Oasis: Back on the World Stage

Prior to meeting Noel Gallagher, I couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by his infamous reputation. From rapper Jay-Z to renowned producer Mark Ronson, the lead guitarist for legendary British rock band Oasis has feuded with 'em all. However, when we sat down for our interview to speak about his band's current tour, forthcoming album and the journey that got them to the top of the charts, he immediately put me at ease with his pleasant smile and down-to-earth demeanour.

Unfortunately, Oasis' world tour suffered a major setback since I chatted with Noel in Vancouver on August 27th. During the band's performance at Virgin Fest in Toronto on September 7th, Noel was attacked and injured by an audience member. As a result, Oasis was forced to cancel their remaining shows on the North American leg of the tour.

At the time I spoke to Noel however, the tour had just kicked off the previous night in Seattle, and he was eager to expose fans to the new songs. "This is the first time we've ever gone on the road and played new songs before a record's come out," explains Noel. "I don't know why we're doing that this time, but it's strange because the songs on the record are not very immediate. I don't know how they took to them last night. But Americans are weird. But it was alright, you know, once people get to know the record, it'll be great."

Dig Out Your Soul
The record in question is the seventh studio album from Oasis. Entitled Dig Out Your Soul, it's a rollercoaster ride of a record that exposes a darker side of the band. Unlike early Oasis albums, which were written entirely by Noel, this one includes three tracks by younger brother/lead vocalist Liam Gallagher, and one song each by bass guitarist Andy Bell and rhythm guitarist Gem Archer. Nevertheless, more than half the songs on the record are Noel's. "It's because I'm brilliant," says Noel with his signature tongue-in-cheek arrogance. "It so happens that more of mine tend to make [the record] than everybody else's. I can't help that. It's not that I sit there and say it has to be all of my songs."

It's not just the songwriting process that was different for Dig Out Your Soul; it's also apparent that Oasis has found some new sources of inspiration. Although ongoing influences from the Beatles are still evident ("We're obsessed with the 60s," remarks Noel), particularly in the album's first single, The Shock Of The Lightning, there are some contemporary influences as well. While they were writing the album, Noel claims they often listened to UK indie rockers Kasabian "Because [Dig Out Your Soul] is kind of more about the grooves and that's what they're about."

Beyond the groove-driven vibe of Dig Out Your Soul, there's a certain end-of-the-world feel radiated by all of the album's elements from the cover art to the lyrics to the music itself. "Funnily enough, when I had written my songs, and then Gem, Andy and Liam had written theirs, we didn't notice this," admits Gallagher. "But when the guy who was doing the artwork listened to the album, he said there's a lot of references to biblical stuff like the light, the devil, and angels and the rapture. He said, "It's almost like religious Armageddon." And we're like "Wow! Don't know where that's coming from."‚ –As an afterthought, he adds "Maybe it's to do with getting old. Or older, is what I'm saying."

Young Souls
Now older and wiser, the Gallagher brothers have come a long way since their teenaged years. Growing up in an underprivileged suburb of Manchester, they had a somewhat troubled youth and pursuing a career in music seemed completely out of reach. "Where I come from in the particular part of Manchester, it was so inconceivable that anybody like me or Liam could ever be rock stars," reflects Noel. "Because nobody from where we lived ever amounted to anything. But as luck would have it, we started the band for something to do and we practiced a lot and we became good, then we became great, and then everybody else got on it."

When "everybody else got on it," Oasis was offered a record deal, a six-album contract back in 1993 with Sony America, and the guys were thrilled. "When we signed the record deal, it was like, "Wow! This is really gonna happen, they're gonna let us go to a studio and make an album. I think my mother was a bit like, I don't think she took us seriously until we were on television. It's the truth! I think she thought we were just f***ing about. We were like "We got a record deal!" And she was like, "Right! what does that mean?" And the next thing's like, we're on Top of the Pops, and she was like, "You're on TV! You're gonna be famous."

So for someone who self-admittedly "came from nothing" and rose to the top, what advice can Noel offer to teens who are struggling to find themselves right now? "The most difficult thing I think in life is knowing what you want to do. Once you know what you want to do, you can set out and go and get it, you know? And if you fail: f***ing fail, and if you get there: great. But there are a lot of people who just meander through life and they don't know what they want to be and what they want to do. I think that would kill me. D'you know what I mean? It would kill me."

Satisfied Souls
Lucky for fans and the band alike, the chaps of Oasis discovered their calling in life and seem to be at a point in their career where they are able to appreciate the success. "We just do it for the sheer joy of it and it just so happens we manage to make a great living out of it," says Noel. "And we've got millions of fans all over the world, we've met all these amazing people, done amazing things. It's still very surprising to me. I never tire of the magic."

The magic will continue as Oasis carries on with their world tour this fall –and Noel is hoping fans will embrace the band's latest musical offering. "I just hope they like it, and f***ing come and see us," says Noel. "It's easy to be pretentious about music but I'm not. Every time I get slightly pretentious about anything, something clicks on in my brain and I think, "it's just another record."

Just another record in the history of a band that has been in the headlines as much for their controversial behaviour as their award-winning music, but either way, Noel just wants Oasis to be recognized. "I would just like us to go down in musical history. It doesn't matter what they say –as long as they say something. As long as you're remembered, it doesn't really matter what for. I'd rather leave a footprint than be a little tiny footnote."

It's safe to say that Oasis has already left a major footprint and that Dig Out Your Soul is certain to add to the band's prominent place in modern music history.