With some sadness and great relief I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer. That very candid admission from Noel Gallagher says it all about the brotherly angst driving Oasis. The tumultuous relationship of the Gallagher brothers has been a popular tabloid subject, with the two of them disparaging former members, one another and even contemporary musicians amid changing lineups and sensational sales. Of Liam, Noel said, Hes rude, arrogant, intimidating and lazy. Hes the angriest man youll ever meet. Hes like a man with a fork in a world of soup. Of Noel, Liam said, Hes one of the biggest cocks in the universe. On Radiohead and Coldplay, Liam said, I think their fans are boring and ugly and don't look like they're having a good time. Noel even once described standing on the moon, if he ever got the chance to, as an underwhelming experience. Clearly, this is a band with an out-of-control ego. Some of it may be a put-on, but theyre so consistently brash and egotistical its a wonder Oasis survived for as long as it did. Nonetheless, theyre a good case in point: volatile relationships can often be the most creatively rewarding.
Kyle Schmidlin is a writer and musician living in Austin, TX. He manages the news blog at thirdrailnews.wordpress.com. Follow him at facebook.com/kyleschmidlin or twitter.com/kyleschmidlin1.
