Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967) is the lead songwriter and guitarist with the British rock band Oasis. He is the older brother of Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and the two are famous for their scuffles, though much of the stories of their brawls is the work of the media.
In the 1990s, he was at the center stage of the Britpop movement. Oasis' first album, Definitely Maybe, became the fastest selling British debut ever, and the follow-up (What's the Story) Morning Glory defined its era. His outspoken nature and penchant for controversy did as much to publicise Oasis as his younger brother's drunken attacks on the paparazzi.
As he has written the vast majority of Oasis' songs, he is considered one of the most powerful and influential personalities in British music. He has received much press -- most of it negative -- for his candid admiration of his own songwriting abilities. However, Gallagher's bravado certainly warrants merit considering the commercial and critical success of Oasis.
Biography
Noel was born in Longsight, Manchester to Peggy and Tommy Gallagher. He is the middle child of three, his elder brother Paul was born in 1966, and Liam was born 1972. The Gallagher brothers grew up in the suburb of Burnage. He first began to teach himself to play guitar at the age of 13, imitating his favourite songs from the radio. Both he and Liam were regular truants and no strangers to the local constabulary in their teens, they allegedly broke into cars and stole bicycles, and at the age of 13 Noel received six months' probation for robbing a cornershop. He attended St Robert's Infant School in Longsight (1971), St Bernard's Primary in Burnage (1972) and St Mark's Secondary in Didsbury (1978). His childhood nickname was Breshnev, after the former Russian president known for his bushy eyebrows.
In April 1984, Peggy took her three boys and left her husband, Tommy due to the fact that he was an alcoholic known for his violent mood swings. Noel has had little or no contact with his father since.
After an injury sustained whilst working for a building company when a weighty cap from a steel gas pipe landed on his right foot, crushing it, he was forced into working in a storehouse. Fortunately, he found that he had more time to practice guitar and to write songs. Much of the late 1980s found him unemployed and living in a bedsit splitting his time between drugs, songwriting and devising plans to get within "Slapping distance" of Margaret Thatcher, whose refusal to "turn" from her policies as Conservative Prime Minister in the 1980s have been blamed for causing mass unemployment in the decade.
In 1988, Noel auditioned to be vocalist for the band Inspiral Carpets. Although he was turned down, the band hired him as a guitar technician. In 1992, he returned from an American tour with the Inspiral Carpets to find that his brother had become lead singer with local band, "Oasis" (actually, Liam had joined the band in the hope of dragging along Noel "with his songs"). He had seen Oasis play at Manchester's Boardwalk and commented they were going nowhere unless they installed him as lead guitarist and main songwriter. When pressed by Liam, he agreed to join the band if he could have complete control of the group, including contributing all the songs. The rest of the band agreed and they began a year of intensive rehearsing.
Noel's arrogant front resisted the route of most up-and-coming bands. For example, they never sent a demo to a record company, but rather waited for a record deal to come to them, which it did in the form of Creation Records' Alan McGee. McGee saw them at a club gig in Glasgow. At the time, they lacked a manager, an agent, and indeed any real financial support (again, perhaps evidence of Noel's all-conquering self confidence). After being cornered by the band, McGee signed them on the spot. Their first album, Definitely Maybe was released two years later in 1994 and was a critical and commercial success.
Thanks in no small part to Noel's songwriting abilities, Oasis went on to become one of the most popular and successful British acts of the 1990s, if not ever. His extensive catalogue of songs - ironically written in the storehouses and the bedsits he had wanted to take a swipe at the Iron Lady for - were the fuel behind Oasis' sucess in the 90s and made him a rich and respected man. They have won him acclaim from critics and peers, such as Sir George Martin, who stated "I consider Noel Gallagher to be the finest songwriter of his generation". He is a keen fan of music and has had a hand in pushing the careers of many new bands including Coldplay, Travis and the Zootons. Amid much critisim towards Be Here Now, Richard Ashcroft, whilst accepting an award, stated "at the end of the day, Noel Gallagher opened our eyes; for a lot of young people in the North West, to pick up a guitar. Thankyou very much". Oasis are also attributed with helping to resurrect stadium rock and roll concerts in England, most noticeably their record breaking summer shows at Knebworth in August 1996.
Noel had often joked to McGee that the whole Rock-and-Roll industry was built around one ambition - to own a chocolate brown Rolls Royce. Following the success of (What's the Story) Morning Glory, Creation Records held a banquet in to thank the band. Bonehead, Guigsey and White received valuable Rolex watches, to Liam went a solid gold Rolex. Then came Noel, to whom McGee bequeathed the much-desired chocolate brown Rolls Royce. Liam was less than amused, which only fuelled Noel's joy which was not even jaded by the fact the he cannot drive.
In 1995, he joined Paul Weller, Paul McCartney and Johnny Depp to form the Smokin' Mojo Filters. The supergroup, put together by Weller was assembled to record the Beatles' 1969 hit "Come Together" for the charity album Help!. The band took their name from a lyric in John Lennon's "Come Together". He has also worked with the Chemical Brothers and Ian Brown.
The third Oasis album, Be Here Now, became their most eagerly awaited album to date. However, whilst in 1997 it was a commercial and critical success, when the dust settled and the hype died down, it was seen as a bloated, over indulgent version of Oasis, which Noel has had trouble living down. He claims the album suffered due to his own bloated, drug addicted state. Around this time, Noel began to suffer panic attacks. He tackled this on the 2000 album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants with the song "Gas Panic", which reveals his lonely, paranoid state.
He married girlfriend Meg Matthews in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 5th, 1997. They have a daughter called Anais, born on January 27, 2000. They were divorced in January 2001, shortly after Liam announced his separation from Patsy Kensit. It is rumoured that Meg could not abide Noel's desire to move to the countryside and missed partying with her friends in London. "Wonderwall" - arguably Oasis' most famous and most popular song - was written for Meg, and, perhaps as a result, the band now play it less and less since the divorce. He has since dated Sara MacDonald.
Public persona
Oasis appeared on the music scene in 1994 and quickly made a public image for themselves. Whereas other Britpop bands such as Elastica and The Manic Street Preachers chose not to play the media 'game' - or if they did it was usually uninspiring, as was the case with Blur - Oasis chose to portray themselves, arguably realistically, as loud mouthed, arrogant and aggressive. This really caught the public's imagination. Though Liam appears to have really taken it to heart, often verbally abusing photographers and members of the public, Noel, perhaps more secure than Liam, tends to be more reserved, becoming aggressive only when provoked by people such as Robbie Williams, Damon Albarn of Blur or anyone who challenges his belief that Oasis are the best band in the world. On one occasion he became slightly confrontational when an interviewer praised them as "one of the biggest bands in the world", Noel immediately snapped "What do you mean one of? Name one band who's bigger." In one of his more tongue-in-cheek moments Noel simply stated "If people don't like Oasis, they're shit".
Whilst not an overly aggressive character by nature, Noel is well known for his controversial, outspoken statements in the press. In the midst of their feud with Blur, he told one interviewer that he hoped lead singer Damon Albarn and bassist Alex James would die of AIDS. When George Harrison accused Oasis of being little more than a passing fad Noel commented "George was always the quiet Beatle, maybe he should keep that up" (this however, was not as threatening as his brothers promise to play golf off of Harrison's head should they ever meet). He said of Kylie Minogue "I don't hate Kylie but I hate her music with a passion - it's just unbridled filth, it's disgusting". He described the protests against the second Gulf War in London as "a bloody waste of time". In the same interview he said of the British "We are a nation of moaning sissies, regardless of who governs. The British get on my nerves. They moan about the weather, about the French, about the Germans. They moan about cricket, football – they should just keep their mouths shut". When asked about youngsters taste in music, he stated "You shouldn't be able to buy records until you're 16. You'll buy any old nonsense - fucking Britney and Eminem".
Noel is often criticized for the praise he gives to his own songs. Though many consider this to be intense arrogance, he himself maintains that it is merely self confidence and points out "If you'd written "Live Forever", you'd be walking to a different tune the next day too". He is not afraid to have a laugh at the expense of his 'self confidence'. In an interview with Jonathan Ross, he joked that there was nothing he liked to do more that to gather a group of friends and to discuss just how great he is. When Ross asked if he would ever do the same with a group of other legendary musicians, Noel was quick to point out that that would be very bad for his ego.
Noel is also famous for taking inspiration from the Beatles. Oasis often mockingly make comparisons between themselves and the Beatles. On the inlay to Be Here Now are scrawled the words "The Beatles - quite good, Oasis - much better". The video for "All Around the World" bears more than a passing resemblance to "Yellow Submarine" and in the video for "Don't Look Back in Anger", he wears a pair of Lennonesque orange-tinted circular glasses, which Lennon referred to as "granny glasses". Both he and Liam can often be seen wearing similar glasses. There are several references to the Beatles in his songs, and for the intro to "Don't Look Back In Anger", Noel 'borrowed' the piano intro to John Lennon's "Imagine".
Songwriting
Before their arrival in 1994, debate raged over weather British rock music had had its day. Radio stations were flooded with American grunge and dance music. Two events changed all this - Kurt Cobain died and Oasis releases their first album - Definitely Maybe. "Supersonic" was a roaring battle cry; "Live Forever", the polar opposite of the "I hate myself and want to die" attitude championed by Cobain; "Slide Away" was a tender melody to an ex-girlfriend and "Married with Children" a droll voice lamenting a current one.
Noel personally wrote all of the songs on the début, and the equally successful follow up, 1995's (What's the Story) Morning Glory. Amongst this albums 10 tracks were four songs which were to become Oasis' trademark songs - "Some Might Say", Oasis' first British number one single, "Champagne Supernova", the song with which Oasis have ended many a live performance; the no.1 hit "Don't Look Back In Anger"; and their most successful single to date, (and busker's favourite) "Wonderwall". Noel occasionally provides lead vocals as can be seen on songs such as "Don't Look Back In Anger", "Sad Song", "D'yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?", "Half the World Away" and "The Masterplan". Though his voice is a bit dull conpared to Liam's, it does provide a pleasant break for his brother's grating, arrogant and often nasal, vocals. When Liam was struck down with a sore throat before the MTV Unplugged set, Noel was forced to provide both guitar and vocals.
He is sometimes critcised for his tendancy to imitate the styles of other bands. Many of Oasis' songs bare more that a passing resemblance to the music he admires, or has at least caught his attention. The opening track on 1995's (What's the Story) Morning Glory, "Hello", contains elements of Gary Glitter's "Hello Hello I'm Back Again". "Roll With It" B-side "Rockin' Chair" owes to "Growing Old" by Christopher Griffiths. Definitely Maybe second single "Shakermaker" comes complete with a melody adapted from "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (guitarist Gem Archer could not help but laugh at the sheer audacity or "ripping off" the Coca-Cola song). 1994's Christmas no. 3, "Whatever", contains musical elements of "How Sweet To Be An Idiot" by Neil Innes. Then, of course, there is the influence derived from the Beatles. Aside from "Don't Look Back In Anger's" blatant - and unashamed - steal from "Imagine", there is also the melodic similarities between "Up In The Sky" and Lennon's "Rain", and the keyboards in "Go Let It Out" being almost identical to that in McCartney's "Fool On The Hill" to name but a few. Paul McCartney light-heartedly commented "Their stuff sounds very Beatle-ish. I sometimes have to check to see if it isn't one of ours that's if it's a track I haven't heard very much or something.” When it was suggested that Oasis take legal action against pop band Hear'Say for their first single's uncanny similarity to "All Around The World", Noel simply laughed at the hypocrisy of such an act.
Though the albums Be Here Now (1997), Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000) and Heathen Chemistry (2002) have not been received with the same level of enthusiasm by critics, the public appeal has remained strong, with all of their albums to date reaching number one in the British albums. Standing On the Shoulder of Giants included Oasis' first ever album track written not by Noel, but by his brother Liam. Heathen Chemistry included a further 3 tracks by Liam (including "Songbird", which was released as a single), and one by guitarist Gem Archer. However, despite this, Noel continues to be the brain and the driving force behind Oasis.
Brotherly love
The Gallaghers' famously share a turbulent relationship. Their arguments have achieved a status as something of Rock Legend. One of their arguments was even released on a bootleg single entitled 'Wibbling Rivalry'. The arguments seem to pit Noel's calm, complacent wit, logic and canniness against Liam's arrogance, tendency to fly off the handle, penchant for psychedelic non sequiturs (he once ended an on-stage argument by appealing to the crowd for biscuits) and his vocal dedication to any stand-point, no matter how incorrect or easy to dispel it is. Although Noel often ends up making Liam appear quite stupid in these exchanges, Liam's tendency to shout and swear his brother down appears an equally effective tactic. There are only a handful of known incidents where the two have actually come to blows. 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. A confrontation after the show led to a chair being thrown and Noel leaving the tour and heading for Las Vegas, with visions of "Fear and Loathing" flashing in his eyes. He was eventually tracked down and returned to the tour before he could live out his dream of disappearing and buying a bar on a beach somewhere. Whilst on tour in Barcelona in 2000, Oasis were forced to cancel a gig when Alan White's arm seized up, the band spent the night drinking instead. Liam made a derogatory comment about Noel's then wife Meg Mathews and Noel punched him, knocking him down. Following this, Noel declared he was quitting touring overseas altogether, and Oasis were forced to finish the tour without him. He has since repented on his promise to quit touring overseas. In a 2004 interview, Noel mockingly described Liam as a great singer, but, in terms of the band "He is Abbott to my Costello, he is Cannon to my Ball, he is Little to my Large". However, all jokes and teasing aside, Noel maintains that they are now good friends, and rarely fall out.
Wibbling Rivalry
An excerpt of the argument released on the Wibbling Rivalry single:
Noel: Do you know John Lennon?
Liam: Yeah.
Noel: Well, you must be pretty old.
How old are you? 21?
Liam: No. About fuckin' thousand and five.
Noel: You're 22, and I watched you being born,
so shut the fuck up about John Lennon.
Noel Outsmarts Liam Again - December 1998
Noel: (Oasis) is not my band.
Liam: Whose band is it?
Noel: Your band.
Liam: Did you hear that?! It's my band!
Are you recording this Mr Journalist?
It's My Band!
Noel: It's your band.
Liam: Hang on a minute... It's not my band
now that we're shit and no-one likes us!
Noel: It's your band.
Liam: It was my band when we were popular!
You sneaky bastard! [Aims kick at Noel]
Steve Lamacq Show - November 1997
Noel: Liam's more paranoid. He thinks the
World's against him.
Liam: Yeah, yeah, and he's full of shit because
I don't think that at all. Take that back.
He knows he's a genius, but he won't admit it.
Noel: I will admit it. I'm a fucking genius.
Liam: No, you're not! I inspire him more than
he inspires me. Bottles of lager inspires me (sic).
Noel: That goes without saying... I'll be Lord
Mayor of London by the next six months.
Lamacq: And what will you do?
Liam: Fart in people's mouths.
(Liam storms out)
Quotes
- "I'm equal part genius, equal part buffoon"
- "All I ever wanted to do was make a record. Here's what you do: you pick up your guitar, you rip a few people's tunes off, you swap them round a bit, get your brother in the band, punch his head in every now and again, and it sells. I'm a lucky bastard. I'm probably the single most lucky man in the world, apart from our Liam."
- "A lot of bands split up over arguments. I tend to keep my mouth shut a lot more now and just go home and kick the neighbour's cat"
- "We're not arrogant, we just believe we're the best band in the world."
- "I could walk out the hotel and probably stand in the middle of Broadway naked and everyone would go, 'Ah, who's he?'" - On fame in America
- "I'm not John Lennon. I'm not trying to say anything. I'm just trying to entertain people"
- "Liam's the King of the Lads. Not me. I'm the King of Kings!"
- "I do all the work so it's only right that I should get the most money. Plus I am the most handsome"
- "Someone was playing a joke when they made me, you know, 'Let's make this guy a writer and a guitar player, but let's make him write with his left hand but play with his right, and let's have him born in the middle of May and give him a Christmas name like Noel, and let's make him a dodgy, schizophrenic, two-faced Gemini.' Cheers!"
- "Someone told me "Supersonic" was about teenage prostitution. Shit. It's about a nine-stone Rottweiler called Elsa who was in the studio where we were recording."
- "Actually, me and Our Kid are just using this band as a stepping stone for our double act on the "David Letterman Show" as comedians, cheers!"
- "It is hard to be modest at times like these so I won't even try...you are all shite!"
See also
- Liam Gallagher
- Oasis (band)
- Paul Arthurs
- Paul McGuigan
- Alan White (Drummer)
- Tony McCaroll
- Gem Archer
- Andy Bell (Oasis)
- Britpop
References
- Wheeler,J: Oasis: How Does It Feel? (UFO Books Ltd)
- Paul Gallagher and Terry Christian: Brothers, From Childhood to Oasis (Virgin Books)
- Middles, M: Oasis: Round Their Way (Independent Music Press)
- Paolo Hewitt, Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis (Boxtree Press)
- Robertson, I: Oasis: What's The Story? (Blake Books)
- Moody, P: Oasis: Lost Inside (UFO Music Ltd)
- Various interviews with Noel