Brit Music Scene

Noel Gallagher Spent £1 Million On Drugs - Wants New Band

Posted: 08 Jul 2009 01:09 PM PDT

Drugs go hand in hand with rock music - that’s an immutable fact of life only denied by those on the outside. Sex, drugs, and rock’n'roll fit together like a glove, and any rock musician who doesn’t understand this really has no place referring to him or herself as a rock musician in the first place. Those who do admit it’s the case may be condemned as bad influences but their only real crime is telling the truth.

Noel Gallagher isn’t one of these deniers. In fact, in his usual carefree attitude of saying what he wants and not caring about the consequences, he’s admitted that he and the rest of the Oasis boys were one of the hardest rocking bands of the nineties. Back when Britpop battles between Oasis and Blur were a monthly occurrence, the Gallaghers probably kept the black market economy of London going single-handedly.

Gallagher has never been one to hold his tongue and keep a low profile. In fact, give him a microphone or sit him next to a reporter and you can be almost guaranteed to get a classic and probably controversial statement or two. This trend has continued with an interview Noel recently gave to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.

He first addressed the issue of his drug use, especially when compared to some of the modern, holier than thou, wouldn’t touch it for all the tea in China type rock stars. He said:

“I look at Chris Martin, who says he has never taken drugs in his life, and I think he is an idiot. Doing drugs is the most beautiful thing about being in a rock band.

“Up until 1998 I must have spent £1 million on drugs - then I stopped, because it is bad for your health, brain, life and for people around you. But while you use them - except for heroin which kills people and which I have never tried - as you lot [Italians] would say, ‘Mamma Mia’.”

He then turned his attention to the way his career was going at the moment. Recent months have brought rumors of tension in the group and the possibility of Noel going solo for a while. His statements here are unlikely to stop the gossip:

“It’s just that at the moment I can’t see what more we can do. Bigger tours? More money? I need something different to maintain my interest. My ideal would be to join another band.”

I love Oasis but there is a point with any band where they have to ask themselves what they’re doing and where they’re going. Oasis have a very particular sound and as Noel admits, all there is left to do is stage bigger and better tours and earn even more money than the fortunes they all possess already.

Noel seems determined to push himself and try new things at every turn, and the only way to do that would seem to be to join another band or go solo. At least on a temporary basis. I suppose if all else fails he could start using drugs again and spend another million pounds or two.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Post from: Brit Music Scene