Being a talented musician and being a rock star are two different things entirely. Someone may have a powerful voice and exceptional skills, but true rock stardom requires a certain swagger and charisma that few can achieve. Noel Gallagher, known for his sharp wit and strong opinions, sees a distinction between technical skill and the presence that makes someone a true rock icon. In his view, even two frontmen from the biggest bands in rock history don’t quite measure up to that ideal.
Gallagher’s extensive background in rock and roll gives weight to his viewpoint. As a member of Oasis, he’s pulled inspiration from various sources, from the vocal stylings of “All the Young Dudes” in early versions of “Whatever” to the influences of Stevie Wonder and T-Rex that seep into hits like “Step Out” and “Cigarettes and Alcohol.” Yet, he managed to bring these influences into a unique sound, delivered with the raw edge that defined Oasis’s place in rock history.
The Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, achieved a fierce energy together that blended classic rock and punk, offering a fresh sound as the grunge wave receded. With Liam’s snarling vocals and Noel’s driving guitar, Oasis captured the essence of rock’s rebellious spirit, and Noel made sure to let the world know. Oasis wasn’t shy about calling out bands they felt didn’t uphold the same standards, often taking shots at acts like Blur, Phil Collins, and Robbie Williams. For Noel, rock and roll was as much about attitude as it was about music.
That attitude extended to some of his biggest heroes. As much as he admired The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Noel didn’t see every member of these bands as a “true rock star.” In particular, he felt that both Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger lacked the raw, larger-than-life persona that defined rock stardom.
In a 1998 interview, he explained, “Rock stars aren’t supposed to be well-behaved. Keith Richards – now there’s a rock star. Mick Jagger is not a rock star. Keith is.
Paul McCartney is not a rock star; Ronnie Wood is. You’re supposed to be larger than life. You’re supposed to believe that you’re gonna sprout wings at any given point and become the Archangel Gabriel. That’s what you’re paid to do.”
To Gallagher, this sense of unpredictability and danger is essential to rock’s identity. While Jagger could command a stage with his dance moves, Noel saw Keith Richards as embodying the darker, untamed spirit of rock. Similarly, while McCartney brought a playful and melodic quality to The Beatles, it was John Lennon who, in Noel’s eyes, captured the revolutionary energy that rock requires.
Even though Noel’s views on his musical heroes have softened over time, this ideal of a rock star still informs his work with Oasis. Noel might be the mastermind behind Oasis’s iconic catalog, but he credits Liam with bringing the raw, electrifying presence that defined their live performances.
For Noel, the essence of rock stardom is found in that untamed spirit – the kind that, even years later, he feels is missing in some of rock’s biggest names.
