In House With Noel Gallagher: The Solo Artist Who Won't Give Up 'Talking S---' or Singing Oasis Songs -- Exclusive Video
- Posted on Sep 22nd 2011 1:00PM by Dan Reilly
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Gino DePinto, AOL
Despite having just endured another night of alcohol-filled label parties, the former Oasis guitarist was cheerful and -- a rarity for musicians -- showed up early for our interview ("I'm the only f---ing person in the whole of show business who's half an hour early for everything"). Check out our exclusive video and Q&A to hear his always-candid -- and profane -- thoughts on his new role as frontman, why he won't give up on Oasis songs and how his mom is responsible for his feud with brother Liam.
Have you prepared for being a frontman?
I haven't got any new moves, if that's what you mean. I've toyed with the idea of taking up juggling, just so it would be interesting for the crowd. I've got nothing to say -- and the worst part of being a singer-songwriter is when you're in a band, you can sing any old s---, like "A-wop bop-a loo-mop" and f---ing all that, but when you put on an acoustic guitar everyone's like "shhh! This guy's got something to say." I've got nothing to say. There's nothing to see and nothing to say. When people come to the gigs, I hope they just listen to the songs. There'll be no audience participation. None of that "Can you sing louder than those over there? I bet you can't!" None of that s---. But I've got to learn how to do it in front of a paying crowd. They'll expect some kind of show.
Does it remind you at all of Oasis 'Unplugged' when you had to be the frontman?
When you've got 15 minutes to prepare for it, you just do it. There's something symbolic about sitting on a stool and playing acoustic. I've done that before. I've done bigger gigs than that in England. There's something about having a new album where it's you and you've stood up in the middle of the stage. For 20 years, I was at one end of the stage and the band was at the other and I'd play facing the band and do the backing vocals and I could see everything. Now, when I've been rehearsing in England, I'm facing this wall and all the band are behind me. I can't see anything and it's freaking me out. I've gotta get used to that. Nothing would ever compare with the thing we had with Oasis. That was a big rock band and this is a little, I don't know what this is yet. We'll see how it develops, I guess.
With all the stuff that goes on in the press with you, how do you stay so positive?
Oh, well, I'm English, born and raised, so the media in that country, you learn to live with it. It's weirder coming to America where everybody's so polite. That's really difficult to deal with. In England, you're immediately on the back page. There's always something going on. There's always some kind of tension in an interview. You come to America and they actually want to know about the record. It's freaking me out. You asked me about the f---ing songs. F---!
But I don't take any of it seriously: I don't take interviews seriously, I don't take the press seriously. The only time I get serious is when I'm in the studio and I'm on stage, where you're doing it for a crowd, but the rest of it's supposed to be fun. You're supposed to make this job look like the best job in the world, or else how are you going to inspire kids to get into music? I don't want to be one of those miserable artists who are, you just think "Why are you even in the music business if it annoys you so much?" It's a great game to be in. And it is that -- a game. As long as the music's good, I can deal with the rest. I like it.
Gino DePinto, AOL
No. I've never given a journalist a list of things to ask about. I don't think I've ever said "no comment," which has been a bit of an albatross down the years. I wish I'd said "no comment" but I feel compelled to talk s--- half the time. I don't know why that is. Somebody's got to, I guess.
One tabloid said your mom has been trying to stop the feud. Is that true?
She's a nightmare. In fact, she was the catalyst for all this [laughs]. She is a s--- stirrer, though. I'm only joking. That'll end up in the British press, that exact comment. I bet you any money.
Beady Eye aren't playing any Oasis songs. Are you going to?
I don't have enough material for the time being not to do Oasis songs, but I would never just give up on them. They're great songs and they're my songs, you know? People want to hear them! And goddamn it, I've got to make a f---ing living somehow. Rock stars still have to f---ing eat and buy sweets for the kids and all that s---.
Tima
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