Noel Gallagher Interview From Hong Kong Magazine

With Dig Out Your Soul the critics in general have said your music has changed.

N: Well, critics are always inventing new languages aren't they? For me, I speak a totally different language and I only write songs that I like myself. I'm not a person for change - I play the guitar and do rock music, and I'm not into jazz, heavey metal, reggae, R&B, hip-hop and I'm not gonna write an opera about monkeys. At the end of the day, what critics say doesn't affect me. I ain't gonna change.

There're a few Liam's tunes on the album - do you like his music?

N: I like Liam's songs. The best part in his entire character is music. The rest of him is a fxxking nightmare! But his music is great. I'd listen to it.

Half of the songs on this album weren't written by you (Noel corrects: "You could have said 'you wrote half the album by yourself!'"), would the next Oasis album be like that as well?

N: Yeah, I'd like that. But it's the producer who decides what songs go in there and what not. If he says seven of my songs make it, then seven it would be.

Ever considered letting Andy and Gem do vocals?

N: What, asking them to sing? That'd be taking the piss! Andy and Gem are great musicians. In fact Gem sings well but they're not born-to-be-singers. I just think they don't have enough of that confidence in them still.

What would break up Oasis? Sibling rivalry doesn't seem like it.

N: I don't know? Getting bald, fat, someone dies or I get bored? I don't see Oasis splitting up to be honest...just the gap between albums might get longer, cos we need to save up a lot of energy for each release. I'd say we still have another 15 years in us. I don't see anyone wanting to retire either. We like our music, so I think Oasis will keep going.

Can you sum up Oasis' music in one word?

N: No I don't think you can ever do that man, not even in one sentence. I could say "Rock n' Roll" but...I think we're one of the only two real bands left on this planet. U2 doesn't do some type of music, they do U2 music, and we're like that, we'd only do Oasis music. But if I have to describe Oasis music in one word, it would be "brilliant"!

You said you won't write pop songs with catchy melodies anymore.

N: No I didn't say that. What I meant was I don't give a shit about the charts anymore. I used to be obsessed with the charts, but then I found out I don't care any longer. Once you've been at no.1 it just gets boring. Like when we signed to Sony years ago I thought we were gonna be the greatest band in the world, but ever since that contract is finished, I no longer cared about sales or chart positions. I just need to make music that I like.

Have you thought about producing records for other people, like Bernard Butler does?

N: I have produced several records but nothing came of of that...I'd still want to produce records for bands that I like though, like Coldplay. They've got their own stuff and I've seen them live many times. They're brilliant. (Anyone in particular you'd want to work with then?) No...my ambition stays inside Oasis. I wouldn't find myself saying "Hey, you know what?! I'd LOVE to work with 50 Cent!!". Nah...my hands are full with Oasis already.

Any plans for a solo record?

N: No I don't have plans for that right now, no. Everyone's writing songs at Oasis and we're sitting on a pile of like 30 songs with some great b-sides that we haven't yet put out...I wonder they'll ever get done actually, may be a fxxking double record after I die or something!

I did have that idea before, so it's not entirely out of the question. I'll see how it goes. Just get the bloody tour done first.

Do you still buy music?

N: Yeah I'd still go to a record shop to buy music. I wouldn't change that cos I don't have a computer. I know people out there are against downloading and stuff...but that's unfortunately just the way it is. I was trying to get into it before and thought about buying a computer... (You still don't own one?) No, never have, you know? I have an iPod, but that you can put it in your pocket and fxxking carry it around. For God's sake, I've spent 11 years learning to use my mobile!

So...at 41, having spent 15 years as a rock star without a computer...I don't think I'd start needing one now. It's the same with cars, I've never bought a car (yeah right, Noel), I can't swim and I can't use chopsticks! But you know, there's always a fork around right?!

How do you blog if you don't have a computer?

N: I do it with my mobile and someone at the office helps out. I just text them and they'll put it on the computer for me.

Any serious after effects from the Toronto attack?

N: No. The only thing that's changed is we don't let people on stage anymore. The security is gonna get you. It didn't really affect me though...physically I'd still feel the pain...afterall I spent 8 weeks recovering from that...and I do feel a bit intimidated every time I come on stage. But you know...(getting pushed) it beats being in a plane crash, you know what I mean?

About the cancelled gigs in Beijing and Shanghai. They were supposedly cancelled because of what you said about Tibet (Noel: yeah it saved us a whole week), have you learnt any lessons on that?

N: No. The Chinese government is not happy with something I said like 12 years ago, but I don't remember fxxk all about anything I said 12 years ago! Now obviously, communists have long memories. Anyway, not letting us play there is some sort of an insult to me. I've never been to China! But you know, whatever, that's the way world politics is, you're just some guy playing music on this world and you get involved with it. No I haven't learnt any lessons, may be not to get involved with monks!

Do you have any opinions towards Tibet?

N: Absolutely not!

Source: East Touch Magazine Translated by kenshin03

Noel's TCT gig 'The Dreams We Have As Children (Live For Teenage Cancer Trust)’ is available to download now, click here for more details.