Noel Gallagher Responds To Liam's Westlife Jibe

Noel Gallagher has responded to his brother Liam's taunt that he looks like a member of Westlife by saying that he doesn't mind as long as he doesn't look like Louis Walsh.

Back in 2011, Liam told music magazine Q, “Noel said we had a year to come up with a band name and came up with Beady Eye. He had three and came up with the High Flying Turds. I don’t know who dressed him but he looks like something out of Westlife.”

Speaking to Jenny Greene and former Westlife member Nicky Byrne on 2fm earlier today, Noel said: "Our Liam said that? Which member of Westlife? I'm trying to remember all your little faces - as long as it's not Louis Walsh!"

Inevitably, Noel, who releases Chasing Yesterday, the second album with High Flying Birds, next March, was also asked if constant rumours about an Oasis reunion annoy him.

"It annoys me about as much as when I'm introduced to people as Liam, which happens on a regular basis so it's just part of my life now. I just have to answer questions about it every day.

"I was a party the other night and loads of posh people were going, `Liam! How are you doing?' It's a common occurrence but there is no Oasis reunion. It's annoying when some people refer to it as `the Oasis reunion' as if it's some kind of definite thing that's going to happen. It's not on the cards."

Noel added: "It's got nothing to do with my brother. Creatively, I don't think I could take a backward step now. It's got nothing to do with Liam. Me and Liam are well beyond that now. It's not like I wouldn't do it because of our kid, we're on good terms.

"At the minute from where I sit now it's purely a creative thing. I really, really enjoy where I am with my music and where I am with my band and my thing when I take it on tour. I wouldn't be willing to give that up for anything."

However, asked if he'd rather wear a Manchester United shirt or reform Oasis, Noel said: "I'd rather reform Oasis than wear a Man Utd shirt. I wouldn't do that, not even if I was mentally disturbed."

Source: www.rte.ie

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Noel Gallagher On Paying Taxes, Westlife Euro 2012 And More

Noel Gallagher has been one of the most outspoken voices in British music for the best part of two decades. Never one to hold his tongue or any range of subjects, Noel was in town this week to play support to the Red Hot Chili Peppers in a bumper show at Croke Park. While there, Noel called a press conference to announce details of an upcoming double-headliner gig with Kasabian in Marlay Park on August 23rd next but seemed more intent on discussing other matters, like playing a GAA game in Croke Park as a child, the possibilities of an Oasis reunion and Ireland's performance in Euro 2012.

Have a peep at the highlights below.

On playing in Croke Park in 1983
Someone's just given me a photograph of it actually. I remember I scored, I scored a point. We got hammered, but I scored. I can't remember at which end.

On what happened to his GAA career
I'd gone as far as I could take that team. It was decided that I'd be better off in the music business. I'm not an athlete, too much hard graft goes into that. [My brothers] all played too. I enjoyed it at the time; I've got to say, until smoking, drinking, birds and drugs take over. Football goes out the window then, doesn't it? Just watching football is hard enough.

How did Noel end up playing at Croke Park?
The Irish community in Manchester has lots of Gaelic football teams and we played for one. We were the champions of Lancashire for years, from U-14s right through to U-18s and we came over here to play an Irish team and we got leathered.

We stayed with the other team's families. It's funny actually, I was in Australia in January doing The Big Day Out and I bumped into an Irish guy and he was about my age. "Were you in Dublin..." and he gave the dates of the GAA game...and he said his mam and dad had a picture of me. I must have stayed at their house. They often wondered if it was the same guy! I said, yeah that was me. Apparently I used to eat a lot of Weetabix, hence the fairly successful career since.

On what position he played
Oh I've no idea. I can't even remember what the positions are. I would have been some goal-hanging twat I would have thought.

On following Gaelic Games
My older brother Paul follows Mayo. If I knew [the All Ireland Final] was on I'd probably watch it but nobody would tell. I've seen a few down the years, it's quite exciting. I'm not too into hurling. Fuck that, it's like gang warfare innit?

On if his kids want to be rock stars
Who doesn't want to be a rock star? If that's what they want to do, but I've assured them that they're not going to be as good as me.

On what he's like around the house
I think I'm brilliant; my wife thinks I'm useless. I'm sure it's like any other relationship that anyone else has with their wife. I don't do a great deal. I don't have a shed, I don't do any whittling. Do I do the ironing? Good lord, no. I've got staff for that. Although I shouldn't refer to the wife as 'staff'.

On artist tax exemptions in Ireland
I'm a bit uncomfortable with that. There's only so much money you can earn. Nobody likes paying 50% tax but if that's the way it is, it's the way it is. I wouldn't ever go and see my accountant and try to squirrel away a few bob here and there. For what?

On how much tax he pays
Me? Well I sorted that out with Tony Blair in the 90's, I don't have to pay anything (laughs).

On Liam Gallagher and the possibility of an Oasis reunion
I texted him at Christmas, after the City match. I don't think [a reunion] is going to happen. It would be great for everybody else except me. I would be great for millions and millions but I wouldn't be very happy about it. I was in Oasis for nearly 20 years. I've been doing this, what I'm doing now, for one year. I'd like to see what it's like to do it for a lot longer.

I spoke to Gem (Archer, formerly of Oasis now of Beady Eye) recently, not about that, but nobody ever brings it up with any seriousness. Liam does publicly, but he says a lot of things publicly. I wouldn't take anything he says seriously.

On Ireland at Euro 2012
Why is everyone being so hard on the team. They played Spain and Italy, two of the semi-finalists - one of them is going to win it. You're lucky to get a kick off Spain, let alone a goal. If you look at it in the cold light of day neither England nor Ireland have good enough players to win tournaments like this.

On whether or not he was sad to see the end of Westlife
Why, what's happened? They've not been killed, have they?

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds will play a double-headliner with Kasabian at Marlay Park on August 23rd. Tickets on sale from Friday, priced at €49.50. Support is from The Cribs.

Source: entertainment.ie

Noel Gallagher Is On Song As He Takes On Roy Keane, 'Crazy' Hurling... And Westlife

He described hurling as "gangwar with sticks" and dismissed Westlife calling it a day as "hardly The Beatles breaking up".

But, strangely, lifelong Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher was full of praise for former Manchester United legend Roy Keane yesterday, describing him as "one of the best five players the Premier League ever had".

The 45-year-old was speaking at Croke Park yesterday, ahead of his gig supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers last night, and revealed plans for a joint headliner with Kasabian in Marlay Park on August 23.

It's not often you hear disparaging comments about Gaelic sports at a press conference in GAA headquarters but there was no stopping former Gaelic schoolboy footballer Noel.

Revealing that his elder brother Paul still followed the Mayo team, Mr Gallagher said: "I've seen a few matches here over the years.

"It's a great game and quite exciting but hurling ? F*** that. That's like gang war with sticks. I'm not too sure about that. Any sport where you have to wear a helmet is wrong," he said.

The former Oasis guitarist was returning to Croke Park for the first time in nearly 30 years after scoring on the hallowed pitch in 1983 as part of a visiting Manchester side Oisin's.

"It's all done up now. I'm not sure there was even seats. I scored a point but I can't remember at which end," he said, recalling the match against local side, Kilmacud Crokes.

The future rock 'n' roll star had stayed with the family of one of the players from Kilmacud on that visit in April 1983 and was reminded of that weekend in the capital when he met an Irish fan while on tour in Australia in January this year.

"I was out shopping in Melbourne when I bumped into this Irish guy about the same age. He asked me had I been in Dublin on a particular date," he said.

"I said 'Yes I had. He told me his Mam and Dad in Dublin had a picture of me when I must have stayed in their house. They had often wondered over the years if it was me, the same Noel Gallagher . . . apparently I used to eat a lot of Weetabix," he said.

Describing how he hung up his GAA boots and started a rock band, he joked: "I had gone as far as I could. It was decided, that I would be better off in the music business. I enjoyed it at the time.

"I was still at school, then quickly after school, the smoking and drinking take over. Playing football goes out the window. Anyway I'm not an athlete, too much hard graft goes into that," he said.

Despite being a fanatical fan of Manchester City, he went on to reveal how he rates Keane of rivals Manchester United as one of his favourite all time players.

"He is easily one of the top five players that the Premier League has ever had. I thought he was a great player for United. If only England had Roy Keane now, they would win games. He was the one player who could take a game by the scruff of the neck and bully his teammates from three goals down to win. He was immense," said Gallagher.

Asked about the Corkman's comments on Irish fans singing as their side was losing, he added: " Roy is pure comedy. He should take over the Ireland job if he thinks he can do it better than anyone else.

"I've never met him but he probably hates me like everybody else," he said.

The star claimed to be unaware Westlife ended their 14-year career with farewell gigs in Croke Park last Saturday night.

"Westlife, have they been killed? What, they've split up ? Well, it's hardly The Beatles breaking up? They've split up, good, brilliant -- there'll be a party tonight so," he joked.

Tickets for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Kasabian co-headliner in Marlay Park go on sale this Friday at 9am and are priced at €49.50.

Source: www.independent.ie