His erratic behavior, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have made Liam Gallagher the subject of commentary in the press and he remains one of the most recognizable figures in modern British music. As the lead singer of Oasis, he achieved both fame and notoriety as the band hit their commercial peak in the ’90s during the height of Brit-pop.
Gallagher was born in Burnage, Manchester in 1972 to his Irish parents, Thomas and Peggy Gallagher. Liam, the youngest of three, had two older brothers, Noel and Paul. In his late teens he began listening to the Beatles, the Who, the Stone Roses, and the Kinks. It was at this time that his lifelong admiration for John Lennon developed (he later named his son Lennon as a tribute to the late Beatle). Brother Noel joined Liam’s fledgling band, the Rain, and began guiding them toward a more successful future, renaming them Oasis. The group got a record deal and issued their debut album, Definitely Maybe, in 1994. It became the fastest selling debut album in Britain to date. Just a year later, the band released (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? which eclipsed their debut’s staggering popularity.
Although the brothers quarreled and Liam’s stunts garnered press recognition and stories, Oasis marched on making five more releases ensuring their mark on British pop rock history.Although his older brother, Noel, wrote the majority of Oasis’ songs, Liam penned the single “I’m Outta Time,” along with a string of album tracks and B-sides. Gallagher joined the rest of Oasis to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the BRIT Awards 2007.
2008 saw the release of the band’s final album Dig Out Your Soul which featured three Liam songs: “I’m Outta Time,” “Ain’t Got Nothin'” and “Soldier On.” DOYS went straight to number 1 in the UK Album Charts and reached Number 5 in the US 200 Billboard Charts. In mid-2009 at the end of the tour of the same name, the band split up due to Noel not being able to work with Liam any more.After Oasis destructed, Noel formed Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, while Liam continued with the other former members of Oasis under the Beady Eye name until they disbanded in 2014. His debut solo album As You Were was released in October, 2017.
2024: Liam Gallagher and John Squire have published “Mars to Liverpool”- a theme that adds to “Just Another Rainbow“ and serves as a preview of what will be the debut album of his new project, Liam Gallagher & John Squire. In this new album by the duo made up of the vocalist of Oasis and the former guitarist of Stone Roses, and produced by Greg Kurstin, will be featured musicians Barrie Cadogan on bass and Joey Waronker (REM, Roger Waters) on drums. “Mars to Liverpool” is a song balanced between fresh and nostalgic, a summer melody in January. With an infectious rhythm and complemented by lyrics that sparkle optimism in dark hours, the Beatle-esque track is a welcome advance single.
Liam Gallagher & John Squire will be released on March 1st via Warner Brothers and a small tour was also announced that will last a month in England, France and Italy.
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM and streaming at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/ are spinning “Supersonic”- live from Knebworth as part of our 50 years of rock, blues and more.
Discography:
with Oasis (1991–2009):
Definitely Maybe (1994)
(What’s The Story) Morning Glory (1995)
Be Here Now (1997)
Standing On The Shoulder of Giants (2000)
Heathen Chemistry (2002)
Don’t Believe The Truth (2005)
Dig Out Your Soul (2008)
Beady Eye (2009–2014)
Different Gear, Still Speeding (2011)
BE (2013)
Solo:
As You Were (2017)
Why Me? Why Not (2019)
C’mon You Know (2022)
Liam Gallagher & John Squire (3/1/2024)
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Artist information sources include Wikipedia.org, Allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, magazines and newspaper publications.