As a new Netflix documentary about the Britpop era is filmed, of course they have to interview the person who has witnessed it all. Being the sister of the most infamous brothers of the era and the love interest of their biggest rival must have been...
He wrote anthems for a generation, was part of the biggest band in the world - and the most prominent drug user in the country. Today, Noel Gallagher meets with Rolling Stone to talk about his upcoming album, parenthood and the most infamous sibling feud in the music industry. A feature, written by David Cramer.
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We meet The Chief hanging out in the lobby of the hotel he's staying in Glasgow, following the news on the big tellie in the corner only occasionally. It's a hotel the author of this article knows all to well. Back in 1994 being a new applied young journalist this was the place I was sent to interview the band on the scene everyone was talking about: Oasis.
It was this exact lobby, where we all sit down, ordered a round of Gin and Tonic and talked about there just released debut album Definitely Maybe that was about to storm the charts and by the end of the year, would be the best sold debut ever. It continued with their sister Claire coming down and Noel calling her over, adding a volatile element to the conversation, with her always interrupting the brothers, lecturing them, scoffing them. And it ended with a legendworthy pub crawl, bringing shennenigans all over Great Western Road and resultating in the worst headache of my life.
It's twenty years later today. The weather outside the lobby windows is as gloomy as back then, but besides that it's a different world. Oasis has split up five years ago, young thick browed Liam who captivated millions by shouting the lyrics of his brothers engineering in the microphone, has moved on with his own band Beady Eye and is still dedicated to the Rock'n'Roll lifestyle, with headlines like the dicoverage of an illegitimate daughter out of an affair with a New York journalist and a divorce on the horizon that is said to become very messy. His brother Noel meanwhile, who's limit with his younger brother was reached after fifteen years in the same band, has moved on. After almost two years of silence he released his critically high acclaimed debut with his High Flying Birds and is currently promoting his upcoming new single, the first release from the album that will be launched next January.
How does it feel, having the second solo album out?
"Feels fucking great. I never headed for a solo career and given the circumstances and everything when the first was released, y'know. You never know where it goes. But it's a great album, some of the best work I've done in a long, long time."
Second albums seem to be his thing. (What's the story) Morning Glory became an instant classic by it's release 1995.
"I've had the number ones, I've had the success. Everything I do now, I do it because I want to. No one tells me what to do and working that way I've found out is much more relaxing than playing the babysitter for four other lads, one of them being Liam of all things. I'm an independent artists these days and what I did with this album is as close to autonomy as you can get in this business."
