He had a bitter split with his brother Liam that saw the end of Oasis in 2009, now Noel Gallagher is back - and he's on top form.
In a wide-ranging interview with Shuffle, Noel talks frankly about his fame, wealth, early drug-taking, being Irish, his new album...and life after Liam.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - as he calls his new band and album (out this weekend) - will play their first ever performance at Dublin's Olympia next Sunday.
"It's a little bit daunting because I've never sung for an hour-and-a-half every night before," he tells me. "I'd been doing Oasis for 20 years, so I knew I was capable of fulfilling my role in that band standing on my head.
"This will be interesting and I'll be nervous going on, but I've never had stage fright. I know I can do it and I've got a great advantage over most people - I've got f**king great songs to play. And people know my voice, so half the battle is already won."
Will he miss Liam on stage?
"I don't think about it.That was then and this is now," he responds.
Noel walked out on Oasis after a furious row with Liam before a Paris show in 2009. The gig was cancelled and it was the end of the road for the iconic British band who played Slane twice.
"I hadn't had enough of Oasis, I'd had enough of Liam," Noel says.
Whether playing Slane Castle or the Olympia, it's all the same to Noel.
"My lounge is bigger than the Olympia and it's the smallest gig I've done in 15 years, but I don't really think about it as being a big or a small venue," he muses.
His father, Tommy, and mother, Peggy, are from Meath and Mayo respectively - but Noel doesn't flaunt his Irish roots.
"There is no English blood in me, but I don't need to be wearing the green, white and gold on St Patrick's Day to prove it to anyone," he says.
"I spent summers in Ireland all through the '70s and most of the '80s, bringing in the hay with my uncles in Charlestown in Mayo. I loved it and every time I go back it just feels natural to be there."
Since those simple times in Ireland, Noel has gone on to become a British rock legend...and a multi-millionaire.
"I didn't go crazy with it (success and money) and I'll tell you why: it's because I wasn't ashamed of it," he says.
"Some people get ashamed of earning money and being successful. I look at it this way: I worked hard for it. I didn't win the pools. Everything I've ever had I've earned. F**k me, I was going to enjoy it when I got it, make no mistake about that.
"But I've never been flash. I spent a lot on drugs, though, in the early days," he says almost in a whisper."Yeah, I spent a lot of money on drugs."
Is that a regret?
"Not really, it was f**kin' great," he responds without a hint of humour.
"It's not something I would pass on to my children, mind. But I have to say I don't look back at that period and think, 'I was at my lowest and weakest then'.They were f**kin' great times believe you me.
"But there comes a point where you got to realise that this can't go on forever because then you end up like Pete Doherty or Amy Winehouse. I've got a bit too much working class pride for that.
"One day I got up and thought, 'F**k, I'm not doing this anymore'.That was it."
Were the drugs good for his creativity?
"No," Noel says. "I only wrote one album strung out on drugs and that was Be Here Now. I know it's a lot of people's favourite, but it's not mine."
Noel enjoys his notoriety. "Being famous is f**king brilliant and anyone who says otherwise is a weakling," he says.
"My level of fame is not like David Beckham's. I'm not super famous and I don't chase it. I still get public transport in London and I've not been asked for a picture once. I get the Tube every day and people are not arsed."
Noel is proud of his new album. "It will appeal to Oasis fans, but it's not stadium rock," he adds. "If I'm still doing the Olympia in 10 years time I'll know it has gone tits up."
Noel Gallagher took a cheeky swipe at his brother Liam at his first solo show since the break-up of Oasis by opening with the band's track (It's Good) To Be Free.
The guitarist, who left the Wonderwall hitmakers in 2009, celebrated his 'single' status by performing the 1994 B-side as he made his debut with new band Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday (23Oct11).
The rocker created the group after falling out with his bandmate brother Liam in a backstage bust-up prior to a gig in France two years ago (09).
But despite the acrimonious split, Gallagher relied heavily on Oasis' back catalogue throughout his live show, playing Oasis songs including Wonderwall, Supersonic and Talk Tonight between new material.
His encore also included the Oasis classics Don't Look Back In Anger, The Importance Of Being Idle and Little By Little.
The star's triumphant concert came the same day his debut solo album, titled Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, entered the U.K. album chart at number one.
In the summer of 1996 Oasis were at the peak of their career. The Gallagher brothers had been declared legends and in front of castle Knebworth they are crowning their success with the biggest double concert ever in the United Kingdom — in front of 250,000 adoring fans.
Fifteen years later Oasis have split up, brothers Liam and Noel only communicate through their lawyers and they have separate music careers. Liam has Beady Eye, and this week Noel’s first solo album is released.
“F—in hell,” Noel Gallagher swears and sighs while flipping though messages on his phone. “You can start asking your questions now.” He has been talking to the media all day and looks tired.
This is your first solo album. How has it been different recording Noel Gallagher’s high flying birds, compared to the working with Oasis?
I guess you can imagine the differences. It used to be five guys who were painting, now I’ve been alone with the brush.
What is the biggest difference writing songs when you are 30 compared to when you are 44? Have the lyrics and the music changed?
The circumstances in my life have absolutely changed, I have three kids now. And a cat. But no, I don’t think it has affected my song writing. I don’t write songs about my amazing kids — that would be a pretty boring album. I hope that whoever listens should see something of themselves in my songs.
You have said that the recording of this album reminded you of the time when you made Definitely Maybe.
Yeah, that’s right. The similarities are that this is my first solo album and that was Oasis first album. The excitement about the unknown is the same I think. We didn’t have an audience then — and I don’t have an audience now.
Will there ever be an Oasis reunion?
I doubt it. When I close my eyes I can’t see it. And when I listen to my soul I don’t want it.
Noel Gallagher knew it was time to leave his hedonistic, drug-fuelled lifestyle behind when he woke up to find his house full of strangers.
The former Oasis rocker threw himself into the rock 'n roll lifestyle after the British group first shot to fame in the 1990s, and famously blew through an estimated $1.5 million (£1 million) on drugs.
But the star reveals that the turnaround came after a wild party in 1998, when he finally had had enough of talking to random people he met during his binges.
He tells Britain's The Jo Whiley Music Show, "I got up one morning, it was in 1998, during the World Cup, and Germany were playing Italy, and there were a load of people in my house, and I didn't know any of them, carrying on the party from the night before.
"The first thing I did was I went to the fridge and got a beer, and got back on it, and then thought, 'I've done this, I've been through this', and thought that this weekend I would end up speaking to a stranger about the pyramids."
On Sunday the 23rd of October 2011, Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds embarked on their first live tour promoting their debut album of the same name, which also landed straight in at#1 in the Irish Album Charts upon release on Friday October 21st 2011. This first live concert date took place at The Olympia Theatre of Dame Street in Dublin, Ireland. The intimate Dublin venue is one of Ireland’s finest live music venues, and on this dull Sunday night, 1500 die hard fans and media moguls got to witness the ex Oasis backbone perform live for the first time on stage, to an adoring capacity crowd without the name Oasis being associated with the performance.
After a stunning live performance from Dublin rockers The Minutes – Arriving on stage at approx 9.15pm, a sturdy and confident Gallagher stepped out to work through hits from his debut offering while also, as expected, performing a wide range of classic tracks from his Oasis days. With some family and friends in the exclusive box seats waving down to the ecstatic crowd below, Noel Gallagher was delighted to be back on stage and anyone who thinks he needs his younger brother Liam to take centre stage to belt out the vocals – well, they’re wrong!
Amazing performances of Everybody’s On The Run, AKA What A Life, If I Had A Gun, Little By Little and Don’t Look Back In Anger, left the crowd with minimal or no voices afterwards, and there is no doubt that every single person in the venue will more than likely regard this gig as one of the greatest they have ever witnessed or attended.
We don’t feel the need to go into a huge detailed review of the gig itself, as we believe that fans will mainly want to know what songs were performed on the night - so here goes…
Its Good To Be Free Mucky Fingers Everybodys On The Run Dream On If I Had A Gun The Good Rebel The Death Of You And Me BRAND NEW SONG Wonderwall Supersonic 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 Dont Look Back In Anger The Importance Of Being Idle Little By Little
Shock! Horror! And other stuff. Yup folks. Manchester City stuffed Manchester United 6-1, at home yesterday. Nice. Such was the sheer joy amongst hardcore City fans that Noel Gallagher almost cracked a smile outside his Dublin hotel... We said almost...
With his Man City scarf proudly wrapped around his neck former Oasis man Noel Gallagher emerged from his City Centre hotel yesterday after watching his team batter-the-bleeding-bollix outta their arch rivals Man Utd... 6-1... Ouch.
Our Noel was on his way to his solo singer sound check over at The Olympia as he left hotel and mixed with fans. We were expecting him to come out with his top over his head with 'Up Yours Fergie!' daubed across his belly. Alas, a slight wee smile is all we got. Those Mancs eh?
In other news, Noel Gallagher's solo debut 'High Flying Birds' has gone straight to number one in the UK... Yup. Still no smiles.
It's Good To Be Free Mucky Fingers Everybodys On The Run Dream On If I Had A Gun The Good Rebel The Death Of You And Me New Song Wonderwall Supersonic I Wanna Live In A Dream In My Record Machine AKA What A Life Talk Tonite Soldier Boys And Jesus Freaks AKA Broken Arrow Half The World Away Stranded On The Wrong Beach Dont Look Back In Anger The Importance Of Being Idle Little By Little
Liam Gallagher and Paul Anka will appear on "Cover Me Canada" later today.
Gallagher, who is married to the show's host Nicole, will be an "on air special guest" in the episode.
"Cover Me Canada" features permanent judges Jordan Knight, Deborah Cox and Ron Fair. The winner gets a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract for an original single to be released by Universal Music Canada.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds: Somewhere In Between - a documentary about the making of the album airs tonight/Monday morning on Channel 4 at 12:30 (UK Only).