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I toured the world with Noel and Liam Gallagher at the peak of their chaotic brilliance - but NOT everyone was impressed: Oasis insider reveals the Hollywood A-lister that snubbed the Britpop kings
Oasis biographer PAOLO HEWITT
Some musicians make great critics.
It is said that when Noel Gallagher met Keith Richards for the first time, the veteran Rolling Stone guitarist said, 'Ah, you're from Oasis. That was interesting… for a while.'
Bitchy and brilliant, Richards had hit the nail on the head.
Between 1994 and 1996, Oasis were the most exciting, the most talented, the most chaotic, and, yes, indeed, the most interesting band in the world.
The twin engines that had catapulted them into the nation's consciousness were Noel's ability to craft highly memorable songs and his brother Liam's ability to sing them in a unique and powerful way.
Add to that the band's openness about wishing to bed beautiful women whilst taking industrial amounts of hard drugs, their seemingly devil may care attitude to their career, their image as a gang with unbreakable bonds, their antagonism towards other bands, and their general sense of humour, and you had a musical force that completely turned the music world on its head.
Noel and Liam did an in-store appearance at the Virgin Megastore in 1995, after the launch of (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, where the champagne had been flowing like crazy
The Oasis line-up before their Knebworth Park concert in 1996, which was (from left) Alan White, Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, Liam Gallagher, Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan and Noel Gallagher
Noel had an ability to craft highly memorable songs and his brother Liam could sing them in a unique and powerful way. The brothers are pictured in London in 1999
Their initial aim was to replace the Stone Roses. Instead, they found themselves occupying the same stratosphere occupied by acts such as U2 and Bruce Springsteen.
And that's when the fun went out of it. Noel's desire to reach rock stardom and wealth, as expressed through songs such as Rock 'N' Roll Star, had been achieved and then some. The only problem he had now was - what on earth was he going to write about?
Liam's public behaviour was now being seen as tiresome. And that's when it stopped, being, well, interesting… until today.
Liam and Noel's eagerly awaited announcement that after 15 years of hurling deadly insults at each other since their split in 2009, that they are reforming for a UK tour in July and August of next year, has sparked a level of excitement and anticipation not seen in the music business for a long time.
This has a lot to do with the band's rebel image - a commodity in very short supply these days - and more pertinently, the staying power of the band's early music.
Check the statistics. Morning Glory, the band's second - and many would say their best - album, has chalked up a staggering 650 weeks on the charts.
This means that the Gen Z audience are discovering the band in huge numbers and explains the band's pronouncement today that: 'The stars have aligned.'
A new younger generation will now experience Oasis for the first time. Expect tickets to fly out. Yet what does this mean for the band's legacy?
It was very telling that in a recent interview, Noel mourned the passing of those incredible early years when the band reached out to so many people with real meaning. 'I would give anything to get those days back,' he sighed.
A new photograph of Liam and Noel Gallagher as they confirmed that Oasis have reformed
Liam Gallagher teased an official reunion during his set at Reading Festival on Sunday night
Oasis have added extra dates to their tour and will now play five shows at Wembley next year
I know what he means. I was lucky enough to be there when it took off, having bonded with Noel over music and football. Noel, at that point, was level-headed and fun and simply refused to take things seriously.
I remember him picking up his guitar and walking up the road to a prestigious MTV appearance to play Don't Look Back In Anger.
No bodyguards, no blacked-out cars. On the way he said to me, 'I wish I had never written that song.' Why? 'Because for the next year everyone is going to ask me who the hell 'Sally' in the chorus is.'
He had a light touch and so enjoyed sparring with his brother. I recall an instore appearance they did at the Virgin Megastore, after the launch of Morning Glory, where the champagne had been flowing like crazy.
In front of an adoring audience Noel bet Liam he was so drunk, he could not remember the words to the new songs. Liam said of course he could. And a minute later was handing a triumphant Noel a £50 note.
(From left) Gem Archer, Noel Gallagher, Andy Bell and Liam Gallagher pose for a photo in 2006
Noel and Liam Gallagher on the 'Che Tempo Che FA' TV Programme in Italy in November 2008
Noel met the actor Dennis Hopper (pictured), when Oasis were top of nearly every chart in the world. Noel said: 'I'm in Oasis.' Hopper replied: 'What the f**k is Oasis?' and walked away
I recall Noel meeting the actor Dennis Hopper, when Oasis were top of nearly every chart in the world. Noel said: 'I'm in Oasis.' Hopper replied: 'What the f**k is Oasis?' and walked away.
And Noel turned to me and said: 'That's the best encounter I've ever had with an actor.'
The question now is what will he and Liam do with this band that is undoubtedly a national treasure.
Will they go through the motions? Or will they make things interesting again? I think I am not alone in all of us wishing for the latter.
PAOLO HEWITT is the author of Getting High: The Adventures Of Oasis and Forever The People: Six Months On The Road With Oasis. (Dean Street Press)