And, surely, so very tiring?
The argument was sparked when Liam claimed, falsely, that Noel wasn't the biological father of his daughter Anais. In Q last July, Noel said that Liam had yet to apologise for this and that an apology was required. Has he done so since?
“Has he apologised? Has he fuck. But let me tell you, that thing about my daughter was only the tip of it. There was more he said that night - much more - that he will never be able to take back and he should be ashamed of himself for it. He isn't, of course, because Liam can do no wrong in his eyes. The man is 33 years old, and people still treat him like he is 18, largely because he acts like he is 18.”
In the studio, meanwhile, Noel has to exercise diplomacy to UN levels.
“If I'm not happy with a vocal of his, I can't tell him direct because he'll think I'm trying to embarrass him in front of the others. And if he thinks that, he'll scream and shout and demolish things, then storm out. So I have to get the producer to have a quiet word while I nip to the bog. Insane, isn't it?”
And, surely, so very tiring?
"It is, it absolutely is, but that's just what we have to go through in order to be Oasis, I suppose. And anyway, one of my greatest traits is that I have a very long fuse."
At this point, Liam wanders over: "Talking about me?" he leers.
Noel gives him his most withering look. "Who else?" he says.
I mention to Noel that they appear to be getting on rather well.
"We are. For the first time, he is actually making an effort not to fuck things up in this band,and that,for him,is a pretty big step. I think it's because he's a songwriter himself now, he feels more involved. Before, he was just this drunken buffoon who became a rock star because his brother wrote all these brilliant songs for him, but now that he's writing them as well, he's starting to get respect. He'll never admit this, but that's important to him."
And do you claim any credit for this?
“Too right I do. I held my tongue when he first played me Little James and I believe if I'd told him the truth - that the song was no great shakes - he'd never have written another one again. But now he has and his confidence has grown out of all proportion. Whether he is actually as good as he thinks he is isn't for me to comment on, but I'm glad he feels that way because Oasis without him would be a far more slow-moving machine. And anyway, it's about time he pulled his fucking finger out, the lazy twat. Liam started this band, after all. He should be putting his arse on the line the way I do.”
So, do you think Oasis has a long future?
“I'd like to think so, yes, though I won't say the idea of a solo record doesn't appeal, because it does. But I'd only do it if, say, Liam got banged up for six months. I'd use his absence to my advantage, but I wouldn't quit the band to do it. I've seen other artists do that, and it strikes me as a very long road to loneliness.”
Liam swaggers back from the loo, and I ask him the same question.
“I’d rather shit in my own mouth, quite honestly, and that’s a stupid fucking question anyway,” he says. “Why would I want to go solo? I’m Liam Gallagher and I’m in Oasis. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
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