illustrious career, selling almost four times as many copies as Glee's Journey To Regionals, which was also a new entry in second place.