(Paris) “I only succeeded at 27, Jim Morrison (The Doors) died at that age,” remarked Noel Gallagher (ex-Oasis), who is releasing a new solo album inspired by his journey, supported in particular by Robert Smith (The Cure).
The guitarist and singer, who has just turned 56, looks back on his pre-glory years with Oasis (first album in 1994, implosion in 2009) in Council Skies, title track of the charming disc which appears on Friday.
“The train that never arrives, in the song, is a metaphor for missed opportunities. I only succeeded at 27, Morrison died at that age, ”says the one who performs on stage accompanied by his High Flying Birds companions.
Before Oasis, in Manchester, his hometown, apart from him and his brother Liam, no one believed in them. Except Johnny Marr (ex-The Smiths), to whom Noel had been able to play a “demo” (first draft of songs).
They have been friends since that time, the dawn of the 1990s. And today Marr places his guitar chords on three Council Skies titles, including Pretty Boy.
“I can call Johnny and say ‘what are you doing next week?’ And he comes to the studio, plays something, he’s fucking amazing. He’s got the Holy Spirit in him,” Gallagher says.
Another British music fairy, Robert Smith, has taken a closer look at Pretty Boy. The Cure singer did a remix of the track. “I just managed to get his email, I never met him, I don’t know him, I just sent him the track. And I was convinced that he would throw it away immediately.” “He just happened to love it. It’s like ‘wow'”, savors Noel, met in Paris.
The guitarist is always surprised to hear artists he worships praise Oasis: “Bob Dylan talked about it in an interview, damn it, he’s heard of this band and says he likes it”.
While touring the heroes of his pantheon, the eldest Gallagher also blurts out: “If I could be anyone else, I’d be Neil Young, a true legend”. And to remember that evening in 2001 when Oasis and the “Loner” shared a stage in Paris.
When asked about his notable concerts in France, he obviously quotes, but with a smile, this “catastrophic night when Oasis broke up”. It was in 2009 at the Rock en Seine festival. It’s the storm too many between Liam and Noel in the dressing rooms, with a broken guitar in the key. The crowd waiting for the concert of the Brit-pop stars then learns, amazed, of their separation by a message from the festival.
Found and repaired, the famous guitar was sold at auction in May 2022 in the French capital (for 385,500 euros, including costs, or $560,000). “This guitar, I bought it in Paris, somewhere in Pigalle. And I never composed anything good with it. I hated that fucking guitar,” Noel begins.
“If a guitar had to be sacrificed that night, it was this one,” he laughs. “A guy bought it for me, it was in pieces. Of course, I never believed he would fix it and he did. So good luck to whoever got it. It’s a shitty guitar (laughs).
Since this electric evening of 2009, Liam and Noel no longer speak to each other. To the chagrin of Oasis fans who dream of a reformation. Especially since 2024 will be the year of the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe, the original album carried by the success Supersonic.
Noel does not pronounce the first name Liam once during the interview. And the latter spits his venom on his brother on social networks… Meanwhile, it is Blur, another flagship of brit-pop of the 1990s, which is reforming for a tour and a record this summer.
