IN a frank interview with The Irish Post, Noel Gallagher has spoken about why bands like Kasabian and Keane can’t compete with Celtic bands like Oasis and The Manic Street Preachers.
Gallagher, whose mother Peggy is from Mayo, also complained that while Oasis were never afraid to speak out, bands today are too concerned with being cool.
The Oasis lynchpin called out bands like The Arctic Monkeys, saying they are “invisible, they don't say anything”.
"Liam and I were up for getting involved, moving to London and shaking things up", he continued.
"Oasis weren't cool. Now everybody is a bit too cool for school, cool is not standing in a corner with sunglasses, smoking a cigarette, drinking champagne and quoting Jack Kerouac. Cool is not giving a f**k about what you say or what you wear, cool is not being cool."
Gallagher attributes his songwriting success with Oasis and as a solo artist to the joy and sense of hope that comes from his Irish roots.
“Live Forever has the saddest chords but the most uplifting message and that's being Irish, the Irish can cry while they are drinking. They cry at funerals and then have the best party.
It's the Celt in us. You find it in the Scottish, the Irish, Scousers and maybe the Welsh if you look at a band like the Manics. All the Celtic bands have that thing, these bands have something that the likes of Keane don't have and will never possess.
The Libertines are fair enough but they don't have that thing. U2 have got it - there's a rage in Celtic people, not anger...there's a joy that goes with it."
The Celtic and Manchester City supporter also spoke about the tensions between his team and Rangers in the interview.
Asked about choosing between England and the Republic of Ireland in soccer Gallagher said he was a Republic of Ireland supporter and doesn't consider himself to be "English at all".
Gallagher has been speaking to the media ahead of the release of his new album, Chasing Yesterday, out March 2 and to promote his tour with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Read the full interview in next issue of The Irish Post, out March 4.
