Noel Gallagher

Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born: ) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis. After formerly leaving Oasis, he formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. He is one of the most successful songwriters in British music history, as the writer of eight UK number-one singles and co-writer of a further number one, as well as the sole or primary writer of ten UK number-one studio albums. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential songwriters in the history of British rock music, cited by numerous major subsequent artists as an influence.
== Content ==
Noel Gallagher began playing the guitar at the age of twelve, and became a roadie and technician for Inspiral Carpets when he was 21. He learnt that his younger brother Liam had joined a band called the Rain, which eventually became Oasis; Liam invited him to join the group as manager. After rejecting the offer, Gallagher agreed to join the band, on the condition that he would take creative control of the group and become its sole songwriter and lead guitarist.
The band's debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994), was a widespread critical and commercial success. Their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), reached the top of the album charts in many countries, and their third studio album, Be Here Now (1997), became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. Britpop eventually declined in popularity, and Oasis failed to revive it, though their final two albums, Don't Believe the Truth (2005) and Dig Out Your Soul (2008), were hailed as their best efforts in over a decade. In August 2009, following an altercation with his brother, Gallagher announced his departure from Oasis. He went on to form Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, with whom he has released four studio albums.
Oasis's career has been marked by turbulence, especially during the peak of Britpop, during which Gallagher was involved in several disputes with Liam; their conflicts and wild lifestyles regularly made tabloid headlines. The band notably had a rivalry with fellow Britpop band Blur. Gallagher himself has often regarded as a pioneer and spearhead of the Britpop movement. Many have praised his songwriting, with Beatles producer George Martin calling him "the finest songwriter of his generation". Conversely, he was voted the most overrated guitarist of the last millennium in a 1999 poll, and the ninth-most-overrated ever in a 2002 listener survey. He cited being named the most overrated guitarist of the last millennium as the accolade he most enjoyed receiving. His YouTube channel features content relating to his music career as a solo artist with the High Flying Birds, and features album tracks, music videos and interviews.https://www.youtube.com/@NoelGallagher
Gallagher is the primary songwriter in Oasis, and the sole songwriting contributor on the group's first three albums. He is often criticised for the praise he gives to his own songs. He has often been accused by critics of plagiarising the music of his heroes, but he has maintained that outright homages in his music are intentional. Though naturally left-handed, Gallagher plays guitar right-handed, which he said is the only thing he can do with his non-dominant hand. Gallagher has said he sometimes does not understand his own lyrics. He has stated that he is dyslexic, which slows down the process of his songwriting, and that he can neither read nor write music notation.
Gallagher's role as a chief songwriter for Oasis changed over time as he allowed a greater level of lyrical input from the other band members. Standing on the Shoulder of Giants included Oasis' first-ever album track written by his brother Liam. Heathen Chemistry included a further three tracks by Liam (including "Songbird"), one by Gem Archer, and one by Andy Bell. The album Don't Believe the Truth featured another three tracks by Liam (one of them, "Love Like a Bomb", co-written with Archer), one from Archer, and two from Bell. The latter two albums have been greeted with increasing critical and commercial success in the UK, particularly Don't Believe the Truth. The second single from Don't Believe the Truth, "The Importance of Being Idle", became the second Oasis track sung by Noel to top the UK charts and was named 2005's finest track by Q magazine, as well as being nominated for the NME's "Best Song of 2005" award. On the final Oasis albums, Noel's increasing role as lead singer, apparently to compensate for his diminished role as songwriter, caused some tension with Liam.
Gallagher is well known for his controversial and outspoken statements in the press; he acknowledged his tendency for faux pas in the song "My Big Mouth" on the album Be Here Now. He has defended himself, saying, "People think [I'm] controversial for the answers [I] give to silly questions in interviews, but ... I'm not thinking about insulting people; I say what I genuinely feel is in my heart. My conscience is clean, d'you know what I mean? Y'know, I'm true to myself—fuck everybody else."
== Relationship with Liam ==
The Gallagher brothers have a tumultuous relationship, and one of their arguments was even released on the 1995 bootleg single "Wibbling Rivalry". Although their relationship had stabilised in later years, there were a handful of incidents during the band's early career where the two physically attacked each other. At a Los Angeles show during their first American tour in 1994, Liam took to changing the words of the songs so that they were offensive to both Americans and Noel. An argument after the show which led to a chair being thrown and a fight breaking out caused Noel to leave the tour and head for Las Vegas, and he later said he had "visions of Fear and Loathing flashing in [his] eyes". During recording sessions for (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, the brothers had a violent fight involving a cricket bat when Liam invited everyone from a local pub into the studio while Noel was trying to work. In 1995, Noel sang "Wonderwall" on Later... with Jools Holland when Liam failed to turn up.
In 1996, Noel provided lead vocals at a performance for MTV Unplugged when Liam backed out minutes before the set was due to start. Liam claimed to have been struck down with a "sore throat", but the band later found out that Liam did not like performing acoustically. Noel was further annoyed when Liam proceeded to heckle him from the balcony and "nurse his sore throat" with beer and cigarettes while the band performed. Just before the band were about to board a plane to the United States for a big tour, Liam left the airport, claiming he had to find a house for his then-wife Patsy Kensit. He later joined the band for their last few gigs and the infamous MTV Awards performance, while the remaining dates were scrapped.
While on tour in Barcelona in 2000, Oasis were forced to cancel a gig when Alan White's arm seized up, and the band spent the evening drinking instead. Liam made a crude remark about Gallagher's then-wife Meg Mathews and attempted to cast doubt over the legitimacy of his daughter Anaïs, causing Noel to headbutt him. Following this, he declared he was quitting overseas touring, but returned for an Oasis gig in Dublin on 8 July 2000. During the performance, the two brothers shook hands at the end of "Acquiesce".
Liam once stated that he did not speak much with Noel and that they "don't really have a relationship". During the final tour, the only time that they ever spoke directly was when onstage. Noel would later reveal that while they were in Oasis, the two "never hung out together outside of the band, ever".
The relationship between the two brothers again became strained throughout 2009, eventually leading to a last-minute cancellation of an Oasis concert scheduled to take place on 28 August in Paris due to an "altercation within the group". Later that evening, Gallagher confirmed he had left Oasis as he "simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer". Through the Oasis website, he said, "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight." On 29 August, he expanded further on his blog: "The level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. And the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new."
When asked in 2012 about his brother and an Oasis reunion, Noel said, "I last texted Liam at Christmas after the City match. I don't think it's gonna happen. It would be great for everyone else except me. It'd be mega for the millions and millions and for everybody else it would be brilliant, but I wouldn't be very happy about it. I guess you don't know what you're gonna feel like in 20-odd years but right now, I mean I was in Oasis for nearly 20 years. I've been doing what I'm doing now for one year and I'd like to see what it's like to do it for longer. I don't think anyone is pushing for a reunion either. Nobody ever brings it up in any seriousness; I mean Liam does publicly but he says a lot of things publicly. I wouldn't take anything he says seriously." After their performance of "Wonderwall" at the London Olympics Closing Ceremony, which Noel had originally turned down, he referred to Liam's band Beady Eye as "Stratford's finest Oasis tribute band".
In December 2017, during an interview with an Australian newspaper, Liam claimed that he and Noel had declared a "truce". In February 2018, Liam revealed that the truce did not happen and that it was just "in his head" after "a couple of drinks". In a 2019 interview in Norwegian-Swedish talk show Skavlan, Noel said that Liam was spreading a false rumour online that Oasis would get back together if Noel's wife would let him, and that she was receiving lots of abuse because of it. In 2024, the brothers announced that they will reform Oasis for a tour starting the following year.
== Quotes ==
* Actually, me and Our Kid [aka Liam Gallagher] are just using this band as a stepping stone for our double act on the Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as comedians, cheers!
* Just because you sell lots of records it doesn't mean to say you're any good. Look at Phil Collins.
* I wasn't put on this earth to amass money or personal wealth. I was put on this earth to play guitar and write songs.
* I'm proud of my Irish background. That's where I get my sense of humour from.
* There was a big hole in my life after The Jam split up and then came The Smiths. They were just so different from anything else. And they had great songs!
* Politics is like football for me. Labour is my team and even if you don't like a striker you don't give up supporting the whole team.
* You pick up your guitar, you rip a few people's tunes off, you swap them around a bit, get your brother in the band, punch his head in every now and then, and it sells.
* We dragged English guitar music out of the gutter.
* Once I got sort of quite good then it was "sit down, take a deep breath and attempt to copy The Beatles", which is very difficult, although I have to say I've mastered it to a tee.
* Phil Collins sold five times as many records as I did. Does that make him nearly as influential as I am? Nope.
* Cat Deeley bands, that's what The Flaming Lips and The Darkness are. But nothing against Cat Deeley, I'm sure she's a very nice girl.
* [remarking about the old kids TV show You and Me (1974)] Liam knows a version of that, It's called Me and Me.
* I envy drummers. It must be the ultimate to sing and play drums at the same time. Phil Collins, no wonder he's so fucking happy.
* I'm a great songwriter, but I'm not the most talented musician.
* I was playing guitar before I heard The Beatles, but as I got older and listened to their tunes I realised they were amazing. They inspire me more now than they did when I was a kid and are still the greatest.
* [on recording a solo album] I'll do one eventually as life's too short and none of us is getting any younger. I'd like to make one while I still look good and before I look like Phil Collins, which, eventually, I will.
* I don't get the Britney (Britney Spears) thing. I certainly don't get the *NSYNC, the Robbie Williams or the Gorillaz thing. There's a lot of things I don't get.
* Kylie Minogue is just a demonic little idiot as far as I'm concerned. She gets cool dance producers to work with her for some bizarre reason, I don't know why. She doesn't even have a good name. It's a stupid name, Kylie, I just don't get it.
* I fucking despise hip hop. Loathe it. Eminem is a fucking idiot and I find 50 Cent the most distasteful character I have ever crossed in my life. It's so negative. Eminem's new song about his kid - isn't it the most ridiculous piece of music you have ever heard in your life? I just don't like the dragging women around on dog leads and all that stuff. I'm not fucking having that. I'm not saying they're directly responsible but that's how you end up with these fucking gangs of youths with hoods stabbing people. I'm not saying they need to sit around listening to 'All You Need is Love'. But kids are so fucking thick these days that they are very easily influenced, aren't they?
* The boy bands of the day such as Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran could all play their instruments. It's so far removed from the bands of today like Westlife and Boyzone, who are utter shit. I am not a fan of Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet, but now there is pop music and alternative music and there is nothing in between the two.
* I'm not sure about this Live 8 (2005) thing. Correct me if I am wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the G8 is on a quick 15-minute break at Gleneagles and sees Annie Lennox singing "Sweet Dreams" and thinks, "Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know." It's not going to fucking happen, is it? Keane doing "Somewhere Only We Know" and some Japanese businessman going: "Aw, look at him, we should really fucking drop that debt, you know." It's not going to happen, is it?
* [on London's O2 Arena] Any gig you can get to by boat that hasn't got a beach is wrong.
* The scumbags are taking over the streets. I don't know what David Cameron and Gordon Brown are going to do about it. It all goes back to the Thatcher (Margaret Thatcher) years. It sounds like a cliché but that's when the rot set in.
* We like annoying people. It's a Manchester thing. It's a trait. We just like pissing people off.
* Phil Collins knows he can't say anything about me because I'm the fucking bollocks and that's the thing that does his head in, and the fact that he's bald.
* [on Keane] Traditionally speaking, the three biggest twats in any band are the singer, the keyboardist and the drummer. I don't need to say anything else.
* I fucking love U2 and I always have done - I love the size of that band. Whether you like them or not, you cannot deny that U2 have written some great fucking songs. People will not accept that Bono is sincere - in this cynical age, they think he's really just a c**t. But he's not.
* Domestically, whatever Blair (Tony Blair) did will be overshadowed by Iraq and the weapons of mass destruction. But they brought in the minimum wage and for that alone it was worth it.
* It would be with a heavy heart that I became a tax exile, but then again if you're earning a pound and somebody's taking 98 pence of it, what's the point?
* We went to see them (Spinal Tap) in Carnegie Hall. He (Liam Gallagher) loved the film and thought they were a real band.
* People fucking hate Phil Collins, and if they don't - they fucking should.
* [on breaking up his act with brother Liam, who had threatened him] It was a really unnecessary violent act, and he was swinging his guitar around and nearly took my face off with it. He doesn't like me, in a violent way. I don't get on with him, but he takes it to a *new* level. There's no point in being in a band with people you fight with. I kind of did everybody a favor.
* [on winning NME's Godlike Genius Award in 2012] I would like to thank NME for bestowing upon me such a great accolade. I have dreamt of this moment since I was 43 years old. I accept that I am now a genius, just like God.
* Madonna was hardcore. She took it to the edge musically as well as everything else. Twenty years from now, will we listen to Lady Gaga? No. She might think she is making a stand for the freaks and the weirdos but they're not going to have any decent fucking music to play are they?
* [on Lady Gaga] It's all about the meat suit and the controversy. Is it about the music? Really? She's got the publicity side sorted out, but where's the fucking music?
* [onstage at the 1996 BRIT Awards, when Michael Hutchence presented Oasis with the 'Best Video' trophy] Has-beens shouldn't be presenting awards to gonna-bes.
* We're going to do a live album when I run out of ideas for songs, or if Liam starts writing Oasis songs (ha ha ha).
* Writing songs, that's what gets me going. Not the drugs or the sex or the rock'n'roll behavior, it's the music.
* [on the worst possible psychological torture] Being sat beside Liam on a 15-hour flight. It happened just the once, going to Japan or somewhere. It's just horrible.
* [on Liam Gallagher] He's rude, arrogant, intimidating and lazy. He's the angriest man you'll ever meet. He's like a man with a fork in a world of soup.
* This is rock 'n' roll, not a charity handout. I don't care who you are, why you're here, what you expect. If you buy the ticket then you're going to get the show we put on. And if you don't like it, you know what you can do.
* Sex Pistols I was into. I was just too young for them, but the first band that I'd seen and had a connection with was The Jam and seeing The Jam on The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971). And after that it was The Smiths and New Order, and they were from Manchester and that was mind-blowing. But the first band that I'd seen that I thought "I can do that" was The Stone Roses.
* [on "Where Are We Now?" by David Bowie] The more you hear "Where Are We Now?" the better it gets. The video's mad - like his fucking cat directed it.
* [on his second post-Oasis album] It sounds a bit like Dark Side Of The Moon. The sound is similar to High Flying Birds, but more psychedelic and tripped out. But it's not an electronic project.
* [his retrospective appraisal of Oasis album "Be Here Now"] The sound of a bunch of guys, on coke, in the studio, not giving a fuck. All the songs are really long and all the lyrics are shit and for every millisecond Liam is not saying a word, there's a fucking guitar riff in there in a Wayne's World (1992) stylie.
* [on George Osborne] He might be the most slappable man in England, the kind of man that would watch Coronation Street or EastEnders to get a perspective on the working class.
* [in 1994] Phil Collins has got to be chased out of the charts, and Wet Wet Wet. It's the only way to do it, man, to fucking get in there among them and stamp the fuckers out.
* If someone wants to know what I think of Adele, I'll fucking tell them. I just don't see what all the fuss is about. I don't like her music. I think it's music for fucking grannies. Music has nosedived into fucking blandness. A sea of cheese.
* McCartney (Paul McCartney), Weller (Paul Weller), Townshend (Pete Townshend), Richards (Keith Richards), my first album is better than all their first albums. Even they'd admit that.
* [on being a support act for U2] It will be both a pleasure and an honour to play my part in what still remains the greatest show on earth.
== Discography ==
=== Oasis ===
* Definitely Maybe (1994)
* (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
* Be Here Now (1997)
* Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000)
* Heathen Chemistry (2002)
* Don't Believe the Truth (2005)
* Dig Out Your Soul (2008)
=== Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ===
* Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2011)
* Chasing Yesterday (2015)
* Who Build The Moon? (2017)
* Council Skies (2023)
== References ==
Category:Music YouTubers
Category:Users who joined in 2011
Category:English YouTubers