When Gallagher declares, “I’m not a pop star”, it echoes years of him pushing back against what he sees as pop’s softness—fabricated lyrics, overproduced sounds, or performances catered to mass appeal rather than raw energy. In 2022, he explicitly stated he’d rather “jump off a f****** roof” than be called a pop star.
This isn’t new territory. He’s long criticized fellow musicians he considers too polished or too mainstream. For example, Gallagher once said bands like U2—who often label themselves as rock—were “highly fucking insulting” when they did so. He argued that despite using guitars, they hadn’t done anything he deemed authentically rock.
But the tension doesn’t just lie in his rejection of pop—it comes from past criticisms of his own pricing, marketing decisions, or behavior that some argue blur the lines. In 2017, he criticized Noel Gallagher’s tour tickets priced high, calling them out for being “£350 to go… what a c***.” Fans saw that as him slamming commercialism in others, but the same tools—ticket sales, large venues, radio play—also form parts of his own rock journey.
Critics have also pointed out contradictions. When Gallagher mocks others for being “pop,” some accuse him of benefiting from pop’s reach himself. His vocals have appeared on mainstream radio mixes. His concerts sell out huge stadiums—no small feat. Yet, in interviews he insists he doesn’t care about radio play or polished production, especially if it “takes all the rawness out.”
There are also controversies that shade his claim to rock authenticity. In 2025, he faced backlash for using a racially offensive slur in a social media post. Even though he apologized, critics said such incidents undermine the kind of integrity rock’n’roll is often idolized for.
Still, despite the smoke and mirrors, many fans resonate with his rejection of being labeled “pop.” For them, Gallagher’s grit, unapologetic style, and his years of raw live performance embody rock more than radio-friendly hits ever could. It’s less about strict genre definitions and more about attitude.
