"Dad Rocks!"

Family man Noel spares time to attend Premier Shows and have a chat with NME

Noel Gallagher joined the audience at the penultimate NME Premier Shows at the London WCI Astoria last week and declared the week-long series of shows "fucking mega".

First-time father Noel had taken a night off from baby-sitting newborn daughter Anais to see Shack, but was gutted to miss Campag Velocet, who he was also hoping to catch, along with Coldplay and Les Rythmes Digitales.

He told NME: "(I came to see) Shack really, but I've come to see everyone 'cos I've got a night off tonight, which is the only time I get to see bands these days. I'm gutted that I missed them (Campag), 'cos I seen them on Jools Holland and thought they looked alright. I don't know that much about them, only stuff I've heard on free CDs that you've given away with NME. But they sound alright."

Noel continued that he wished he could have relived his youth and seen every show. "I tell you what, I wish I was 17 again and I could come out seven nights a week to this. We never used to get stuff like this in Manchester when I was young. Now I'm getting a bit older, you've got to stay in and do all the dad shit and all that stuff. It's good for people to come and see 15 bands in a week, it's fucking mega actually."

Noel went on to say that everything was going to plan so far with the release of the new Oasis album, 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants', out February 28 and new single "Go Let It Out", out last Monday, which have both been released through the band's new label Big Brother.

"It's all rockin' on, man," he enthused. "It's a bit daunting, 'cos, y'know, we'll be taking the risks with it all now. But it's good to know that you can sell your own records, y'know, so, brilliant."

However, he said that any plans for him to go out and talent scout for new bands to sign up to the label were currently on hold, as the band would be busy until next year.

"We're going to be on the road for the best part of the next year and I don't think it would be fair if I was to see a band, like, playing tonight and sign 'em up, 'cos I'd like to be there to see the development of bands. But I suppose that in the future, when we get older and slow down the touring bit I definitely want to do that, definitely."

Noel also said that he was currently trying to get the master tapes of his side-project Tailgunner back from Sony, with help from former Creation boss Alan McGee, so he could release their material himself on Big Brother.

He continued: "It (the Tailgunner album) was supposed to be out a month, six weeks before ours, but then it all went into shit with Creation. But we'll get it out eventually."

Noel also confirmed that he intended to release a solo album but added that he thought every member of Oasis should, particularly brother Liam Gallagher, who makes his songwriting debut on the forthcoming Oasis album with "Little James".

"I don't know whether I'm going to put it out (the solo album) as soon as I record stuff," said Noel, "but I'm definitely going to record stuff as I go along just so it's there really. I think Liam should definitely do his own solo album to be honest with you 'cos the stuff that he's been writing is not stuff that you'd associate with Oasis, it's, urn, very odd, 'cos he's very odd. But you know, the label's there now, so if he wants to record tunes, you know. I think everyone in the band should go off and do other things, because it just keeps you fresh."

As for new recruits bassist Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer, Noel said: "It's just the best thing that's ever happened to me in my professional life as a musician. First and foremost they're really brilliant guys to have around and they know their shit and they're not in awe of us and we're not talking down to them and it's a real band for once. A real, real band. I used to be a bit of a dictator really, but I can't get away with that any more."

Are you going to let them get more involved in the creative process now, then? "Absolutely, totally. They're totally talented. Like I say, it's the best thing that's ever happened to the band. It's really, really exciting."

NME also asked Noel about the rumour that the recent Evening Session recording of The Who's 'My Generation' was something of a fix. As reported previously, Oasis recorded their cover apparently after listeners voted for the song they'd most like to hear Oasis play. However two months before, insiders told NME that the band had already recorded 'My Generation'.

Noel strongly refuted the story. "No, that's not true that. We got approached by some people who I think are putting out a Who tribute album next year, and they approached us when I played with Pete Townshend at that Liverpool Dockers thing. So we said we'd do it, but we actually wanted to do 'I Can See For Miles'. But when the votes came through for the thing on Radio 1...so we've done 'My Generation' now, so we'll probably put that forward for the Who tribute album now."

But Noel said even if 'Country House' had been picked, the band would have refused to play it. "To be honest, we wouldn't have done it. I mean, it would have been funny and all that shit, but we tend to take things a little more seriously these days. The ones I would have actually liked to have done - we got a list of all the votes as they were coming in were the Nirvana track 'Come As You Are' and 'Ace Of Spades' by Motorhead. We were all banking on that being a big one."

As a result of the suggestions from listeners, Noel said Oasis were considering recording their own cover of 'Ace Of Spades' and were planning to play 'My Generation' on their forthcoming world tour.

As for UK festivals, Noel effectively ruled out Glastonbury, and hinted that it would either be Reading or V2000 - and that the highest bidder would secure the band's services. "We're definitely going to do the one, but I don't know which one it is to be honest with you. It's all a question of that (rubs imaginary money together). Because we'll have done our tour and all that, and the last thing round about August that we'll want to be doing is playing a gig unless there's a shitload of money, because we'll all just want to get home and see the wife and kids and all that. But if somebody makes us an offer we can't refuse, then of course, you know..."

Finally, he revealed what it was like to be a new father - just three days after the birth of his first child, daughter Anais. "It's fantastic! I have to say I'm actually gutted that I didn't get round to doing it in my early-20s cos I'm 32 now. I thought when I was younger that I wouldn't be cut out for having kids but I'm actually adapting to it quite well, and perhaps I should have four already now! But I've just got the one for now."

Oasis will perform an hour-long set of old and new material for the Later With Jools Holland show, due for broadcast on April 1 at 9pm on BBC2 to be recorded this week. The performance will mark the first UK TV appearance of the new Oasis line-up.

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c 2000 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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