Music
Monday, 02 March 2009 09:03
Written by Helen Elfer & Jade Bremner

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Exclusive Interview with Oasis (for the gig that will never be in Shanghai)

So the Oasis gig’s off. We’re gutted! But all is not lost, here’s a cracking interview the band did with that’s Shanghai just before the news of their canceled concerts broke. The full story is now emerging on why they are not coming, one of the most bizarre stories we've heard for some time.

Noel discusses China, the financial crisis, and the band’s new album, while Liam rambles on about, well, anyone’s guess. Here’s the full transcript, warts ‘n’ all...

[Ring Ring]
Noel: Hello?
Helen/Jade: Hello?
Noel: Are you on speakerphone?
Helen: We are.
Noel: I can barely hear a word you’re saying.
Helen: Is that any better?
Noel: ???

Helen: Oh my god, oh my god! They’ll phone back wont they?
Jade: I hope so
Helen: Oh my God. I just hung up on Noel Gallagher.
Jade: Er…fuck…

Helen: I can’t believe this.
Jade: Haha technical difficulties.
Helen: What are we gonna do, just wait until they call?
Jade: Yeah they’ll call back.
Helen: What if he really can’t hear us?
Jade: He can hear us he’s just being an arse about it. Just get a bit closer to the mic, wherever it is.
Helen: Oh my god, could there be a worse start! Is the tape still running?
Jade: Yeah still running, it’s fine.

[Ring Ring]
Karina: Hello!
Helen: Hello!
Karina: Hi it’s Karina here from the Oasis office.
Jade: Sorry about that, we got cut off there!
Karina: Oh no, I’ve got them on the line now I’ll just put you through…
Jade: Thanks

Noel: Hello?
Helen: Hi Noel, sorry about that we got cut off.
Noel:Yes, I had, uh, worked that one out.
Helen: I’ll just crack on with the questions then…
Noel: If you could just get as close to the mic or whatever you’re talking into, that would be a huge benefit to me considering I’m old and uh, hard of hearing.
Helen: I’ll speak up. What do you think Dig Out Your Soul would sound like if there hadn’t been the White Album?
Noel:[Pause] Oh interesting! Well it probably wouldn’t have been made, I wouldn’t have thought, erm…that’s a really good question, you should ask that to Gem, he’s really good with answers for questions like that.
Helen: Yeah?
Noel: You don’t sound very Chinese by the way?
Helen: I’m not very Chinese at all, I’m from London.
Noel:Oh, this is for China though right?
Helen: Yes for That’s Shanghai magazine, it’s English-language media here.
Noel: Oh…well I don’t know what it would sound like. Got no idea.
Helen: Ok, well on the same topic, we were listening to the album today and thought that a lot of the songs on it have really depressed or paranoid moments – we wondered if you had planned to make a darker album? Some of the lyrics are very anxious at times, would you agree with that?
Noel:We’d uh, we’d have to talk about specific songs then wouldn’t we?
Helen: Well I’ve got a few lyrics picked out here…
Noel: Ok.
Helen: One that says: ‘I tried to talk to god with to no avail’, or ‘If I were to fall would you be there to applaud’ or ‘I’m tired come and get me off of the merry-go round’. They all sound like kind of depressed moments.
Noel: Right. It doesn’t surprise me that you being a journalist, you perceive music in a completely different way to everybody else, but I don’t really analyze for my own part. One of those lyrics are Liam’s, that’s the middle one, so I can’t comment on that.
Helen: Sure.
Noel: The other two, the third one is a new song that was written about an encounter that I had with my now beautiful current girlfriend about 10 years ago in a night club in Spain. So I was kind of recounting that particular memory. And yeah, 10 years ago I was probably not as happy as I am now, so that’s cleared that one up – ok?
Helen: Would you agree that the whole album is a little bit darker, or is that just my perception of it?
Noel: Oh is it a bit darker…it’s not as dark as Standing on the Shoulder of Giants; I can assure you of that, you know what; I don’t know, I don’t really think about it. I just kinda write what pops into my head and if it means one thing or another to a different person, I usually treat that as a valid point. Because if it says to you there are songs about frustration and anxiousness fine! I’m not going to argue with you but if you’re asking me my opinion, I don’t know.

Jade: What are the biggest influences on the album?
Noel: Uh, have you ever heard of a band from Germany called Noise?
Jade: Yes.
Noel: Yes? Oh, well, I was listening to them quite a lot before we made the album and I was listening to The Pretty Things, and I was listings to general 60s psychedelic music, you know. The biggest influence was the 60’s as always.
Jade: What is the most insightful comment anyone’s made about the album? And has anyone say anything wrong about it?
Noel: That all my songs and the rest are quite average.
Jade: Is that the most wrong?
Noel: No I thought that was the most insightful
Jade: What is the best song you’ve written to date? And what’s the most overrated?
Noel: Best song I’ve every written, I’d probably say, Rock and Roll Star, the most overrated Wonderwall.

Helen: Why is Wonderwall overrated? Most people would say…
Noel: Exactly, most people would say…that’s why it’s overrated.

Jade: Here’s a topical one: do you think the current economic crisis, lack of employment, national depression, and lack of opportunities and so on can inspire or drive music? And would you say that’s where Oasis started at the beginning?
Noel: Well yeah, when we started in the early 90s it was a pretty grim time when all the Conservatives were sill in power. Margaret Thatcher and all that, well she had just left, it was John Major I think it was. But yeah I think times of crisis usually bring out the best in music and fashion and politics and things like that. I hope the financial crisis gets a bit worse; at least we’ll get a few good albums out of it.
Jade: Haha I’d probably agree with you there. Who do you rate in music? Who’s the best band?
Noel:Well I really like Kasabian, I really like the Enemy, I really like ermm, well if I was to pick one it would be Kasabian because I’ve just heard their new album and it’s really good.

Helen: We’ll try and download that then…
Noel (interrupting): Well it’s not out yet.
Helen: …it can be hard to get new British music here.
Noel: Well you’re in the middle of nowhere aren’t ya?
Helen: Kind of…
Noel: What do you actually do there, do you run a magazine there or what?
Helen: Yes it’s a magazine aimed at English speakers, covering lifestyle, culture, music and that sort of thing.
Noel:How did you end up in China?
Helen: I was looking for job on a website in London and there was this little box that said, ‘jobs in rest of the world’ and there happened to be a good job in China so I went for it.
Noel: Ok well, I’ll stop interviewing you now and you can interview me.
Helen: Ok, can I ask you a very China-specific question?
Noel: It’s not about what kind of food I like?
Helen: No we won’t bore you that much! We found some old Chinese proverbs that we though sound Gallagher-esque, and sound like they might fit in to Oasis songs. So If I tell you them can you pick the one you most like? And tell us why you like it?
Noel: Ok.
Helen: The first one: a fool judges people by the presents they give him, the second one is: women hold up most of the sky, the third one is we think too small like the frog at the bottom of the well, and the fourth on is: he who is drowned is not troubled by the rain. What do you make of them?
Noel: Well they’re all quite mental aren’t they?
Helen: Yep, that’s why we thought of you guys…
Noel: Ha ha ha thanks a lot. What’s the question? Which one sums up Oasis?
Helen: No no no [laughs] that would be pretty rude, erm no, do you think they sound Gallagher-esque and if you had to use one in your lyrics which would it be?
Noel: It would be the last one, I really liked that.
Helen: He who is drowned is not troubled by the rain?
Noel: Yeah, it’s saying if you ain’t got nothin’ then you got nothing to lose. Correct?

[Beep beep]
Karina: Ladies, can you wrap it up please?
Helen: Certainly, Noel it’s been really good to talk to you.
Jade: Fantastic, thank you.
Noel: Hopefully I’ll catch you in Shanghai then.
Helen: Yeah really looking forward to the gig.
Noel: Well make yourself known, and we’ll have a beer?
Jade: Yeah definitely. Is Liam there at all?
Noel: No he’s not here.
Helen: Oh, we were supposed to be speaking to him for a few minutes after you if he has time?
Noel: I neither know nor care.
Helen: Ok well thanks for you time then, all the best, bye.
Jade: Bye.
Noel: Bye. [Ring Ring]
Jade: Hello?
Karina: Hi it’s Karina
Jade/Helen: Hi
Karina: Was that alright?
Jade: Yes great thank you, sorry about the mishap at the beginning.
Karina: Oh that’s alright; it’s a long way from here to China.
Jade: It is.
Karina: Ok I’ll try and get you five minutes with Liam.
Liam: Hello?
Jade: Hello is that Liam?
Liam: Yes
Jade: Hi Liam, it’s Helen and Jade here in Shanghai.
Liam: ‘Ow are ya alright?
Jade: Yeah good thanks, how are you?
Liam: Buzzin’
Jade: Good good, I’ll crack on with the questions then shall I?
Liam: Yeah.
Jade: So if some local Shanghainese kids were asking their parents’ permission to go to the Oasis gig, how would you tell them to explain the wholeOasis package in a couple of sentences?
Liam: Nice, honest, hard working young men from Manchester.
Helen: You wouldn’t mention the music?
Liam: Oh yeah… I’d say we’re the best band in the world like.
Helen/Jade: [Chuckles]
Helen: Do you still think you are the best band in the world?
Liam: Oh yeah.
Helen: Who comes second?
Liam: Not interested.
Jade: So are you all clean now? Is it all about the music or do you still party hard?
Liam: It’s about everything, I’m not gonna get involved with that because it, er, a bit er, yeah it’s about the music and having a good time. I wouldn’t do it if it was just all about making music, that’s what all the other bands do innit, it’s about avin’ a laugh.
Jade: So are there still drugs about?
Liam: Na.
Jade: All gone?
Liam: All gone.
Helen: Do you think it makes a difference to your songwriting if you use any kind of drugs? Do you think you’re more creative with it or without it?
Liam: I don’t think anyone’s used that kind of thing to er, you just do it when you do it, people have been doing it errr, if you do get into that stuff because you’re in a band you’re a clown, you know what I mean? We were brought up in Manchester where we were doing it before we were in bands, do you know what I mean? You don’t sort of join a band and go hey lets go and get high, as they say.
Jade: It’s just part of the package?
Liam:Sometimes it works, but it don’t work for me.
Helen: Your gigs in England are known for having a raucous crowd and football match atmosphere…
Liam:We’re very proud of that.
Helen: …do you think you’ll be able to recreate the same kind of atmosphere in Shanghai?
Liam: We’ve never played there, we’re just gonna go on and do what we do, just play the songs that we play in England, if we cause a commotion we cause a commotion, if we don’t we don’t, we not gonna do anything different. We go up on stage and give it our all, whether it is England, America, Shanghai or the moon and if people get off on it and not smack each other in the face so be it, it’s none of my business.
Helen: Do you think there will be any trouble at your gigs?
Liam: I would like to think that there will be passionate people there. It’s all about passion, do you know what it mean? I wouldn’t say it’s about causing trouble, they just get into it do you know what I mean? Some people get into it more than others, I hope people get into it and they don’t just stand there because they’ll be wasting their time, our time and their money, but we’ll be onstage having a good time.
Helen: A lot of bands thrive on tension and difficult dynamics within the band.  But this album is one of your best in a long time and that seems to go alongside the fact that your relationship with your brother is actually a lot smoother these days…
Liam: Me and our kid haven’t got a relationship to be quite honest with ya. He does his thing, and I do my thing. The only time we sort of bump into each other, and that’s rarely, is on stage. There’s things he don’t like about me and there’s things I don’t like about him. He can’t change me, I wouldn’t wanna change him. The main thing is that both love Oasis, so that’s bout it. We just do Oasis things…if that causes tension or whatever…

Helen: What sort of things would he want to change about you?
Liam: I wouldn’t know, you’d have to ask him. I’m me and he’s him. He’s got his views on how to be a super human being and I’ve got my view on how to be a super human being
Helen: Do you think he is a super human being? Do you think he’s a genius?
Liam: Yeah.
Helen: Would you say that to his face?
Liam: Would I say that to his face?
Helen: Yeah
Liam: No. I’d say he was a genesis.
[Baffled pause]
Jade: So, have you changed over the last 15 years, since the first album came out?
Liam: I don’t personally think I have, no, I’m still a cunt, you know what I mean? You’d have to ask other people, you know what I mean?
Helen: What about Noel? Do you think fame has changed him?
Liam:No. Actually yeah, it has, he’s a proper cunt now.
Helen: Worse than before?
Liam: Yeah
Helen: What’s the worst thing about him?
Liam: It’s just his head isn’t it? He’s got a funny little head
Helen/Jade: [chuckle]
Jade: Back to the music then, where do you see the future for rock and roll?
Liam: I don’t know man, there are always gonna be bands blabbin’ on about how great they are, and that’s what it’s about, do you know what I mean? It’s about having a bit of confidence and not sitting around wanting to be small. So hopefully there’s gonna always wanna be bands as big as us or U2 or whoever and that’s where it lies, I hate bands that stink small time, do you know what I mean? Who just wanna have a little hit and wear pointy shoes, I wanna be the biggest thing since, you know, whoever.
Helen: who do you really rate at the moment then?
Liam: Kasabian and a band called Twisted Wheel, they’re kinda like new bands and the rest I’m not interested, they don’t move me, do you know what I mean, that doesn’t mean to say I hate them, it just not my thing, do you know what I mean?

Helen: Have you ever met anyone you’ve idolized and they’ve turned out to be an idiot?
Liam: No, everyone I’ve met who I’ve idolized has been cool, Paul Weller, Paul McCartney - he’s cool, Ian Brown’s cool, Sean Ryder, anyone I’ve met has been cool like, but then again I’m into real people I’m not into manufactured fucking idiots do you know what I mean?

Helen: Out of these music legends, who do think is growing old gracefully, music-wise and which way would you want Oasis to develop? The Stone Roses, Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.
Liam: The Rolling Stones don’t make music anymore and nor to the Stone Roses, so that’s no good to me. So Paul McCartney’s still making music, whether it’s as good as the Beatles, which it isn’t, do you know what I mean? The Stone Roses are cool but split up years ago. Rolling Stones don’t really do much, they’re cool and that, but I’d wanna keep making music. There’s no point going out every five years and playing your old songs, that’s no good to me man, you know what I mean? I’d have to go with Paul McCartney, at least he’s making music.

Helen: So the key is to just keep going at it?
Liam: Yeah I like all our records; do you know what I mean? As long as we keep making music - that’s the way forward. If you’re not making music and you’re just going out to play the old stuff then I’d rather work in a fucking butchers.

Jade: What’s the best song you’ve ever written? And what’s your most overrated?
Liam: Most overrated has got to be Wonderwall, and the best song is, well there are loads of songs we’ve never played, we write them, record them but haven’t played them. I like all our songs.
Helen: I read in a recent interview that you’ve got loads of material that didn’t make it on to the album. Have you got any plans to release it?
Liam: Yeah at some point, you know, but you’ve gotta release one album at a time, we’re not getting into doing double albums. It will still get released at some point hopefully. It will get released when you’re alive or when you’re dead who knows?

[Beep Beep]
Karina: Can we wrap it up now please ladies.
Jade/Helen: Sure.
Jade: Liam can I sneak in a cheeky one?
Liam: Yeah course.
Jade: Why are you so critical of other bands, particularly the ones who try and emulate you?
Liam: Like who?
Jade: All those indie bands with pointy shoes…
Liam: Listen, people ask my opinion, I don’t ring journalists up and say can you slag that band off, if someone asks me about a band I’ll give them my opinion. They’ve got the right to slag my band off but they don’t because they’re all shit bands who wear pointy shoes. But they’ve got the right to, and I’ve got the right to my opinion. I don’t give a fuck about any other band except Oasis, but when someone asks me about what I think of them I’m gonna give my opinion.
Helen: What have you got against pointy shoes?
Liam: They’re no good for ya…they’re no good for ya.
Helen: What shoes would you recommend Liam?
Liam [pauses and thinks]: I don’t know, but not pointy ones, they’re no good for ya man, you’ll take someone’s eye out with them.

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