Liam Gallagher

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gallagher was interested in joining a band called the Rain. After mutual agreement, the band underwent a name change to Oasis, and his older brother Noel was initially approached to be their manager. Noel was subsequently extended an invitation to join the band as their lead guitarist and songwriter, which he accepted. The band's debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994), was a critical and commercial success amidst the emergence of Britpop. Their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), reached the top of the album charts in many countries, and their third studio album, Be Here Now (1997), became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. Britpop eventually declined in popularity, and Oasis failed to revive it; however, all of their subsequent albums topped the UK charts. In August 2009, following Noel's departure from Oasis, Gallagher and the remaining band members formed Beady Eye in 2010, with whom he released two studio albums before they disbanded in 2014. In 2017, Gallagher started his solo career with the release of his debut solo album, As You Were (2017), which topped the UK Albums Chart and was the ninth fastest-selling album of 2017 in the UK, with over 103,000 units sold in its first week. His second album, Why Me? Why Not, topped the UK charts upon its release in September 2019, making it his tenth chart-topping album including eight with Oasis. Gallagher's third album, C'mon You Know, was released in 2022 and became his fourth solo album to debut at number one on the UK Albums Chart. In early 2024, Gallagher collaborated with ex-Stone Roses musician John Squire on the studio album Liam Gallagher John Squire, which continued Gallagher's streak of debuting atop the British charts.

In Their Own Story

When school friend Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan invited Gallagher to join his band The Rain as a vocalist, he agreed. He was the band's co-songwriter, along with guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs. Noel has since openly mocked this writing partnership, describing them as being 'just awful', and Liam also admitted that they were 'shit'. The band only rehearsed once a week and did not get many gigs. It was at one of their rare shows in 1991 at the Boardwalk in Manchester that Noel, having recently returned from touring internationally as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets, saw them perform. In 1993, Oasis played a four-song set at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow, where Alan McGee of Creation Records discovered them and signed them for a six-album deal. The band's debut album Definitely Maybe was released on 28 August 1994, and went on to become the fastest-selling British debut album of all time. Liam was praised for his vocal contributions to the album, and his presence made Oasis a popular live act. Oasis's time was marked by turbulence, especially during the peak of Britpop, during which Gallagher was involved in several disputes with Noel. Their conflicts and wild lifestyles regularly made tabloid headlines. The band had a rivalry with fellow Britpop band Blur. In August 1995, Blur and Oasis released new singles on the same day; Blur's 'Country House' outsold Oasis' 'Roll with It' by 58,000 copies during the week. When the band mimed the single on Top of the Pops, Liam pretended to play Noel's guitar and Noel pretended to sing, taking a jibe at the show's lip-syncing format.

Reader's Guide

Gallagher was educated at St. Bernard's RC Primary School and the Barlow Roman Catholic High School in Didsbury. Despite common reports that he was expelled at age 16 for fighting, he was actually suspended for three months. He then returned to school, where he completed his last term and gained four GCSEs in 1990. He preferred sports at a young age, having no interest in music. During his teens, he suffered a blow to the head with a hammer from a student at a rival school, which he credits with changing his attitude towards music. After this incident, he became infatuated with the idea of joining a band. He became confident in his ability to sing and began listening to bands like the Beatles, the Stone Roses, the La's, the Who, the Kinks, the Jam, and T. Rex. In the process, he became obsessed with the Beatles' John Lennon, and would later sarcastically claim to be Lennon reincarnated despite being born eight years prior to Lennon's death. Liam and Noel attended a Stone Roses benefit gig at International 2 in 1988; both brothers claim that if they had not gone to that gig, Oasis would never have happened. Liam later claimed: 'That was my favourite gig of all time, killed me dead, changed me fuckin' life. If I hadn't gone that night, I'd probably be sitting in some pub in Levenshulme.' He would also help Noel with his job as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets and worked as a tax collector for HM Revenue and Customs.

Did You Know?

• Gallagher was born in the Burnage area of Manchester on 21 September 1972 to Irish immigrant parents from Charlestown, County Mayo, and Duleek, County Meath.
• Despite common reports that he was expelled at age 16 for fighting, he was actually suspended for three months and later returned to gain four GCSEs.
• During his teens, he suffered a blow to the head with a hammer from a student at a rival school, which he credits with changing his attitude towards music.
• In March 2010, he was voted the greatest frontman of all time in a reader poll by Q magazine.
• In 2019, he received the MTV Europe Music Award for 'Rock Icon'.