In the mid-90s, Oasis emerged, positioning themselves as the heirs to The Beatles’ throne, ready to transform the sound of their Merseyside predecessors into a modern and less frivolous version.
However, much to their dismay, George Harrison and Paul McCartney made it clear they were not on board with this notion, openly criticizing the Mancunians. They weren’t alone; The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Mick Jagger joined in on the verbal assault, a blow made heavier by the fact that they were heroes to the Gallagher brothers.
The rivalry between Oasis and The Beatles’ legacy sparked curiosity about which Gallagher brother admired The Beatles more. Liam Gallagher’s devotion runs deep, as evidenced by naming his son Lennon, a tribute to John Lennon’s lasting influence on him. It’s fortunate for Liam that Lennon wasn’t alive to weigh in on Oasis, as that may have colored his adoration for the iconic Beatle.
The conflict ignited in 1997 when Oasis viewed an independent documentary about themselves in a London hotel suite. While the film celebrated Oasis for reviving rock ‘n’ roll, they were blindsided by critical comments from The Beatles and The Stones.
Harrison criticized their music as “lacking depth” and called Liam a “pain,” while McCartney dismissed them as “derivative” and “self-important.” Jagger chimed in with remarks about their music being un-danceable, and Richards bluntly labeled them “crap.”
Feeling cornered, Liam Gallagher didn’t hold back during a Radio 1 interview, using the opportunity to launch a furious tirade against his musical idols.
“I will beat the fucking shit out of Harrison, Jagger, Richards, and that other cunt,” he exclaimed, declaring, “If any of those old farts have a problem with me, let them leave their Zimmer frames at home, and I’ll hold them up with a good right hook. They’re jealous and senile. If they want to fight, I’ll beat them up.”
Years later, Oasis reconciled with many of their critics, though Harrison’s passing in 2001 meant he would not be part of any resolution. In a 2016 interview, McCartney acknowledged Oasis’s talent but cautioned against their bold declaration of being “bigger than The Beatles,” suggesting it was a self-imposed curse.“Be bigger than The Beatles, but don’t say it. The minute you say it, everything you do from then on will be looked at in the light of that statement,” he noted.
Liam even supported The Rolling Stones during their European tour in 2018, indicating any animosity had faded. The exact reason why The Beatles and The Rolling Stones teamed up to criticize Oasis remains murky, but it seems they aimed to impart a lesson to the rising band. The unauthorized documentary was ultimately banned from British TV, yet the echoes of that moment still resonate in rock history.
For aspiring musicians, a crucial takeaway is to refrain from claiming you’ll eclipse The Beatles, lest you invoke the ire of rock’s established legends.
