Noel Gallagher On How He First Played A Guitar, The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Smiths And More

A few quotes from Once in a Lifetime Sessions with Noel Gallagher' that is currently being shown on the US version of Netflix.

Noel on how he first started playing guitar.

"There was a guitar in our house that no one could ever play. It was just lent against the inside of the backdoor, and I could never understand why it was there. According to my Mam my Dad had gone out one Saturday afternoon to buy her a present for her birthday and he came back with a guitar. Which he could never play and nobody ever played it. And when I used to get grounded, I'd take the guitar upstairs and play along to Joy Division and The Sex Pistols. And I wasn't practising with the grand idea of one day of being in a band or anything like that. I was just fascinated by the music and playing along to these songs. And it wiled away the hours, you know and even to this day I can sit just pick up the guitar at home and two hours will go just like that".

Noel on The Smiths.

"All the music that I listened to was The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Smiths, The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order. It was all kind of very big guitar music, it was like guitar pop music. And I am only a sum of my influences. I didn't even invent anything. I was a lad who listened to music a lot and then played along with it and then eventually stumbled into being a songwriter. So I never invented anything the way that, you know like The Mondays invented this ramshackle fucking thing that no ones ever done since. And The Smiths were the most unique band that ever come out of England. So it wasn't like that. But the music that I listened to was very guitar orientated. So I had a little bit of an idea of what it should be like very early on. But then when the songs came it was just immense, it was just unbelievable".

I will type up some more over the next few days. 

Oasis Dominate Radio X 'Ultimate British Song' Poll

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is the ultimate British song according to Radio X listeners, in our second annual Best of British poll.

The classic 1975 single toppled Oasis’s Wonderwall off the top spot, moving up 11 places to be named the best British song of all time by Radio X listeners.

RADIO X BEST OF BRITISH TOP 20:
1. QUEEN – BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
2. OASIS – LIVE FOREVER
3. OASIS – WONDERWALL
4. OASIS – DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER
5. THE VERVE – BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY
6. OASIS – CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA
7. THE STONE ROSES – I AM THE RESURRECTION
8. ARCTIC MONKEYS – I BET YOU LOOK GOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR
9. DAVID BOWIE – HEROES
10. PULP – COMMON PEOPLE
11. DAVID BOWIE – LIFE ON MARS?
12. THE STONE ROSES – FOOL’S GOLD
13. OASIS – SLIDE AWAY
14. THE SMITHS – THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT
15. OASIS – SUPERSONIC
16. LED ZEPPELIN – STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
17. NEW ORDER – BLUE MONDAY
18. THE STONE ROSES – I WANNA BE ADORED
19. PINK FLOYD – WISH YOU WERE HERE
20. THE ROLLING STONES – GIMME SHELTER

Source: www.radiox.co.uk

Oasis, The Smiths, Ian Brown Feature In New Exhibition

The show was put together by the photographer and curator behind the Chasing The Sun: Oasis 1993-1997 exhibition in London in 2014.

The photographer behind immersive Oasis exhibition Chasing The Sun - which included a recreation of Bonehead’s living room from the cover of Definitely Maybe - is opening a new show in Manchester next week.

Lawrence Watson is transforming a brand new Salford art space for his Manchester, So Much To Answer For show, with 40 pictures of the likes of The Smiths, Oasis, Ian Brown, The Charlatans, and New Order - some very famous, others never seen before.

He’s also turning the basement in a ‘dark room’ full of photographer’s contact sheets and a cinema screen. And upstairs, there’ll be an interactive 1980s teenager’s bedroom with authentic decorations and technology from the period - and a stack of records to play.

The idea is to give context to the way Lawrence works and to the era in which many of the Manchester bands he captured were growing up and writing music.

Among the stand out images are a shot of Liam Gallagher sitting on an empty stage in Birmingham with his beer (“After I’d taken that, he said to me, ‘It’s great this touring, everywhere I go they build me a bar’,” Lawrence laughs), and Ian Brown backdropped by a Barbie pink street in Moss Side, which was painted up for an advert in 1993.

Other highlights are shots of The Smiths hanging around outside the old Albert Finney shop on Oldham Road, and Noel Gallagher waiting for a train at Union Station.

Lawrence, who left school at 16 and took an apprenticeship in a dark room on Old Street, says it was a love of music - and specifically, not being very good at playing bass - that made him want to be a photographer.

But he tried different styles first. “I was really into people like Don McCullen, and it was the time of the National Front and Britain First so I’d been taking pictures of that,” Lawrence recalls. “I was still learning, and it was a bit intimidating having 300 skinheads coming towards you.”

From photographing gigs he earned commissions with the NME, where he met The Smiths and Morrissey - who he would continue to work with as a solo artist and says had “the clearest ideas” when it came to photo shoot locations.

But he has also gone on to work extensively with Paul Weller - who pulled the cover for his final Style Council sleeve in order to get one of Lawrence’s shots on there instead.

The new gallery, Future Artists Studios at 81 Chapel Street, has been made possible by a Kickstarter campaign and the art group’s not for profit cafe space next door, Home Of Honest Coffee.

The exhibition opens for a free private view on June 9, at 6.30pm, then runs until July 18. Tickets are essential and cost £6 via the Future Artists website.

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk.

Noel Gallagher, Mark Ronson And Chris Martin Set To Headline WaterAid’s Christmas Auction

WaterAid’s Christmas auction, featuring special edition signed Q Award vinyl records from some of the country’s best-known music acts, launches on 26th November.  All the money raised from the auction will go to international charity WaterAid.

The full collection of autographed vinyl records includes: Sir Tom Jones, Noel Gallagher, Chris Martin, Foals, Gary Numan, Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Mark Ronson, Duran Duran, New Order, Roger Taylor (Queen), James Bay, Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order), Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Danny Goffey (Supergrass), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), The Libertines, Jean Michel Jarre, La Roux, Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Royal Blood, Ella Eyre, Foxes and host of the Q awards Absolute Radio’s Christian O’Connell.

Tony Iommi, the legendary lead guitarist from Black Sabbath, signed a Gibson Les Paul guitar that will also be available in the auction. He was the winner of the prestigious Gibson Les Paul Award at the Q Awards this year for his outstanding contribution to music.

All the money raised from the auction will go towards WaterAid’s winter appeal Deliver Life, giving mums and babies in the world’s poorest communities the best start in life - simply through clean water and hygiene.  Every pound bid on this auction will be doubled by the UK Government, meaning this auction can help twice as many people this Christmas.

WaterAid is the official charity of the Q Awards and is also one of the official charities of Glastonbury Festival.

WaterAid’s online Christmas auction runs on eBay from now until Sunday 6th December 2015:
www.Ebay.co.uk/wateraid

For more information about WaterAid’s Deliver Life appeal: www.deliverlife.wateraid.org

Check out the current collection and offers from Pretty Green here.

The Tapestry Announce New Single To Coincide With 'This Feeling' Shows

"This band are so great. I love the vibe, which takes me back to CBGB's in New York in the late 70s” - Chris Difford, Squeeze

"If there was ever a band to fall instantly in love with, it is The Tapestry!” - John Robb, Louder Than War

“Fucking tune!” - Liam Gallagher

Flogging pictures of a well-known children's TV presenter caning chemicals in a nightclub isn't the usual way for a band to find start up cash. Most people just get a job in a guitar shop.

“We're not too proud of it but it was worth it to start the band and buy the instruments!”

The Tapestry are from Manchester. They are Liam Faherty (vocals/guitar) Katy Baker (Bass/vocals) Dyna (Guitar/vocals) and Zara Finnegan (Drums/vocals). Their tunes are both impossibly catchy and implausibly glamorous.

It's early days, but so far the guys have got stuck in to recording their debut album with Mr. Jim Spencer (Johnny Marr, New Order and The Charlatans) and cutting their teeth live. So far they've managed to attract the approval of Liam Gallagher.

“He showed up at a London show recently, we had a chin wag backstage and he was a total gent. Later we got the 'Fucking tune!' seal of approval.”

'Right As rain' is released on April 14th 2014. Watch the brilliant video below.



Having supported The Strypes, Pete Doherty,The View, Young Knives & The Courteeners, The Tapestry are set to play 2 headline shows in April. The band will play:

11th April - Ruby Lounge, Manchester (This Feeling)
12th April - Queen of Hoxton, London (This Feeling)

Details for tickets and more club nights all around the UK can be found here.

Check out the current collection and offers from Pretty Green here.

Pretty Green Auction Exclusive Signed Gibson Guitar On eBay

Two days left at auction. 

Pretty Green currently have an auction for a signed Gibson LPJ guitar, kindly donated by Gibson Foundation. The guitar was signed by some of the acts that played the Jon Brookes memorial gig at the Royal Albert Hall, later month.

The concert featured James Dean Bradfield, Liam Gallagher and friends, members of The Vaccines and New Order, The Chemical Brothers and Dumb.

Proceeds will go to the Brain Tumour Charity in memory of Jon, click here for details.

Members Of Beady Eye, The Vaccines And The Charlatans Perform At Jon Brookes Tribute Concert

Bonehead along with members of Mumford & Sons, New Order and Manic Street Preachers joined charity celebration.

The Charlatans headlined A Night For Jon Brookes, a tribute concert for their late drummer, at London's Royal Albert Hall last night (October 18).

The evening started with Birmingham band Dumb, followed by Tim & Friends, a line-up featuring New Order's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert, Mumford and Sons' Winston Marshall, The Vaccines' Freddie Cowan and Arni Arnason, and The Pretenders' James Walbourn, with Tim Burgess on vocals.

They performed New Order's 'Love Vigilantes', The Vaccines' 'Melody Calling' and finally Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', with Burgess explaining how the band came to be. "I asked The Vaccines, but the singer was on holiday. I asked New Order, but the singer was on holiday. That wasn't going to stop us, so I said I'd sing."

Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield was up next, delivering a three-song acoustic set comprising 'Motorcycle Emptiness', 'A Design For Life' and 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next'. Speaking between songs, Bradfield said: "I don't want to get too deep because there are people here who knew Jon a lot better than I. But we met a fair few times over the years, and he was always fucking beautiful. And the boy had groove."

Liam & Friends came next, essentially Beady Eye without injured guitarist Gem Archer who, incidentally, was in the audience, walking with a crutch but otherwise looking to be in good shape. Instead of Archer, former Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs performed with the band as they ripped through Oasis songs 'Live Forever' and 'Columbia'.

Finally, The Charlatans came to the stage, with former The Verve drummer Pete Salisbury filling in for Brookes. Speaking to NME before the concert, Charlatans bassist Martin Blunt said: "There was a tour when Jon was ill and wasn't going to be able to play. We asked who he wanted to replace him, and his first choice was Pete Salisbury."

Blunt added: "There is one special song in the setlist, for Jon, but I've found since he passed that every song has taken on a new meaning. Lyrics that I never thought about before have suddenly become really poignant. The whole evening had to be a celebration. A big send-off, as well as a big thank you to everyone for their support and a chance to raise money for an under-funded charity. We've learned since Jon was ill that brain tumours are being detected a lot more, but research, care systems and funding is severely lacking."

The band's singer Tim Burgess said he'd been "amazed" by the support from musicians following Brookes's death. He said: "I'll think about Jon during every line of every song."

They began their set with 'Forever', and moved through some of their best-known songs including 'North Country Boy', 'Just Lookin'', 'The Only One I Know', 'One To Another' and 'How High'. There was also a particularly moving version of 'My Beautiful Friend', before which Burgess said: "I think we can all guess who this is for."

After 'How High', three of The Charlatans left the stage, leaving guitarist Mark Collins and keyboard player Tony Rogers with Liam & Friends, who returned for a version of George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord', dedicated by Gallagher to "Jon's missus Debbie". Finally The Charlatans returned for their traditional encore of 'Sproston Green'.

Jon Brookes passed away in August, aged 44. He was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010 and underwent several operations and treatment for the condition. Proceeds from the night went to The Brain Tumour Charity, of which The Charlatans are now patrons. The charity say more than 9,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK, with the condition being the biggest cancer killer among those under 40. The charity have also set up The Jon Brookes Fund as a lasting tribute to the drummer.

The Charlatans played:

'Forever'
'Just When You're Thinking Things Over'
'North Country Boy'
'Blackened Blue Eyes'
'Just Lookin''
'The Only One I Know’'‘Oh Vanity'
'One To Another'
'Here Comes A Soulsaver'
'My Beautiful Friend'
'Then'
'How High'
'Sproston Green’

Source: www.nme.com

Pretty Green Auction Exclusive Gibson Guitar For Jon Brookes

Pretty Green will be hosting an auction for a signed Gibson LPJ guitar, kindly donated by Gibson Foundation. The guitar will be signed by some of the acts that play the Jon Brookes memorial gig at the Royal Albert Hall, later today.

The concert features James Dean Bradfield, Liam Gallagher and friends, members of The Vaccines and New Order, The Chemical Brothers and Dumb.

Proceeds will go to the Brain Tumour Charity in memory of Jon.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the leading charity in the UK, committed to fighting brain tumours, the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s, including children.  Over 9,000 families are devastated by the diagnosis of a brain tumour every year and, unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved in the last 40 years.  Less than 2% of funding for cancer research in the UK is invested into brain tumours and The Brain Tumour Charity is determined to change this to improve survival.

Proceeds will be invested in The Brain Tumour Charity’s world-class research programme and will help to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

This is going to be a very special guitar with potentially some very exclusive signatures.

As soon as the auction goes live, I will let you know.

Noel Gallagher Pays Tribute To The Smiths On 'BBC Five Live' Later Today

Noel Gallagher to pay radio tribute to The Smiths to mark their 30th anniversary

The Burnage-born star will discuss how the influential band shaped his own musical tastes and drove him to found Oasis with brother Liam

Noel Gallagher will play tribute to iconic band The Smiths this weekend to mark their 30th anniversary.

The Burnage-born star will discuss how the influential band shaped his own musical tastes and drove him to found Oasis with brother Liam.

Gallagher will be the guest star on the BBC Radio Five’s Men’s Hour show later today which celebrates the band's emergence in 1983.

Quizzed by presenter Tim Samuels on what brother Liam’s views were on the group, the musician revealed: “He used to do impersonations of Morrissey warbling.”

Asked by the broadcaster if Liam would now consider the group ‘effeminate’, Gallagher added: “He probably doesn't know what effeminate means. I can't speak for him anymore. Thank God.”

Describing the influence of the band, Gallagher added: “Funnily enough The Smiths came along at that time when indie bands – for want of a better word – indie bands actually invented stuff.

“Like the Happy Mondays – no one had heard that kind of thing before. New Order - no one had heard their sound. The Smiths were in the middle of that.

“Bands don't do that anymore. Bands are all derived from something else.”

Describing his favourite Smiths track as Hand in Glove, Gallagher said he had wanted guitarist Johnny Marr to play on his latest album.

He added: “I was musing it over with my producer and he said what about that Johnny Marr type stuff and I said you better call him because we can't play that.”

The interview on the Men’s Hour show will be on BBC Five Live, later today) at 9pm (UK Time).

For details on the show and to listen live click here.

Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Oasis, Coldplay, Muse, Gorrillaz And More Feature In New 'War Child' Album

War Child have revealed plans to celebrate their 20th anniversary by releasing a compilation album featuring a collection of the tracks recorded for their charity albums over the past two decades.

The charity will celebrate its 20th anniversary next week and the occasion is being marked with a major exhibition, an intimate Muse show and a new compilation album, 'The Best Of War Child'. The charity are also set to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at this years' BRIT Awards.

"The compilation documents the way War Child has had this integral, credible and proud relationship with the great and good of British music," says War Child’s musical director Ben Knowles. "It's one of the most amazing stories of British music history, the incredible support that came together around War Child back in 1994 and 1995 and has continuedever since."

Released on February 18, 'The Best Of War Child' will feature tracks by Radiohead, Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Coldplay. A live version of Muse's 'Time Is Running Out' can be downloaded for free via the War Child website now.

'The Best Of War Child' tracklisting is as follows:

Smokin' Mojo Filters (McCartney, Weller, Gallagher) - 'Come Together'
Radiohead - 'Lucky'
Oasis - 'Fade Away'
Portishead - 'Mourning Air'
Massive Attack - 'Fake The Aroma'
Manic Street Preachers - 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head'
Suede - 'Shipbuilding'
Passengers (U2 and Pavarotti) - 'Miss Sarajevo'
Muse - 'House Of The Rising Sun'
The Prodigy - 'Ghost Town'
Paul McCartney - 'Calico Skies'
David Bowie - 'Everyone Says Hi (Metro Mix)'
New Order - 'Vietnam'
Coldplay - 'How You See The World No.2'
Gorillaz - 'Hong Kong'
Keane - 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'
Hot Chip - 'Transmission'
Beck - 'Leopard-Skin-Pill-Box-Hat'
Lily Allen (ft. Mick Jones) - 'Straight To Hell'
Elbow - 'Running To Stand Still'

Source: www.nme.com

Bid For A Signed Guitar From Members Of Oasis, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays And More

A guitar signed by the biggest names in Manchester's music scene is being auctioned off for charity.

Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, New Order, Happy Mondays, The Smiths and Elbow are some of the bands who have autographed it.

Named the Madchester Guitar, it is the brainchild of Adam Masters, who owns South City Music shop.

Click here to bid on the guitar or for more details.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have released International Magic Live At The O2 DVD through Sour Mash Records.

They are currently playing the US and Canada alongside Snow Patrol and Jake Bugg.

 For details on the above and more click here.

Videos: Madchester Guitar Signed By Manchester Bands Auctioned

A guitar signed by the biggest names in Manchester's music scene is to be auctioned off for charity.

The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Charlatans, New Order, Happy Mondays, The Smiths and Elbow are some of the bands who have autographed it.

Named the Madchester Guitar, it is the brainchild of Adam Masters, who owns South City Music shop.

Click here to watch a video from the BBC.



Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have released International Magic Live At The O2 DVD through Sour Mash Records.

They are currently playing the US and Canada alongside Snow Patrol and Jake Bugg.

For details on the above and more click here.

The NME Want Your Questions For Noel Gallagher!

Ever wanted to ask the ex-Oasis man something?

We're going to be hooking up with 2012 Godlike Genius Noel Gallagher soon for a quizzing session – and we want your questions for him.

The most interesting, probing, thought-provoking and funny questions will be put to the former Oasis man and we'll then print the results in a future edition of NME magazine. So leave your questions in the comments box below – and remember to include your name, age and location too or we won't be able to use it.

Noel Gallagher will be presented with the Godlike Genius Award at this year's NME Awards. The guitarist will pick up the gong at the ceremony on February 29 at London's O2 Academy Brixton.

Previous recipients of the award include last year's winner Dave Grohl, The Clash, Paul Weller, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, New Order and Joy Division.

A special collectors' issue dedicated to Noel Gallagher is coming next month. Produced by the teams behind NME and sister title Uncut, the magazine will feature Gallagher's greatest interviews, unseen photos and a competition to win albums signed by the man himself. The issue will be available on newsstands and digitally from February 2.

Source: www.nme.com

Noel Gallagher Endorses Manchester Music 'Hall Of Fame'

Smiths, Oasis, New Order and Happy Mondays are expected to feature.

Noel Gallagher and New Order's Peter Hook are among the musicians giving their support to a new hall of fame-style venue celebrating Manchester's musical history.

The hall is being set up by London-based firm 3DTwin. It will feature memorabilia from Manchester's music scene and will honour the city's most famous artists, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Smiths, The Bee Gees, Oasis, New Order, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and Take That are all expected to feature.

Speaking in support of it, Gallagher said: "Manchester has always punched above its weight musically and it's high time this was celebrated in a way that will act as an inspiration to the next generation of artists."

3DTwin founder Richard Abbot added that the building, which he hopes will be around the size of a football pitch, will include a live venue, restaurant, screenings room and mega-store. The company is currently vetting suitable venues in the city.

Source: www.nme.com

Dylan Moran: 'Oasis Were Boring'

Dylan Moran has said that Oasis were always a boring band.

The stand-up comedian told The Quietus that he much prefers the Arctic Monkeys to the now-split Manchester group.

Moran said: "The Arctic Monkeys are very witty. It's a banging tune with funny lyrics and they're having a whale of a time. What more do you want? Why does it have to be an apocalypse?

"Oasis were boring the first time around. It's reconstituted from a f**king 60s compilation. It's music for people whose idea of a good time is roaring your lungs, never remembering anything you did yesterday and trying to pick out pieces of chicken tikka masala out of your pubes."

He added of his tastes as a teenager: "I was very into New Order, Joy Division, all of that when I was younger. I had a lot of bootlegs that I saved up my pocket money to buy.

"I had all the obscure early EPs. I did throw a lot of eggs into one basket, as you do in your teenage years - 'I am buying THESE records, I am wearing THIS'. I did quite a bit of that. You have to do it, wear your stupid shoes, wear your stupid hair."

Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk

Win a limited edition 'Pretty Green' goody bag, click here for more details.

New Order Fallout: 'Like A Fat Blur And Oasis', Says Peter Hook

Peter Hook has ruled out the possibility of New Order reuniting.

Speaking to The Quietus, he revealed that it was unlikely he and former bandmate Bernard Sumner would be able to repair their fractured relationship after New Order split up two years ago.

"There is no current situation [with New Order]", he said. "We split up two years ago. For a while Bernard seemed to be a bit confused about that but now, from what I gather, he's accepted it.

"In my mind, Bernard spilt us up in '92 when he went off with Johnny Marr, and I split us up this time. All we have to wait for is when we get back together is hopefully for Stephen to split us up and we’ll all be even."

He added: "I think there would have to be a terrible lot of blood letting. It’s been very... it's been the messiest divorce I’ve ever had, let’s put it that way."

Hook also commented on the fact that his new band, Freebass, are set to go head to head with Bad Lieutenant, the group started by the remainding members of New Order.

"It’s a very strange position to be in, especially with the fact that we’ve both got records coming out together at the same time", he said.

"It’s very weird. But it’s exciting. It’s a bit like a fat version of Blur and Oasis."

Check The Quietus next week for the full interview: Freebase, Joy Division, Manchester, and more New Order.

Source: thequietus.com

Oasis at the iTunes Festival is now available to download on iTunes, for more details click here.