i did the translation by google so sorry if it doesnt make sens in some sentence.
ROCK&FOLK: Let’s go back to the beginning: how did you meet?
Liam Gallagher: Oddly, in Wales. It was when Oasis was doing “Definitely Maybe” and the Stone Roses were doing “The Second Coming” at a place called Monmouth. There are two studios. The Roses were at Rockfield and we were at Valley Monnow. We were going to the pub and saw John and Ian (Brown) coming out of a shop and we talked for a bit. Once we snuck on a tractor and went to sneak out and listen to what they were doing. And someone opened a fucking door and surprised us. They said to us: “But why didn’t you come in?” and we stayed talking for twenty minutes. Later, Mani (Stone Roses bassist) stole the tractor and came to our house. We worked during the day, from noon to 5 p.m. We were in bed at midnight, drunk like pigs, and Mani was coming to try to steal our weed.
R&F: Liam, how did you discover the Stones Roses?
Liam Gallagher: Our kid (Liam and his brother Noël's nickname for each other) brought “Sally Cinnamon” home and he played it a lot. I had a friend at school whose older brother loved the Stone R
oses. We listened while smoking and I found the lyrics absurd. “I wanna be a dog”, but what the fuck does he mean? I later realized it was “I Wanna Be Adored”. The Stone Roses inspired me to do what I do. The music, the clothes, the attitude, the faith, everything. I needed it at the time. And then I joined a group, and that put me on the right path. Without music, I might have spent my life in jail.
R&F: When Oasis broke through, was there any rivalry between you?
John Squire: I thought, “These guys look cool.” Obviously they were listening to the same stuff as us. Awesome. Welcome to the party! We never felt any competition.
Liam Gallagher: No because they were our fucking heroes! They are the ones who made us want to do this. How can you compete with your heroes? We wanted to make good music. Change the world. I never felt that way, even with the bands that came after Oasis. As long as it’s good, so much the better! Music belongs to everyone. And the world is a better place with more good music and less crappy music. Not everything we did was great, I'm the first to admit, but the enthusiasm was always there.
R&F : Surprisingly, Liam, your first songwriting credit was with John on the track “Love Me And Leave Me” from The Seahorses' 1996 debut album...
Liam Gallagher: Credit to John for that but I did not do much. It’s not like we sat down to write a song. It was just one night, we were drunk and John made this melody and kindly credited me.
John Squire: You wrote it with me. I played guitar, you sang something...
Liam Gallagher: I don't remember, I have a crappy memory. I never tried to write songs to compete with our kid or to have publishing rights. Sometimes you're playing guitar at home and something happens, you write a little song and that's it. But I never got the bug, I'm not a songwriter, I prefer singing songs to writing them. I don't care if I never write another song again, as long as I can sing it that's the only thing that matters.
R&F: Tell us about the birth of the project...
Liam Gallagher: It happened in the moment. It's not like we sent each other emails or had meetings. It was just after Knebworth, we were in the dressing room, and John said to me: “Do you want to do something?” And I replied: “I agree but you take care of all the writing”. He sent me the songs and they were perfect.
John Squire: I remember lying to Liam. I told him I had songs when I had nothing. I had a few ideas, a few little tips, but I was dry. It was only after the concert that I started working, writing songs with Liam in mind. I never stopped playing guitar but I don't usually write songs. I had already written songs for the Roses that I didn't sing, so I knew how to do that, but it was very inspiring to know that the vocals would be front and center in this project. I can write any old shit, it'll sound good with Liam's voice anyway.
R&F: With Liam as singer, did you choose to focus on the melodies?
Liam Gallagher: That’s what matters most to me. For me, I want people to be able to sing these songs with me. Everyone is afraid of melody today. Even the Sex Pistols were melodic. They were loud, angry, but we could sing their songs.
R&F: How did this collaboration go? Did you send each other files?
Liam Gallagher: Files? I'm a fucking caveman. I don't have any of that. John was sending stuff to... uh, Dropbox, right?... I was trying to figure out the lyrics but ended up asking him to send them to me. John was sending me stuff but I'm unable to send anything. It would end up in Baghdad or who knows where.
John Squire: It was very amateurish on my part. I was sending scratchy vocals on bad mixes and texts written with illegible handwriting. I took photos of the texts to send them to Liam... Liam Gallagher: ...and Debbie (Guyther, his partner and manager, nda) had to assist me at all times so that I could work and record my vocals.
John Squire: The demos blew me away. There was just a shaky guitar, no drums, a bit of an irregular tempo, but when Liam comes in it becomes something. Looking back, we found our way of using modern technology strange. Digital technology, but in a very analog way. I also remember you sent me a text saying: “I know what everyone thinks of you, that your thing is riffs, and I can do that too. But we can be so much more than that.” So I sent you the demo of “Mars To Liverpool”. “Hey, will that suit you?”
Liam Gallagher: We texted each other a lot. I was probably angry half the time in my posts because I get carried away quickly and that's it, damn, we're on! We're making an album! I was part of John being back. He writes music and plays guitar. I know I keep saying it, but whether I'm involved or not, I'm happy he's doing this again because he's the best.
R&F: What can we expect from your next concerts?
Liam Gallagher: Just the album, man. The set will be short but that’s how it is. It's a new group! When we make another album, and then another, we will have more repertoire.
R&F: This affair looks set to last!
John Squire: I want to do more. I already have some ideas...
Liam Gallagher: I can't wait to hear the next songs John writes.
R&F: You have a busy 2024 Liam, between this project and the anniversary concerts for “Definitely Maybe” this summer. Liam Gallagher: Yes, but making music isn’t a burden. Doing the housework, mowing the lawn, taking the kids to school, that’s one of them. But getting up and singing in front of people is magnificent!
R&F: There is something a little frustrating in the album, it is that many solos begin and then disappear in the fade-out of the songs...
Liam Gallagher: It disappointed me a little too that we did that. There were things that were really interesting that I would have kept, but I think it has to do with the length of the album.
R&F: Can we imagine longer versions of these pieces on stage?
John Squire: Of course! There are a few songs that I can see myself extending.
Liam Gallagher: Yes, here we go, let's play two hour sets! And when we play at Kentish Town, five minutes from my house, I'll already be in my bathtub and he'll still be doing his fucking solos! ★