#oasis split

Noel: The reason for me leaving the band was it had gotten increasingly more violent.

Q: You mean physically violent?

Noel: yeah, yeah, physical violence— not by me I have to add, by Liam

Q: Your brother attacking you?

Noel: Yeah, yeah. Well, it wasn't really— there was a bit of that, but you know when they play the rugby and New Zealand do that dance, the Haka? He would do that a lot, but in a violent kinda way, d'you know what I mean? But the reason for that was because we grew up and became different people.

Q: and I remember you were hailed as the new Lennon-McCartney, you alone. How was that for your brother? You were getting all the credibility.

Noel: Yeah, but he got all the women.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Relationship: Liam Gallagher/Noel Gallagher

Additional Tags:

Sibling Incest

Angst

Hurt No Comfort

2020

COVID-19 Pandemic

Oasis Split

Phone Calls & Telephones

"D'you remember, Noely? That night in Paris. When you left without even slamming the door. Fucking hate this fucking country. Yeah… So, you left, didn't slam the door. Everyone standing there, looking at their feet, right, at fucking plum, or mango, or whatnot… Broken guitars lying on the floor. Fans shouting outside. And me, all I hear is how quiet it is. Thinking, you're not coming back."

Screenshots from The Times interview with Liam and John, which is behind a paywall. 25 Feb 2024

I reckon Oasis for me, its dark. You know, as far as I’m concerned…You know, for me, I’ve said this to people before, once Oasis ends it’ll be dark. If, you know what I mean? I reckon I won’t go on and do something else. I can’t see myself going on and doing something else. I reckon it’ll be the be all and end all of my life.

One of the last interviews Liam gave before Oasis split. Not an easy read.

Thanks to original source provider:

https://x.com/noelasis3/status/1757704360358727911?s=20

I had this issue of NME. Reading the article again for the first time since that year stirred unexpectedly vivid emotions. I recall a sad, almost lonesome feeling that I didn't quite understand at the time. I didn't want Noel to go solo, but I also didn't want him staying where he was so obviously unhappy. Many fans felt the same way. We sensed the end was in sight, but we couldn't have guessed quite how soon. Weeks after this interview, they split.

Today, I can see the bravado Liam was using to mask the pain, but I couldn’t then. Not many could, as we now know. His volatile attitude towards Noel here is representative of how he came across that year, especially on stage, and also explains the growing sympathy for Noel at the time. The way Noel left the band was not ok and I still remember the bewilderment. But why that way? What happened? Fifteen years later, we still don't know the full truth of what happened that night. We probably never will.

Mostly, I’m struck by how plainly in the final paragraphs I can see Liam agonising over the idea of letting Noel go. But I couldn’t see it then. Now I can empathise. Looking back, I can see that as a fan I was subconsciously struggling with the idea of letting Oasis go. You felt the end coming but you didn't want to face it.

For new fans and followers who don't know about Noel's tour diary and the 'man period' comment, some context:

"Well that gig at the Roundhouse was...erm...very odd...so y'know, onwards and sideways." Noel Gallagher, Tales from the Middle of Nowhere 2009.

On this night, 14 years ago, Oasis played at The Roundhouse in Camden for the iTunes festival, which included the now infamous 'Angry Liam' performance of Slide Away. Whilst Liam's breathtakingly powerful performance understandably gets all the attention, Noel's outro is equally powerful and emotive. Of all Noel's solos, this one is my personal favourite.

4:14 In stark contrast to his passive, almost tearful stance earlier, Noel sings a fierce rendition of 'take me there'. Liam notices. And he's not having it. He looks away in disgust, anger or despair?

4:55 Noel launches into the solo and he’s not playing to the audience. He’s playing to Liam. Noel glances over at Liam who, simmering with anger, refuses to acknowledge the solo as he has done in the past. Too little, too late?

The solo continues. Another glance at Liam. Still no returning glance. Even Noel’s touch of flamboyance at the very end, the rock star flourish, isn't enough to move Liam. As Noel crosses the floor at the end, the look on his face says it's all over. A little over a month later, it was.

On this night, Noel nailed that solo. The delivery is flawless, sheer perfection. You can't see the emotion in his face while he's playing, you have to listen for it: brief, direct, yet deeply expressive; you can hear the love. He never played this solo in previous gigs that year quite like he did that night. Was Liam listening? Whatever had gone down between them, love wasn’t enough to put things right.

From Tales From the Middle of Nowhere

Translating Noel:

The Roundhouse was...erm...very odd: that was fucking excruciating and my heart was ripped to shreds.

What' siz' name exploded with pretend rage: Liam was the angriest I've ever seen him

Strange cat: I know exactly why he was angry

Probably on his man period: I know exactly why he was angry

Didn't notice him getting any more hairy though: it's a miracle he restrained himself as well as he did

Onwards and sideways: we are fucked

Didn't stick around for the gig...couldn't be arsed: didn't want to fight with Liam, especially with him in that state and me in my state

Too many squares for my liking: Liam's people suspect I'm leaving and are not shy in letting me know what they think of me

The Gig in question, The Roundhouse Liam's anger on full display

Translating Noel:

I didn't enjoy it one bit: worst night of my life, maybe even worse than the Roundhouse gig

Dunno: I know exactly why

Couldn't get into it: couldn't concentrate I'm so upset

Very strange: we are fucked

Don't feel too clever: Don't know if I'm doing the right thing

Outrageous stomach ache: I feel sick with the stress and anxiety of what I am about to do

I'm coming down with summat: I can't handle this

Might have to get the doctor out: I'm not ok

Hope it came out of the speakers all right: hope nobody noticed my distress

Gutted: Heartbroken

Oh well there's always tomorrow: I know we're done

The gig in question, V Festival, Oasis' last

Translating Noel:

Dearly beloved: Dear Liam

I have been forced to leave Oasis: you have forced me to leave Oasis

The details are not important: the details are too much for me to handle

...the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me has become intolerable: Oasis is no longer a safe space and I am too tired and emotionally vulnerable to try and resolve our many issues

The lack of support from my bandmates and management: no one will help us, everyone just stands by and watches us destroy our relationship

...has left me with no other option: I know I've always claimed to be the band's problem solver but I can't solve a problem as big as us by myself

...seek pastures new: I have to look out for myself

Another interesting interview from 2015. This was something of a peace year for the brothers. There are other interviews from this year where Noel is being quite reasonable and sometimes even nice about Liam. 16:50 for Noel being played new Belgian music - his reaction is wonderful to see.

7:30 

Int - […] you’ve made up with your brother, you also made up with Damon Albarn, and all those old enemies of yours. Is it true […]

Noel - […] brothers never really fall out. Liam is a very angry man still. And as long as he’s angry we won’t be friends I’m afraid.

Int - […] I always thought Liam can be very angry but you can be very... [makes stabbing gesture] 

Noel - What does that mean?

Int - It means like you are also saying not very nice things but in a subtle way.

Noel - Yeah, well, maybe…I guess. But for my own part, all I ever wanted was to make the band the best that it could be. And I feel, or I felt at the time that Liam…just was in it for himself and yeah, that tends to rile me a little bit. If I’m subtle, that’s a good thing. It’s better than being violent.

The interviewer goes on to talk with surprising bluntness about how Noel is perceived by others; that he’s perceived to be angry (ironic, given Noel had just mentioned that Liam is an angry man). Noel defends himself, insisting that he’s not angry, he just takes his work seriously. 

“People mistake my seriousness for anger. I’m not there to enjoy myself, I’m there to work because people pay their hard earned money to see us play and I wanna get it right.” He goes on to say that it takes a ‘great deal of effort’ for him to make a band work. There were obviously multiple problems that the brothers had to grapple with during Oasis but differences in work ethic or approaches to work - partly stemming from their age gap - must have been right up there, if not the biggest problem, which of course was highlighted as far back as Wibling Rivalry.

Having survived a tough time in his life and seeing how hard Debbie works for him, I don't doubt Liam now realises that to be successful it can’t just be all fun and games and getting hammered.