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Oasis could continue (but don’t mention Noel)
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 2 December 2009
It’s good to see that Oasis are still as entertaining as ever. Liam Gallagher recently revealed that he was working with the other members of Oasis – Andy Bell and Gem Archer – on new material. Well, it seems the new band have now written most of a new album, and that it could be released under the Oasis name.
Speaking to The Evening Standard, Gallagher said: “We’re halfway there, man. We’ve got all the songs done. Without Noel at all. Me, Andy and Gem are doing it. That was the way it was going anyway, even on the last record.We were, like, doing most of it and Noel was off doing his own thing. So we’ve got a bit of studio time booked after Christmas and we’re going to get in there, do it quick, with no stewing on it, and I’m feeling really confident about it”.
Of the sound of the new material, he added: “It’s a little bit different, but not too much. It’s the kind of music our fans have always liked, you know? But we’ll see. I’m not forcing this down anyone’s throats. That’s not good for the soul”.
As for the new band’s name, he revealed that while they’re currently going without one, that doesn’t mean the old one has been retired. He explained: “We’re not using it at the moment, but if we don’t come up with something else by the time we’re ready to release the album it’ll be Oasis. I’m not going to call myself something ridiculous just for the sake of it”.
However, he insisted that the new version of the band – even if still called Oasis – would not play any songs written by his brother, which doesn’t really give them a great deal to choose from when it comes to back catalogue. “Obviously it’s going to be different without Noel”, he said. “And Noel’s fans will sneer at it, but then, you know, if they don’t like the music, don’t fucking buy it. Don’t come to the gig, cos you’re not going to be hearing ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’. But I do like to think that the 250,000 people who came to see us at Knebworth didn’t come just for Noel”.
Perhaps not, but everyone knows Noel is generally thought of as the creative force behind the band. Surely the door would be open if he ever wanted to come back to the band (if only so they can play their hits)? Apparently not, according to Liam: “I’m sure [Noel] thinks: ‘I’ll do my solo career and if it doesn’t fucking pan out the way it’s expected to pan out, then I’ll give our kid a ring cos he’ll be desperate, and he’ll do anything for Oasis’.Well, I’ll say this right now: he’s got another fucking think coming. If he thinks he can ring me up at any given stage in his fucking lifetime, I’ll be busy. I’ll always be busy when he rings me up”.
The brothers will presumably have to have a professional relationship of some sort, though. It’s still not clear if either of the Gallagher’s new separate projects will be released via their Big Brother Recordings label, but either way pre-split Oasis music will still be earning the brothers’ own company money. Not that I think Liam and Noel have desks set up in the Big Brother offices, or are even especially involved in the day-to-day running of it, but the corporate entity retains the link over and above family affiliations, unless either brother disaffiliates from it.
Still, assuming Liam stands by his policy of no contact, if Noel ever does feel the urge to play with Oasis again, maybe he could join a tribute band and refuse to play songs written by his brother.
