In a candid recent interview, Noel Gallagher expressed his discomfort with the frequent comparisons drawn between Oasis and The Beatles, labeling them as nothing short of “embarrassing.” While the Manchester Britpop legends were always open about The Beatles’ profound influence on their music and style, Gallagher’s remarks reflect a more nuanced perspective.
In the wake of their first two albums, Definitely Maybe (1994) and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), Gallagher famously claimed that Oasis was “bigger” than The Beatles, echoing the Fab Four’s own declaration of being “bigger than Jesus.” He later confessed that he was under the influence of drugs when he made that bold statement.
His brother, Liam Gallagher, was no stranger to grand claims either, once asserting that “what [Oasis] did in three [years] took the Beatles eight.” Their homage to the iconic band reached a peak when they sampled John Lennon’s voice for their song “I’m Outta Time” from Dig Out Your Soul, marking one of their most Beatles-inspired works.
However, during a preview screening of Peter Jackson’s three-part Beatles documentary, Get Back, Noel Gallagher reflected on the comparisons and stated, “When Oasis started, we were so big we were compared to [The Beatles] size-wise and musically, embarrassingly, compared to them as well.” He admitted, “[It’s embarrassing] because we weren’t as good as them.”
Despite his critical take on the comparisons, Gallagher openly acknowledged the immense influence The Beatles have had on him and countless others. “They mean everything to me,” he said, adding, “They’ve definitely got the best tunes, hands down.”
In his view, the Beatles’ impact is unparalleled: “They influenced everybody who influenced everybody else, who influenced everybody that came and went. I don’t know a single guy playing the guitar or writing songs that wouldn’t cite the Beatles as an influence.”
