John Lydon’s unrelenting criticism of musicians has been the foundation of his nearly whole career. Even though he was a driving force behind the punk movement in the late 1970s, John Lydon was just as insightful in his interviews as he was in his music, often calling people out for not living up to the real standards of what a rock star ought to be.
Though most would take pride in donning one of Lydon’s criticisms, he wasn’t a fan of the kind of music that Oasis represented when it first emerged.
On the other hand, it appeared that the Gallagher brothers were continuing Lydon’s legacy. They were more than happy to name-drop anyone they could think of and brag about being the best band in the world in every interview they ever did. What is there not to love for a punk?
Even some of the group’s musical inspiration came from Lydon’s work. With the exception of Liam Gallagher’s caustic vocal delivery, much of the Definitely Maybe album’s hypnotic repetition on songs like “Columbia” and “Rock and Roll Star” could have been inspired by the same kind of thinking that gave rise to some of Lydon’s PiL compositions.
For Oasis, The Beatles surpassed the Sex Pistols, despite sound being just a minor part of their appeal. They undoubtedly give each of their songs a more aggressive edge. However, anyone who claims that Oasis sounds nothing like the Fab Four is living in a fantasy world. They have either never heard a Beatles song or are in denial.
Lydon expressed his distaste for the music, stating, “I like them as chaps, but I hate their sound“. Despite the fact that the attitude was undoubtedly present. My parents used to play that Sixties crap, and it drove me crazy. Twenty years ago, the Sex Pistols opened a lot of doors. These days, I just have to watch as bands like Oasis shut them. They’re really silly.
Not that Lydon didn’t make a passing comment. Although the early grunge movement had begun to pave the way for something fresh to emerge, some fans found it difficult to see grunge as anything more than a blatant rehash of rock’s past once hits like “Live Forever” and “Supersonic” began to gain massive popularity.
However, reducing Oasis to a nostalgia act already leaves out a tonne of excellent music. Noel acknowledges that there were some similarities between them and 1960s rock. But other songs, like “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” seem to stand the test of time. Additionally, a song like “Bring It On Down” has the punk icon’s DNA all over it, in case you Lydon thought they were derived from The Beatles.
Even though Oasis was glad to stand in for the heyday of rock & roll when they were still together, it wasn’t all that bad. It was nice to see them dethrone the establishment. For new bands, relying too much on nostalgia might be risky. However, it’s crucial to know your history and the origins of the genre you play.
