Noel Gallagher - Riding Solo & Flying High

He is a stalwart of modern era rock. One half of a bittersweet brotherhood famed for their rock ‘n’ roll antics and infamous bust-ups. Some would even go as far as calling him a “genius”. Whilst he was the never the lead singer of his former band, Oasis, Noel Gallagher is still viewed by many as the true leader of the band. This is perhaps due to the reams upon reams of classic songs that he wrote and contributed to the band – making them the true kings of the “Brit-Pop” era in the process.

Although he is unmistakably a Mancunian – and perhaps someone who should be famed as rivalling Liverpudlians, due to his home roots – Noel Gallagher is a musician who actually has strong links to the city of Liverpool.

During the recording of their first album, Definitely Maybe, which would go on to become a catalyst in the history of British rock, Oasis visited the city of Liverpool to record their debut single ‘Supersonic’ – a track with which Noel claims that the band “hit the ground running” in the ‘Lock the Box’ interview that was included in a special box-set edition of the compilation album, Stop the Clocks. You could even go as far as to say that the video for the single – which was shot on a rooftop – perhaps pays homage to The Beatles’ famous Abbey Road rooftop performance.

But then again, that wouldn’t be much of a surprise. It is clear to see for all that Gallagher and his brother, Liam, take great inspiration from The Beatles. This inspiration has been made prominent through a variety of different elements. The style of music that Oasis adhered to during their 18-year reign not only resembles The Beatles, but sometimes gets so close that it is frightening – tracks such as ‘All Around the World’, ‘Songbird’, ‘Let There Be Love’ and ‘I’m Outta Time’ are just a few examples which support this statement.

Even the swagger of Noel Gallagher resembles the cock-sureness and charisma which all four of The Beatles seemed to possess when they were in their prime as a unit. You even think “Beatles” when considering the many hairstyles that Noel has sported over the years – the many spaceship-sized sunglasses, the many clichéd leather jackets.

And Noel’s association with Liverpool doesn’t stop there. On their last British tour in 2008, Oasis kick-started their campaign with a double date in the Liverpool Echo Arena. Noel said himself whilst onstage at the first of the two gigs that “It’s quite fitting that our first gig back should be in Liverpool”.

This is a statement which could perhaps hark back to the historical context of the recording of the debut single which would put Oasis on the path towards dizzying heights of fame (as mentioned earlier, ‘Supersonic’ was recorded in Liverpool). Or the statement could perhaps be viewed as one owing to the city of Liverpool and the inspiration that their greatest talent – and arguably the world’s greatest ever band – shed upon Oasis.

If it has not been made evident through Noel’s style of song-writing, or through the style of his many different visual appearances over the years, then the amount of Beatles’ covers that he has played will be enough to unearth the inspiration and the profound effect that The Beatles have had on Noel.

During his music career, Noel has covered Beatles’ classics such as ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Help!’, whilst also famously collaborating with The Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones on the Revolver track, ‘I’m Only Sleeping’. Gallagher has also collaborated with “The Modfather” himself, Paul Weller, on ‘All You Need is Love’ during a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall for his Teenage Cancer Trust charity album, The Dreams We Have as Children. In 2007, Gallagher also covered ‘Within You, Without You’ with his then fellow members of Oasis, as part of a 40 year anniversary for the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Whilst those above mentioned are only a few of the Beatles’ covers Noel has performed during his music career, Oasis’ version of ‘I am the Walrus’ is arguably the best of the bunch. The track featured on Oasis’ fourth studio album, The Masterplan, which primarily comprises of B-sides from past Oasis tracks preceding the album itself. “Version” would definitely be the best word to describe the track, as it much more than just a cover. The riff of Noel’s guitar on the track is certainly a lot heavier than the guitar featured on the original version. Oasis’ version also has a quicker tempo, which is amplified by the aggressiveness of Liam’s vocals. Noel even added an extra riff on the end of the track, making it three minutes longer than the original.

Sources close to the band say that Oasis were performing this Beatles’ classic live in Manchester even before they were famous – liner notes on the sleeve of The Masterplan album also make the same observation. It is certainly a track that Noel has held dear to his heart for a number of years, as it was included as recently as 2008 on the Oasis set-list as an encore for the band’s Liverpool date of the Dig Out Your Soul tour – this, as we know, was the last tour that the band ever embarked upon before Oasis officially split during the August of the following year.

Upon the band’s split in 2009, Noel issued a statement via the band’s official website, saying “with some sadness and great relief...I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer”. This statement, for Oasis fans, would mark the end of an era.

However, with every end comes a beginning.

Noel’s now former band mates have decided to continue without him, and now perform under the new name of Beady Eye. Since their shift away from Noel, the band have been a relative success, with their debut album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, peaking at number 3 in the UK charts.

As for Noel himself, well…he’s managed just fine. After deciding to enter the big old world on his own two feet at the ripe old age of 44, he is now riding solo. His debut album, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, was released in October 2011 and reached the top of the UK charts at number 1.

With the album spawning hits such as ‘The Death of You and Me’ and ‘If I Had a Gun’, there is hardly any wonder why the album reached number 1, and it is very much clear to see that Noel still has plenty to offer. Make no mistake, both of these songs reek of Noel Gallagher. But they reek in a good way. They reek in the sense that with every stroke of a chord and every strain of a vocal, there is still a rock star existing within the whole icon that he has become.

The roots of this menacing Manchester boy are still visible for all to see. The passion to write and perform to the best of his ability is still there. And with a solo album tour on the cards, there is no doubt that we will be seeing plenty of Noel Gallagher in the foreseeable future.

As for beyond that, there is a sneaking sense that he will still be making and releasing music, simply because it is in his blood. Only time will tell what the Manchester master will produce. As for now, we must do as the reserved Noel has seemed to do for his entire music career, and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

*Noel performs in Liverpool Echo Arena on 6^th September 2012.


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