Beady Eye have announced Miles Kane as the support for their forthcoming six sold-out dates in the UK.
Miles - who previously played in The Last Shadow Puppets with Arctic Monkey's Alex Turner - has been working on his solo album which is due for release later in the year.
Miles Kane will be supporting Beady Eye at the following gigs:
3rd March - Glasgow Barrowland 4th March - Glasgow Barrowland 6th March - Manchester O2 Apollo 7th March - Manchester O2 Apollo 9th March - London Troxy 10th March - London Troxy
CLICK HERE to listen to Miles new single ‘Come Closer’ from his debut solo album due for release on February 21st 2011.
The video for ‘The Roller’ will be premiered in the UK on Channel 4 at 12:10 tonight (local time) on the 10th January, and promises daredevil stunts.
The band recorded the film in sub zero temperatures in Cambridgeshire in December performing in a ‘Motorcycle Wall of Death’, one of only two in the country, complete with motorcycle stunt riders.
After the Channel Four premiere fans can watch the video at the band's YouTube channel HERE!
Amid cardboard boxes of clothes, marked “dog-tooth”, “grandpa”, “paisley”, “cobalt blood” and “patch pocket”, two sharp-dressed shop assistants in traditional mod gear debate with a security guard in gangster black what to do about the broken toilet.
It could be a scene from Are You Being Served: the big boss is on his way from London.
Outside Liam Gallagher’s plush new Pretty Green store on Glasgow’s Ingram Street, sharply-dressed Glaswegians mix with photographers and tabloid journalists, all keen to catch a glimpse of arguably the last great British rock star. Liam Gallagher looks remarkably unchanged from his early swaggering days with Oasis when their potential was first spotted here by Creation Records boss Alan McGee in the early 1990s. Gallagher’s determined character and black and white view of the world are undoubtedly behind the loyalty he inspires in those gathered here today. He is meticulous about every detail of his clothing business – whom he employs, the quality of cloth and even the layout of the store. Although the shop in Glasgow has only been open a month, there’s already a steady community building up around the place, with one fan today proudly sporting a straight-from-the-parlour Pretty Green tattoo, as a mark of his gratitude that he no longer has to trawl secondhand clothes emporiums for retro clobber. There might be a global recession, and indie record shops are falling like dominoes in an earthquake, but you wouldn’t know it here.
When Liam Gallagher finally arrives to greet the hordes, buses and black cabs grind to a halt. “Rock ’n’ roll stops the traffic,” shouts one gruff thirty-something male at the back.
The rock ’n’ roll clothes-horse could wear just about anything his eye directs him to and pull it off. Today it’s an Alex “Hurricane” Higgins trilby, with khaki parka. Recently he managed to get away with a Rod Stewart leopard-print jacket. For his generation there’s something of the (George) Bestie factor in his style.
Gallagher is undoubtedly at home in Glasgow. He returns for two Barrowland gigs in March, his first post-Oasis outing with new group Beady Eye: “I’m into Scotland in general; the people don’t take themselves too seriously. We were always going to open a shop in Glasgow, it makes sense. The connection goes back a long way with McGee and King Tut’s for the Barrowlands gigs and all that, but it’s the people.
“It’s the same as Manchester: it’s a great football city, the people are into proper clothes and music, which is what it’s all about. All of those things connect with me. It’s the same with the gigs; the fans bring something to the table. After Oasis split, things could have got bitter. I’m not about sitting around doing that and Pretty Green kept me in touch with people.”
After a final argument backstage in August 2009 the credits rolled on one of rock’n’roll’s longest running soap operas for good. Noel Gallagher walked out, dissolving Oasis after fifteen years in the public eye.
“Everyone knows I’ve got the a*** with our kid, and he’s playing the good guy card. That’s fine, but I’ll say what I want to say. I’m not looking back in anger but I’m not going to shut my mouth either. We were never The Waltons; we didn’t go for long strolls together; you know what I mean?
“The old days are lodged in my mind, my soul and my blood. I wish it hadn’t happened but it has and it’s done, time to move on; no one’s dead. It’s Beady Eye now and we are putting as much, if not more, into this band than we did Oasis.
“The rehearsals have been rocking man; there’s been a lot of energy and spirit around the place.”
Forthcoming single The Roller sounds like the starry-eyed ghosts of Ronnie Lane and John Lennon strumming in a pastoral 1970s country pile. Bring The Light and opener Four Letter Word from their debut Different Gear, Still Speeding both retain the exigency of typical Oasis, but there is also a defiant shift.
“Wigwam was the hardest in the studio; it was three different tracks stuck together. We started out tuning into that tight Small Faces vibe, but by the end it goes right into an I Am The Resurrection jam; it’s different, man.
“Steve Lillywhite threw his hat into the ring early on, and he’s produced a load of great bands. He brought in energy, but we had just come off tour with Oasis so it wasn’t like we had forgotten what to do.
“Andy Bell is back on guitar and on fire. He’s been set free, it’s a proper band, it’s not Liam Gallagher solo. It’s the first time Chris (Sharrock) has played on a record with us, and they are all great musicians and writers. I’m getting there as a songwriter: I’m not Morrissey or Oscar Wilde but its proper rock ’n’ roll.
“It’s not that they were prisoners before, because Oasis was a great band, but it was Noel that rubber-stamped everything.”
Gallagher bangs his fist down on the table to make the point clear. “I’m feeling these songs like I felt in Oasis. I can sing other songs, my brother doesn’t have to have written them! With Beady Eye it’s been all of us grafting together, all of us pulling our weight.”
This year Pretty Green will continue to launch retail outlets throughout the UK, Europe and Asia as Beady Eye tour Europe. Gallagher’s own production company is also currently developing The Longest Cocktail Party feature film, chronicling the story behind The Beatles Apple Corps. There remains an urgency and concentration in Gallagher’s eyes and he retains steadfast self-belief. While in Oasis he referenced his violent father as an inspiration. Each time we have met he refers to “the days of no worries” – childhood holidays in his mother’s hometown of County Mayo or the teenage tearaway Saturday afternoons watching Manchester City with his mates. He shrugs off a rag trade Drapers Award for Pretty Green with a flippant “no-one’s cured cancer”. Whether it’s his father, his brother, his critics or his past, the competition remains close – and William John Paul Gallagher is determined to be a contender.
Different Gear, Still Speeding is released on February 28. Beady Eye play Glasgow Barrowland on March 3 and 4.
The band's bid to relive 1996 might fare better if they had an ounce of wit or originality
In the summer of 2009, a T4 interview with Raygun did the rounds of the Twittersphere. It seemed to present a real-life Spinal Tap with a fondness for "drinking Mojitos at 11am – what the hell, man!" that displayed a mesmerising lack of self-awareness. Last year produced nothing quite so cringeworthy, though a promo film of the hotly tipped Brother came close.
Documenting the lad-rock band's attempts to play for "the people", it showed the quartet setting up their equipment at two locations in their native Slough, only to have their first gig shut down by "the man" (translation: an old man tells them they need permission to play and the boys pack up their stuff and leave politely), while their second attempt is met with mild bemusement by some schoolgirls. A tale of rock'n'roll shenanigans that could make Keith Richards blush this was not. None the less, Brother have excited a great deal of interest, starring on the cover of the NME last week with a strapline hailing "the return of the great British guitar band".
How has this happened? At their debut gig in London a few months ago, Brother took the stage with the hilarious boast: "If anyone here doesn't want to see the future of music, leave now!" Leaving aside the daftness of the question (did anyone shuffle towards the door muttering: "Future of music? Not for me, mate, I thought this was the quarter-final of the Nuneaton tiddly winks championship…") such an attitude tells you a lot about Brother and their desire to revisit Britpop.
Just take the name, which seems to have arisen from a challenge to invoke Oasis in as many ways as possible using just one word: Oasis were based around two brothers, the band's label was called Big Brother and "Brother" was the sponsor splashed across the Manchester City football shirts worn in those famous early photos.
Then there's their sound, a bold, eclectic cocktail that dares to ask the question no other band dare tackle, namely: "What happens if we combine the Seahorses with Mansun?"
It's hardly surprising that a band would feel the time was right to exhume Britpop. Blur and Suede have recently performed triumphant reunion shows, and Pulp caused a stir last year when they announced a string of 2011 festival dates with the "classic" Britpop line-up. Elsewhere, there's a debut album due from Liam Gallagher's new band, Beady Eye, a group who aim to rise above the memories of Oasis by, er, recruiting every single member of Oasis bar that guy who played guitar. And that's before we've mentioned Shed Seven, Kula Shaker and the Bluetones, who it turns out never went away.
There's nothing wrong with a revival, as long as the artists involved do enough to make it seem fresh. Just look at how Zola Jesus and new Domino signing Anna Calvi have breathed life into the corpse of goth with tremendous debuts. And let's not forget that Britpop itself was perhaps the ultimate revival, although for all the "Oasis sound like Beatles" comments, the most memorable bands all brought something new to the table, be it attitude (Oasis), wit (Pulp) or only being able to play two chords (Menswear).
The depressing thing about Brother is that they seem genuinely to believe that it's still 1996. When they played recently at the Met Bar (where else?), they demanded that the DJ "turn that dubstep shit off". In terms of sonic invention, their music makes Noel Gallagher look like Shostakovich. But it's their unintentionally hilarious attempts to act up to the Brit rocker image that really make you despair.
Studying Oasis (again), Brother clearly think that outrageous statements about sex, drugs and rock'n'roll are the way to get noticed. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have a member with the bizarre comedy persona of a Liam Gallagher to deliver said messages. That's why recently you found them telling the Guardian that they would soon be heading for a world of "drugs and prostitutes". Prostitutes? I'm sure countless budding bands dream of the day when they can finally afford to pay for sex.
If anything, these misfiring quotes are perhaps Brother's only redeeming feature. It's an almost lovable stupidity that makes you hope they might stick around for entertainment value, if nothing else. How could you not when they told the NME: "We're sick of all these American bands" while posing for an accompanying photograph wearing a jumper emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes?
Liam Gallagher was pleased to be back in Glasgow, a city he has fond memories of, as his old band Oasis was discovered in Glasgow pub King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. He had returned north of the border to open a new clothing store Pretty Green.
He said: “It’s good to be back in Glasgow. We got signed here, that’s where it all began for us.”
The store is the first of its kind in Scotland and like it's sister stores in London and Manchester it sells only Liam’s Pretty Green clothing range. The store which is on Ingram Street has proven popular with customers since its opening in December 2010.
When asked why he opened a store in Scotland Liam said: “Why not? I like Scotland in general, people like the same things football, music, they like a little drink or two. So why not?”
The line is designed by Liam and respected menswear designer Nick Holland. The name Pretty Green comes from a Jam song written by influential singer Paul Weller. The range itself is inspired greatly by 60’s culture and the mod movement of that era.
Liam said: “[The clothing line is] 60s, mod influenced. It’s smart but not fairy smart, it’s worn in smart. Me and Nick Holland design it, he comes round my house and we sit there and go through the wardrobe and see what’s had its time. We design in that kind of style.”
More than 100 fans turned out to see Liam at his new store where he chatted and signed autographs for them. Liam was quick to point out his clothing line is for everyone and that he will keep going as long as people want to wear his designs.
He said: “If people don’t like it we close it and move on, if people like it we stay here. I’m not gonna ram it down people’s throats, if people like it we’ll carry on.”
Liam started a new band Beady Eye with his ex-Oasis band mates, they have been working on a new album called Different Gear, Still Speeding and have an upcoming tour. The tour starts with two nights in Glasgow at The Barrowlands.
Liam said: “The album is done, all the videos are done and we start rehearsing next week for a month. I am excited about it it’s nice to get back in the ring, that’s where I belong singing songs. The gigs are on sale, we start at The Barrowlands, we’re excited, we’re loud and it’s rocking”
Liam doesn’t think the fans have too much to worry about with the style of music they have been playing he doesn’t think it is that different from what they created with Oasis. There are obviously some changes but Liam is really happy with what Beady Eye has become.
He said: “I don’t think it’s that different. It’s a little bit different but I wouldn’t say it’s that different. I’m still singing the way I sing, the band are still playing guitars the way they do. We’re still having it”.
It’s for the fans to decide though in Liam’s opinion, he pointed out: “It’s not for me it’s for other people to say if it’s different or not. It feels different obviously because Noel is not there but it doesn’t feel that different to me when the microphone is in front of me I’m ready to go.”
When asked if brother Noel wears his clothes he joked “probably”. He and his brother are not in touch at the moment, he said: “I’ve not spoken to him but I’m sure he’s happy in his little world. He does his thing and I do mine.”
A Beady Eye single was announced yesterday but there is already a Beady Eye Juniors group in the offing.
Liam Gallagher says his son Gene, who's nine, is learning to play drums, while his bandmate Gem Archer says his lad Joel, 14, is more interested in dubstep.
Gem told Radio 1: "My son's already making his own dubstep tracks and I'm encouraging the generation gap - I tell him it sounds like two radios playing at the same time."
Liam couldn't resist a dig at old rival Damon Albarn when talking about his boy's music taste. He said: "My kids are into that Gorillaz stuff - and that is music for kids, with all those videos."
More than 500 fans turned out yesterday to catch a glimpse of former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher as he made a flying visit to officially open his new clothing store.
The 38-year-old jetted in to visit Pretty Green, one month after his planned visit on December 8 was cancelled due to bad weather.
Wearing a black trilby hat, khaki parka and drainpipe trousers, his arrival – and departure just over an hour an a half later – brought Ingram Street in Glasgow to a standstill.
Gallagher met around 100 fans with emailed invites, but hundreds more fans were left disappointed.
Paul Hannah, 24, from Coatbridge, and his girlfriend Cara Urban, 19, met Gallagher.
Cara said: “Paul told him that I’m having a baby this Sunday and he congratulated us and gave us a cuddle: I’m overwhelmed by it.”
Paul added: “I can’t believe it. That’s made my year – and the baby will make it even better. He’s my hero.”
The 4080 square foot shop, housed in the former GPO building has a six-month lease.
Store manager Raymond Meade said: “It’s been hectic, we didn’t expect the turnout that we got. Liam was in good spirits and on good form – he loved the shop. He said he’s looking forward to seeing us again.”
After he opened the new Pretty Green store in Glasgow yesterday, Liam Gallagher spoke exclusively to The Herald about his new band Beady Eye, working without his brother, and why Glasgow had to be the first stop on the new group’s debut tour in March. Read the interview in Monday’s Herald.
Tickets for Beady Eye's first UK live shows sold out in 30 minutes, but a number of tickets are still available for the following dates on the bands highly anticipated European tour.
Friday 18th March - La Riviera, Madrid, Spain Saturday 19th March - Le Bikini, Toulouse, France
Tickets are still available for Beady Eye's first confirmed festival appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival on Sunday 12th June.
Liam Gallagher opened his Scots clothes store yesterday - then revealed he loves to crack open a bottle of Buckfast.
The former Oasis frontman said he's been a fan of the tonic wine since he was nine.
Gallagher, 38, made the admission as he arrived in Glasgow to launch his Pretty Green outlet.
The rocker was greeted by a crowd of 200 mini-Liams sporting mod-style mop tops and parkas.
Gallagher - whose hits with Oasis included Don't Look Back in Anger - said: "I love Glasgow, it's great. When I was nine I tried Buckfast for the first time. I still love it now."
Fans queued for hours to grab a glimpse of the star, now fronting new band Beady Eye.
But they were shocked when the Gallagher emerged from his blacked-out people-carrier and made a beeline for a disabled man with a stick.
He gave Harry Johnston a huge hug - having sat beside him at an Old Firm match two years ago. Celtic fan Harry, 50, hadn't realised Gallagher was in the city - but was drawn to the crowd as he headed for his bus stop. He said: "When he came out of his car, he came straight over and gave me a big cuddle. He must have recognised me - he just grabbed me.
"I've always loved his music and I'm over the moon he remembered me."
Snow stopped Gallagher opening the store in December. He'll return to the city to play two gigs in March.
Beady Eye frontman Liam Gallagher has joked that he has Spongebob Squarepants’ phone number on his mobile.
The singer spoke about his admiration for the children’s character during an appearance on BBC Radio 1 today (January 7).
Gallagher told DJ Zane Lowe that he had received a number of gifts from the fictional star, including a Spongebob guitar, as well as presents for his children.
“He done my kid a DVD for his birthday, where you put it in and he wished him happy birthday on it with Bikini Bottom,” Gallagher said.
“It was like, ‘Hi Gene, Happy Birthday’, and all that. Bikini Bottom had a big banner going ‘Happy Birthday Gene’.“
When asked by Lowe if Spongebob Squarepants was the most famous person he had on his mobile phone, Gallagher replied: “Certainly is man.”
Gallagher also reaffirmed past reports that his children were fans of Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz.
The video for 'The Roller' will be premiered on Channel 4 at midnight on the 10th January, and promises daredevil stunts. The band recorded the film in sub zero temperatures in Cambridgeshire in December performing in a 'Motorcycle Wall of Death', one of only two in the country, complete with motorcycle stunt riders. After the Channel Four premiere fans can watch the video here at the band's YouTube channel.
This is the third track Beady Eye have made available for fans to hear after giving away a free download of 'Bring The Light' via their website in November, and premiering a video for 'Four Letter Word' on Boxing Day on nme.com and the band's own site. The songs have been viewed over one million times since appearing on the band's site. All songs will be on 'Different Gear, Still Speeding' which is released on 28th February 2011 on Beady Eye Records.