NG: We used to do ”Help” (the Beatles) and “Come On Feel the Noise” by Slade ‘n suff… “I Am the Walrus” will be in tonight.
SS: I heard you and Paul McCartney actually got together and performed “Come Together”…?
NG: Yeah, it was for a charity album, “War Child,” which was for the little kids in Bosnia and everyone on it had 24 hours to do a track and me and Paul Weller and Paul McCartney got together. I wish I could remember more. I was extremely drunk at the time. Somebody’s got it on video so I know I was there in the flesh, if not in spirit… but I was drinking plenty of spirits.
SS: I’ve got a guitar question… what’s your favourite?
NG: Oh fuck… I mean, I collect ’em, I don’t actually know how many I’ve got but it must be getting into the hundreds now. I still keep playing the same one, the one I got built by Epiphone, me brown Epiphone that I’ll be playing tonight. It’s the easiest to play but I don’t get too sentimental about guitars or give ’em silly names or stuff like that…
SS: What was the very first song you remember?
NG: “She Loves You” by the Beatles, must ‘ave been a repeat on the telly cos I’m not old enough to ‘ave heard it the first time around, what about you?
SS: The Beatles “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music” or the Stones “Paint It Black”… both had already been out for almost a decade because I heard “Bohemian Rhapsody” a month or two later. I remember as a kid wondering why they’d want the red door painted black.
NG: Mick Jagger jus’ bein’ weird an’ all.
SS: It kinda worked for him though! I heard you nicked some toy instruments from his kids and used them on your last album?
NG: Borrowed, more like it. A little piano thing… I shouldn’t really be saying this, he’s not in Australia at the moment?
SS: He could be listening on the Internet…
NG: Oh, I’m done for theft… I’d better get out of this country.
SS: I also heard you rwant to buy your own football team?
NG: No, that’s not true, I was just saying that to piss the chairman of the club off cuz he thinks he’s gonna get some money out of me, but I’m not buying it… I’ve got better things to do with me money.
SS: What’s your favourite from your own material?
NG: “Supersonic” “D’You Know What I Mean?” was pretty good, “Don’t Look Back in Anger”… I don’t class myself as a really good lyricist, I’m not Morrissey, do ya know wot I mean? I’m not a writer, I’d much rather play guitar, do the melody but no one else can be bothered, they just leave it up to me.
SS: You also fronted the band when Liam got a sore throat?
NG: I’ve been known to play the pipes once in a while, I’m not too bad. I can certainly do a few acoustic songs which is my forte because I’ve got a softer voice, LIam’s got more growl so it’s better if he sings mostly. I can do it but it’s not something I enjoy.
SS: Where’s Liam now?
NG: I left him in a record shop down the road. He’s probably shoplifting or sommit!
SS: You Am I are doing the support tonight, how do you pick a support act?
NG: We just pick bands we like ’cause it gives us something to do while we’re hanging around waiting to go on. You Am I are brilliant. You should get there early and check ’em out; drummer’s brilliant, a bit like the Who. We’ve had Cornerstop and the Verve on tours ’cause they’re like mates and they need the money.
SS: So what’s life like when you’re not on tour?
NG: Sitting on my arse watching telly.
SS: Fave show?
NG: The Simpsons or Seinfeld. Top of the Pops is alright when we’re on it. Oh! and I do like that American Wrestling… lots of people give me stiff for this but it just cracks me up, man. It’s just so funny.
SS: Your entourage looks like a laid back bunch. Did fame take much getting used to?
NG: Nah, I’ve been preparing for this since I was 11. I used to interview myself, which is why I’m so good at this! They just tag along, drink all the beer, become obnoxious and I’ll get the blame for it on the way out of the studio!
SS: Cool, we’ll get publicity out of this for years to come. The time Oasis came and…
NG: …trashed the studio… I
SS: Absolutely. Have you found the press here any better than in England?
NG: Ummmm, some. A funny thing happened outside the hotel. Some bloke came up to me in the foyer with this tape recorder and he shoved it in my face and said: “What do you think about the press intrusion on this tour?” and I said: “Why don’t you piss off back to fucking journalism school and just think about what you just said for a minute!”
I was trying to have me tea and he’s asking about the press intrusion. and he’s a press person intruding on my cup of coffee, fucking idiot… but I suppose it comes hand in hand with the job. I don’t like it when they blow little incidents out of proportion and when they ask stupid questions. ”What do you think of your fans?” We LOVE them, do ya know wot I mean? As if we’re gonna say they’re a bunch of tossers! Idiots, man, do ya know wot I mean?
SS: OK, ummmm, I’m too scared to speak now…
Noel laughs, the entourage laughs, I chuckle a bit…
SS: Who do you think will be the next really big band?
NG: If the Verve want it, it’s all there for them. They’re probably going to be the biggest band in the world this time next year, as long as the Spice Girls split up over the next few months, ya know?
SS: So, do you have a favourite Spice Girl?
NG: The first one who pops her clogs will be my favourite.
SS: Hey, we have a security guard here today whose name is Jack Daniels, for real, he’s a one-off! I think you should employ him…
NG: I’ve got a cousin called Jim Beam.
SS: Seriously??
NG: No.
SS: So you’re pulling my pud now! I’m gonna let you go. I can’t wait for the show tonight.
NG: I’ll be the one on the right side of the stage with the brown guitar and loads of charisma!
4:05pm… It’s over! I put the Oasis version of Bowie’s “Heroes” on the air while we say a fond farewell, handshakes all around and I match Noel’s grin when he tells me it was the best interview he’s done in a while… “You’re the first person who hasn’t asked stupid questions about the bloody flight!” Noel was scheduled to spend 15 minutes with us… he stayed for 45 and only said ‘fuck’ three times. I celebrate with a Southwark Premium and a salmon and caviar canape and do this ‘post-mortem.’
Noel Gallagher, talented, witty… very dry, cheeky, blue collar… blue language and really very cute. Noel… you can fly on my airline any time!