Mumford and Sons: 'We Don't Want To Be As Big As Oasis'

Band say they dream of a life in the countryside as 'Babel' storms the album charts.

Mumford and Sons have said they don't want to be as big as Oasis.

The band, who stormed straight into the Number One slot in this week's Official UK Album Chart with their second album 'Babel', say they don't want to get as big as bands like Oasis.

'Babel' racked up sales of 159,000 copies last week to become 2012's fastest-selling album, according to the Official Charts Company.

Speaking to NME about the band's increasing stature, multi-instrumentalist Ted Dwane said: "We don't want to be as big as Oasis! I think we’re bigger than we ever wanted to be. I don’t think we want to get any bigger now."

Mumford and Sons have also just announced a mammoth UK and Irish tour, which will see them play some of their biggest headline shows to date, including London's O2 Arena.

Speaking about their growing gig schedule, Dwane said: "We want to deserve the place that we've got to and be good to the people who've been good to us. We're interested in travelling and sharing the music with as many people as possible - there are some places where 'Sigh No More' has done quite well that we haven’t actually been yet, like Japan - but I couldn't imagine it getting any bigger really. Then again, I said that after we sold out Shepherd’s Bush Empire so who knows."

Dwane also revealed the band have little interest in living a celebrity lifestyle, preferring the calm of the country to A-list parties. He explained: "Pretty much all of our dreams sit around the countryside and having a small little bit of land to do something with. I think when that desire takes over our desires to travel and play gigs, that's probably where we'll end up. [Celebrity] holds no interest for us."

Source: www.nme.com

Noel Gallagher: I'm Cursed With Writing Big Singalongs

Noel Gallagher is "cursed" with writing anthems.

The former Oasis guitarist loved working on his debut solo album, 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' because he could work with choirs and orchestras to create a huge sound, and he thinks his writing style is most suited to singalong epics.

He told Q magazine: "Doing this, my heart lies in orchestration and choirs, more than just guitars. I always think big, I never think small. Then, as the album took off, 'Everybody's On The Run' is f***ing stadium massive and I'm arriving back at a familiar spot. Man, what do I do now? I'm cursed with writing big singalongs. I can't help it."

Noel believes Oasis' sound changed after Gem Archer and Andy Bell joined the band because they encouraged more of a "rock" direction.

He said: "Gem and Andy joined and essentially, at heart, they are indie kids. Liam [Gallagher] isn't arsed one way or the other.

"Also, I felt a bit like I'd done all that. When you've been that grandiose, calling a track 'All Around the World' and it's 11 minutes long and the reprise is four minutes... Gem said, 'No, we don't need that s**t', and we became more of a rock band."

Source: www.breakingnews.ie

Watch Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Perform 'Don't Look Back In Anger' At The Fuji Rock Festival

Below is a video of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds playing 'Don't Look Back In Anger' at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan in July.

It was recently broadcast on Japanese TV.

Brandon Flowers: Liam Gallagher Sang 'Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll' To Me

The Killers were ''buzzing'' at their first ever photoshoot.

The 'Runaway' rockers say the reality they were becoming famous hit them when they first worked with a professional photographer.

Drummer Ronnie Vannucci said: ''It was our first official photoshoot. We were buzzing at the fact we had a guy with a professional camera in front of us that had an accent.

''We still had jobs, we were working then, so it's f***ing exciting to have somebody come and take pictures of your band and talk about your music and then clock in at the same time. We did that a lot.''

Before the Las Vegas band - which also includes frontman Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning on guitar and Mark Stoermer on bass - knew it they were mingling with stars like Pet Shop Boys and Liam and Noel Gallagher.

Frontman Brandon Flowers recalled being at British magazine NME's awards show, saying: ''Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher were there.

''New Order played 'Crystal' and dedicated it to The Killers because we took our name from that song. Liam and Noel were both nice to me, and I'd been afraid of them because of the way they project in interviews. Liam sang [our track] 'Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll' to me.''


Source: bangshowbiz.com

Noel Gallagher: Oasis Will Never Reunite

Oasis will never reunite because they have nothing to achieve, according to the band's former guitarist, Noel Gallagher.

The group split in August 2009 due to the feud between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher and the guitarist thinks there is no point in them getting back together because they could never be bigger than they were at their peak.

Noel said: ''I get asked on a daily basis about a reunion and I say to people, 'To achieve what?' I can understand The Stone Roses because they're bigger now than they ever were.

''We couldn't be bigger than we were because we were the biggest thing that ever was. What do we do - three nights at [venues] Wembley? Three nights at Heaton Park? Knebworth? We already did it all. Do it again? What's the point?''

Noel believes it is more important that Beady Eye - the band formed by Liam and the remaining members of Oasis - should work on living up to the claims they made about their music when they first got together.

He added: ''They've got things to do, Beady Eye. They've got a lot of graft to do since their singer proclaimed them to be the greatest band in the f***ing world. They need to get a move on with that. I've got no desire to get into a reunion. Not even for starving children.''

Noel - who now has his High Flying Birds solo project - admits he is enjoying working alone because Liam was always so temperamental.

He told Q magazine: ''I don't get nervous, I know I can do it, and so can the other lads in the band.

''If the power goes down I can handle it. But in Oasis, that was always just bedlam. Like, 'Oh f***ing hell, how's the singer going to react to this?' It was always, 'We don't know what's going to happen here tonight.' But I know what's going to happen.''

Source: www.contactmusic.com

Win Some Prizes When You Pre-Order 'International Magic Live At The O2'

Everyone who pre-orders Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 'International Magic Live At The O2' will be entered into a competition to win a signed, personalised and framed set-list from the Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds show at the London O2 on Febraury 26th 2012.

25 Runners up win a signed artwork print, 'International Magic Live At The O2' is released on Sour Mash on October 15th.

Click here for the various formats and exclusive bundles.

Fan Gallery: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds In Taiwan

The pictures below were taken by site visitor Ashley who went to see Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at the TWinkle Rock Festival in Taiwan earlier this week.

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Gig's An Oasis For Singer Kelly

A singer from Mainstone has had the gig of a lifetime as she performed for Noel Gallagher at an after-show party.

Kelly Peffers, who juggles her singing career with playing full time mum to her two children, was contacted by a company who put on gigs and asked her to perform at the show in Bournemouth.

The 25-year-old grabbed the opportunity and said the experience was "absolutely amazing".

She said: "I was Noel's after-show party act. I had been approached by Absent Kelly, who put on gigs, to see if I would perform. I jumped at the chance."

The singer has previously performed as a support act to chart band Basement Jaxx.

Speaking after the gig, the RAF wife said: "This is the biggest gig I've ever done so far but the Basement Jaxx gig was also pretty big too.

"It was amazing; in one word it was just amazing.

"The best bit had to be being on stage and getting a standing ovation. It was very cool."

During the gig Kelly was "approached" by people who were interested in the fact she was an unsigned act.

But she was still keen to stress she remains approachable.

She added: "There's some really interesting stuff coming as a result of this. It is something I'd love to do for the rest of my life."

During her spare time, Kelly works as a trainee tattooist and is married to Craig, who works for the Royal Air Force.

Source: www.thisisplymouth.co.uk

On This Day In Oasis History...

The video below is of 'Setting Sun' by The Chemical Brothers featuring Noel Gallagher the track was released on September 30th 1996.

The song reached number one on the UK singles chart.

Fundraising Friends Get A Boost From Liam Gallagher

Liam Gallagher gave fundraising friends a boost on their 15 mile charity trek.

The Beckenham trio were expecting to see a few London icons during their night walk around the streets of central London but had not expected to bump into the rockstar.

He was celebrating his 40th at a bar with friends and family and was more than happy to pose for photos with Kate Cameron, 40, Trudi Dawson, 42, both of Clock House Road, and Kate Sidwell.

Ms Sidwell, of Durban Road, said: “We’d been walking for hours by then and were very tired, so it was a bit surreal to bump into him on the pavement outside the Whisky Mist bar.
















“He was happy to pose for a few photos with us in our Carrots t-shirts and tutus when we explained that we were taking part in the Fight for Sight Carrots NightWalk and why we were doing it.

“He was really charming and wished us luck.

“It was a nice boost and spurred us on to complete the route in good time.”

They managed to complete the walk in five hours and have so far managed to raise more than £4,500 for eye charity Fight for Sight.

Kate added: “We’re very grateful to our friends and family for helping us to raise so much money and we’ve also had support from local businesses.

“Research provides the only hope for the thousands of visually impaired children and adults in the UK and we’ll keep doing everything we can to raise vital funds for Fight for Sight.”

Go to justgiving.com/beckenhambunnies to donate to the trio and to fightforsight.org.uk for more information about the charity.

Source: www.thisislocallondon.co.uk

Noel Gallagher Likes Bad Reviews

Noel Gallagher likes reading bad reviews of other people's bands, as well as the insults his brother Liam aims at him in the music press.

The High Flying Birds frontman enjoys the British music press when they are at their most brutal, especially when it's not one of his own projects they are writing about.

He told NME magazine: ''I tell you what's nice is reading s**t reviews of other band's records. You read it and go, 'Yes. You f***ers! Let's have a laugh at that.'

''I'm not gonna say who, because they're f***ing friends of mine, but there was a really brutal one a while back, and I was like, 'Yeah, true that.'''

Source: www.contactmusic.com

On This Day In Oasis History...

The Shock Of the Lightning" is a song by British rock band Oasis and is the fourth track from the band's seventh studio album Dig Out Your Soul. The song was released as the first single from the album on 29 September 2008. It received its first airplay on 15 August 2008 on multiple UK and Irish radio stations including the Ian Dempsey Breakfast show on Today FM in Ireland, BBC 6 Music by Shaun Keaveny, and by Chris Moyles on BBC Radio 1. Chris was joined by Noel Gallagher on the 15 August 2008.

Noel said of the song: "If 'The Shock of the Lightning' sounds instant and compelling to you, it’s because it was written dead fast. And recorded dead fast. 'The Shock of the Lightning' basically is the demo. And it has retained its energy. And there’s a lot to be said for that, I think. The first time you record something is always the best”. It was described by NME as "a massively improved version of 'It's Gettin' Better (Man!!)'" and featuring "love is a litany/a magical mystery" as the song's chorus.

The single is the first Oasis song to feature a remix on a studio release. The B-side is a remixed version of the album track "Falling Down" by The Chemical Brothers, who Noel has worked with in the past. However, a promo release of Oasis' cover of "Cum On Feel the Noize" contained the "Lynchmob Beats Mix" of "Champagne Supernova" by Brandon Lynch that was also re-released as a stand alone promo for Stop the Clocks. Consequently this is their first official CD single release that does contain a new track as a B-side.

On 30 July 2008, the official Oasis website posted a Dig Out Your Soul trailer which contained a 23 second clip of the intro to "The Shock of the Lightning" as well as a 20 second clip of the drum solo. On 15 August 2008, the song received it first airplay on the The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 with Noel Gallagher present. Noel said of the song on Shaun Keaveny's Radio 6 show, "It's a driving, pumping, pop, rock 'n' roll masterpiece". In NME, the song was named as 'song of the week' and received a score of 9/10, despite being referred to as "only the fifth best song on Dig Out Your Soul".




















"The Shock Of The Lightning" entered the UK Singles Chart at #3, becoming the band's first lead single since their debut, "Supersonic", to fail to reach #1 in their homeland. However the song reached #12 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in the USA, making it their most successful single there since "Don't Go Away", which peaked on the chart at #5 in 1998. It also reached #93 on the Billboard Hot 100, their first song to chart on the Hot 100 since "Don't Look Back in Anger" in 1996.



Music video

The music video for the song (directed by Julian House and Julian Gibbs) debuted on the band's official site on 25 August at 17:30 (UK time) and was broadcast on Channel 4 at 23:40. The video depicts Liam singing and the occasional appearance of the rest of the band, intercut with stock footage related to the album's artwork. The opening shot of the video of silhouetted heads is a reference to the cover of the Rolling Stones compilation record Hot Rocks 1964-1971.

Track listing

All songs written by Noel Gallagher.

CD / 7"
"The Shock of the Lightning", 5:02
"Falling Down" (Chemical Brothers remix), 4:32

iTunes / Oasisinet exclusive bundle
"The Shock of the Lightning", 5:02
"Falling Down" (Chemical Brothers remix), 4:32
"The Shock of the Lightning" (music video)

Andy Bell On Beady Eye, Oasis And More

Taken from an interview with Andy Bell from Drowned In Sound, read the full interview here.

DiS: What are you up to at present and how are the new songs shaping up? 

Andy Bell: We're still at the writing stage and then recording a few demos from what we have. We've been making demos for pretty much the whole of this year. It's always good to have far too much music before going into the studio and beginning the actual recording process .

DiS: Are you heavily involved in the writing process with Beady Eye?

Andy Bell: Me, Liam (Gallagher) and Gem (Archer) are all equal partners when we're writing, which means we all get to make sure none of us has a song that sounds too much like "me" - in the collective sense of the word. It's a good way of working because it means none of us have our individual stamp on anything we do. It's all about what's best for Beady Eye.

DiS: You've recently started incorporating Oasis songs into your live set with Beady Eye. Is this something you intend to do on a regular basis for the foreseeable future?

Andy Bell: I'd say it's something we'll definitely do again, yes. The reason we didn't play Oasis material from the outset was because we wanted Beady Eye to create its own identity. So when we started touring around the world we wanted to get everyone that came to our shows used to the idea that we are a new band, and not just a continuation of the old one, even though when you come and see Beady Eye we look pretty much like Oasis on stage. Except Noel's (Gallagher) not there.

DiS: Are you pleased with how everything's turned out for Beady Eye so far?

Andy Bell: Yeah, it's been cool.

DiS: Was there ever a time when you were in Oasis where you approached Liam or Noel with the intention of making a record in a similar vein to what you did with Ride?

Andy Bell: Well, no not really, not in so many words, but I think Noel definitely appreciates all that music. He likes a lot of the bands from that era. I know back in '93/'94 when Oasis first broke he was quoted in the press as saying his band were going to blow away all this shoegazing crap or whatever - not those exact words but that was the implication - yet that was never their ethos themselves. Noel definitely had a lot of time for me. He was a bigger shoegazer than me! He was always staring down at a pedal with Oasis, and he got a really good guitar sound from his pedals. It was right in that category with Nick McCabe or John Squire or myself, in that world of sound where we're all heavy on delays and distortion. In a lot of ways, those first Oasis demos that I heard from Alan McGee reminded me of The Jesus & Mary Chain. Some of the songs off the first album like 'Bring It On Down', they weren't singles but formed an integral part of the live set, to me anyway sounded like the Mary Chain. I mean, I don't even know if they'd heard of The Jesus & Mary Chain at that point. They were just doing their own thing, but to me they had a lot of that element to them.

DiS: How did working with Noel and Liam compare with what you'd been used to in the past? Did it seem strange going from being the main songwriter and focal point with both Ride and Hurricane #1 to being the bass player in what was essentially their band?

Andy Bell: Working with the Gallaghers was brilliant. They're both very different yet in some ways quite similar, and also very appreciative for what I was bringing to their band. I wasn't bringing much other than playing bass on their songs to start with, but they knew and liked what I'd done before.

DiS: Your arrival seemed to coincide with the band releasing possibly their best two records since Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory in Heathen Chemistry and Don't Believe The Truth.

Andy Bell: I'm a big fan of Don't Believe The Truth. It was definitely the best record Oasis made during the time I was with them.

DiS: Do you ever see Noel and Liam burying their differences, reforming Oasis and working together again?

Andy Bell: I'd love it to happen. I think that life's too short for it not to happen. But, in reality, do I see it happening? At this point, no I don't. The matter rests entirely with the two brothers. It probably should happen at some point but if they can't make it happen, no one should force them to.

DiS: Obviously when Oasis split up, Noel went his own way and the rest of you formed Beady Eye. What made you choose to work with Liam rather than Noel? Was it something that just fell into place?

Andy Bell: It just fell into place like that really. When Mark decided to leave Ride we initially thought about carrying on. But because it had been the original four, and then it would have been three, we just felt it would have been impossible to carry it on. But then who knows what would have happened in a parallel universe? We could have just carried on with what we were doing and wait to see if Mark came back but that never happens. You tend to make snap decisions in the moment of crisis I guess, and then you have to live with them. Your life is then laid out in a certain way as a result. That's what happens; in certain times of your life you have to go with one big choice or the other.

DiS: I guess it's better to look forwards rather than keep wondering what might have been.

Andy Bell: The brave choice is always go forward.

Source: drownedinsound.com

Setlist: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds In Taiwan

Below is the setlist for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at the Twinkle Rock Festival at Taipei Show Hall II, in Taiwan earlier today.

(It's Good) To Be Free
Everybody's On The Run
Dream On
If I Had A Gun
The Good Rebel
The Death Of You And Me
Freaky Teeth
Supersonic
D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?
(I Wanna Live In A Dream In My) Record Machine
AKA... What A Life!
Talk Tonight
Soldier Boys And Jesus Freaks
AKA... Broken Arrow
Half The World Away
(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach
Let The Lord Shine A Light On Me
Whatever
Little By Little
Don't Look Back In Anger

Noel Gallagher: 'I Buy NME When Liam's On The Front So I Can Read Him Slagging Me Off'

High Flying Birds man says his brother doesn't 'like anyone very much'.

Noel Gallagher has revealed that he buys NME whenever his brother Liam is on the front cover – so he can find out how his old bandmate has been "slagging" him off.

Speaking in this week's 60th anniversary special collector's edition of the magazine, the High Flying Birds man said that it had amused him to read the verbal attacks launched against him by his former Oasis cohort.

When asked if he still bought the magazine, Gallagher – who claimed earlier this month that he wouldn't reform Oasis even if "all the staving children in the world depended on it" - replied:I buy NME when Liam's on the front – 'cos I know he'll be slagging me off.He went on to add: "There was one point when Beady Eye was out, but I wasn’t doing anything, and Liam was on the cover of NME every few weeks, basically saying, 'Noel's a cunt.'

"I'd go into the newspaper shop and me two Asian mates, they'd be reading it under counter," he continued. "'You come for this?' I'd see them wincing: 'It's not a good one…' 'I know.' 'I don’t think he likes you very much.' 'Yeah, I don't think he likes anyone very much.'"

Gallagher is just one of the eight iconic cover stars on this week's special collectors issue, with his younger sibling Liam, Arctic Monkeys, Patti Smith, John Lydon, Manic Street Preachers, The Killers and Paul Weller completing the set.

Inside, all eight cover stars reflect on their relationship with NME over the last 60 years – the high times, low times and all the hilarious moments. It's also packed with interviews from Kasabian, Green Day, Biffy Clyro and Beth Ditto talking through their favourite ever NME covers.

It also includes a free copy of the first ever issue of the magazine. The issue, which was published in 1952, features all the biggest stars from the era, including Vera Lynn, Alan Dean and Heath and Hylton, plus the big debate on whether two-beat Dixieland music rules over four-beat Big Band.

It's also packed with timely news coverage – including an exclusive story announcing that the Government would soon introduce commercial radio in Britain for the first time. Plus the hottest new music tips – including a certain "sexy singer from America" – future Amy Winehouse collaborator Tony Bennett.

Source: www.nme.com

Another Sneak Peek At Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds New Live DVD

Click here to watch AKA.. What A Life by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, It is taken from International Magic Live At The O2 - the new live DVD - Released 15th October 2012.

Pre-order it now from: www.noelgallgher.com

International Magic Live At The O2 includes more than one and half hours of footage and comes with a bonus disc featuring an acoustic set from Noel live at The Virgin Mobile Mod Club, Toronto, the 'Ride The Tiger' video trilogy and footage from the NME Awards 2012.

Liam Gallagher Likes To Annoy His Dogs, Kids, Wife And Mother

The Beady Eye singer likes to torment his pet pooches by taking out their leads and making them believe he's going to take them for a walk.

The antagonistic musician winds them up so much the canines can't control their bodily functions - and then he doesn't take them out for a run.

He jokingly told NME magazine: ''I like winding me dogs up. I just stand there with the lead, shaking it for f***ing ages until they're sh***ing and p***ing all over the floor. And I'm stood there going, 'Walkies!' Then I sit back down again.''

Liam, 40, doesn't just like to antagonize his pets, he also likes to pester his kids - sons, Lennon and Gene - his wife, All Saints star Nicole Appleton, and his mother Peggy.

He added: ''I like winding me kids up, I like winding me mum up, I like winding me missus up.''

Although Liam says he likes to ''wind up'' his mutts, who include a Dachshund called Ruby Tuesday, the former Oasis frontman is an avid dog lover.

The 'Wonderwall' singer previously donated a classic Epiphone Casino guitar adorned with his signature to be auctioned for PUP AID - a charity which raises money for the Dogs Trust, Kennel Club Charitable Trust and the Oldies Club.

Source: www.divine.ca