Liam Gallagher: 'Noel, stop eating your heart out'The duel between the brothers is never over. Accused of harassing women, Liam Gallagher responds by revealing something about Noel that we didn't know yet. And he reiterates that he loves women a lot: so much so that he is going to marry a third one.
With his eyes almost hidden by a red and white striped fisherman's hat, his shoulders softly dropped forward and a tight-fitting T-shirt that hides a hint of bacon, Liam Gallagher remembers everything except the angry, rebellious rocker - even a little 'crazy, it was said - to which the history of music has accustomed us.
For years, he and his brother Noel, the souls of Oasis, have alternated scum and poetry: they have written and interpreted some of the most beautiful songs of the end of the millennium (Wonderwall, among others) and cancelled concerts because they were too drunk or on drugs.
Having left Manchester, they have climbed the world rankings without ceasing to insult themselves. They have made a whole generation dream, yet they have never been happy: in perpetual war, against themselves and among themselves. They even went so far as to destroy their guitars in a furious argument that, in 2009, ended the game. End of Oasis, but not of conflict. The duel has simply moved elsewhere: mainly on social networks, where, from time to time, we are still witnessing blows and repercussions. Always low blows.
Of all this, however, there is no trace on the man in front of us. The fury has disappeared from his liquid eyes, his tone of the voice has gone down, even the bad words have become rarefied. In their place, many holy words, style: "The important thing is to give and receive love". In almost 47 years (he turns 47 on September 21st), Liam has given a lot of love. To (at least) four women, from whom she had as many children: Lennon, 20, born from the first marriage, Gene, 18, from the second. Then there is Molly, 21, whom he recently recognized. And Gemma, 6, whom he still has to recognize.
But even in the affective field, the frontman seems to have found stability: thanks to Debbie Gwyther, his manager, partner for six years and, the English newspaper The Sun rumours, future wife in 2020. The woman who, he says, «entered my life and made it better».
Did she bring you back in line?«Very in line: I drink a lot less, I go to bed at 10, I wake up at 5, I run an hour a day. I am happier ».
A pro or a con for artistic creation?«A pro! Why Me? Why Not., my second solo album, which is out in a few days, is musically superior to the previous one. When you feel good you make more beautiful songs ».
Many years ago you declared the opposite: you argued that having been abused by your father had made you a better artist.«Maybe I meant a better, stronger person. And then, to be precise, my father never touched me. When he was drunk he used to beat my mum in front of us. I think it's just as terrible: it makes you feel powerless ».
Have you ever confronted someone? «Myself, every day. It is much cheaper than going to the analyst ».
You talk like someone who has to pay attention to money.«The habit. I come from a family where sweaters were not bought: my mother used to make them knit. I was the only one in my primary school».
Did you feel different for this reason?
«No: I was still among the most popular. My mother was a cook at the school cafeteria, so I always had free snacks to share with friends. Plus, I was really cool ».
Cool because you were bright or because you were beautiful?
«I wouldn't say bright. I wasn't interested in anything. I couldn't wait for the lessons to finish so I could play football ».
As a parent, now, is it important to you that your kids study?«I'm happy if they're happy. Lennon is a model and plays the guitar. Gene is a drummer: he plays the bongo on One of Us, a track off Why Me? Why Not. And Molly is very intelligent: she goes to university, she studies human rights ... I think ».
The song from yout latest album entitled Now That I´ve Found You is dedicated to her, right?«Yup».
How did you feel the first time you saw her?«A mixture of sadness for having lost his childhood and joy for the years that are waiting for us together».
Does she get on with Lennon and Gene?«A lot. With Debbie too: they have become friends, they go out together, they go to the disco ... ».
You have made no secret of having abused drugs in the past. Are you afraid that your children could take it as a model?
«I would be a fool if I thought they would never try them. I just hope they won't become addicted. »
What if the two males started fighting like you and Noel?
«I would suffer, as my mother suffered. But this is life: we must take it as it comes ».
There are those who think, instead, that 'when there is a will, there is a way'.«Not me. I've tried to make peace with Noel many times. He always rejected me.».
Perhaps, after all, you didn't really want it.«I got a different idea: it would be strange if we stopped arguing. It is from there that we draw our strength, our energy: from the perpetual duel ».
Of which the last hit dates back to this summer. Your sister-in-law teased you on Instagram, you sent a Whats-App to your niece saying, "Tell your stepmother to be careful." Noel has publicly responded on Twitter by pointing you out as one who intimidates and abuses women.«He took a private conversation and made it public, making a big deal out of everything. But I'm glad he did it: people are starting to understand who he really is. At first, everyone thought I was the fool. They thought it was my fault if Oasis had disbanded ».
Instead?«Noel has messed it up because he had an ambition to have a solo career. He could have said: I prefer to play on my own. We would all have agreed. And without hard fellings. Instead he was malicious. As he still is ».
Envy?«I do not know. Perhaps he is afraid that nobody goes to his gigs, while mine are sold out».
But there are also people who claim the opposite. They say you create a new song thinking: will my brother like it?
«It is not true: I already know that he will like it. Noel is my first fan. He just struggles to admit it ».
Mutual esteem?«Absolutely. He is a great songwriter ».
So why not try again?«Impossible. We should never have split up. But it happened. And it's been a long time. Ten years. There will never be a return of Oasis. But I don't cry anymore. You cannot love forever someone who does not return your love ».
Interview by Nina Verdelli