I told you last night
MILAN - Saturday, May 24, 2008
Bonehead is in Milan to attend the Supersonic Night. He postponed his family vacation by two days because he wanted to be there. He hadn’t been on a stage in Italy since 1997, when, also in Milan, on November 17 he played at the Forum di Assago for the second of the two Milan dates of the Be Here Now Tour.On Friday evening, despite being tired from the journey, Bonehead had no intention of spending the night in the hotel. We didn’t dare to ask for much, and in the end, it was he who suggested grabbing a beer together at a local spot. A night out with Bonehead!
Always at ease, he was an inexhaustible source of anecdotes and stories from the Oasis golden era. An interview was already scheduled for the next day, and we didn’t want to give too many cues with overly direct questions. Nevertheless, Paul Arthurs took it upon himself to share many of the things we wanted to know.
Bonehead interview
by Fabio D’Antonio (24 May 2008)This interview was originally published exclusively in Italian in issue 32 of Wonderwall fanzine (2008).
© Oasis Fans Club. All rights reserved.
Let's start with the most obvious and straightforward question, but at the same time the most important one, which in a way encompasses the whole meaning of this interview; in 1999 you decided to leave Oasis, the question is… why?
I've already told you everything last night! (Collective laughter).
Jokes aside, personally I believe that being part of a band like Oasis meant always giving 100%, maybe even more, but never less. At that time we were the biggest band in the world. We had practically everything. Alan (White) and I were traveling in my Aston Martin to the south of France to reach Christian Dior's house, where the studio for recording Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants had been set up. When we got there I realized that my love and passion for the band were slowly fading. Noel was watching TV while trying to work. I stayed until the end and finished recording the album. But if you listen closely, you'll hear that there’s none of that passion and energy that characterized, for example, an album like Definitely Maybe. During the recordings of the first album our faces were smiling, we were going full throttle. The sessions for Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants were ordinary recording sessions: guitar, bass, drums, done; move on to another song. So I sat down to reflect and tell myself: ‘Ok, I can record this last album, but once it’s finished I’d have to start a new world tour and I already know I wouldn't be able to give my all’. If I had stayed, I wouldn’t have been honest with the rest of the band and I made the hardest decision of my life. When you’re in a band like Oasis but can’t give your all, it means it’s time to go. The guys called me several times, came to my house to convince me to stay, but I answered that I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have been honest with them. That’s why I left. Simple.
And then… I ALREADY TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT!!!
(Another collective laughter)
How far away do those years feel when you were still in Oasis? Do they feel distant?
I feel absolutely close to those years, it feels like yesterday. If Oasis were to play in Milan tonight, I could easily join them again and get on stage like back then.
Do you have any regrets?
Regrets? I had a few!! (Hums “My Way” by Frank Sinatra in a baritone tone)
Honestly speaking, of course I had some!!! It took me three years to understand that I was no longer in Oasis and to start living a normal life again. When I was in the band, I found fans outside my door and even today, when people meet me, they say: “You are Bonehead from Oasis!!!”. I’m no longer in Oasis, but in a way it’s as if I still am. The first years were difficult. When I first saw Gem play the guitar, I thought: “Fuck!!! I should be there” But I knew I was no longer able to be part of Oasis. I had regrets, but now everything is ok. I meet with Liam, with Noel, with all the guys and I still feel very close to them. Now I have no regrets. I’m happy.
Soon after, Guigsy also decided to leave Oasis. Do you think your decision influenced him?
My decision influenced him a lot. I can’t speak for Guigsy, but I know for sure that even before I left Oasis, Guigsy was no longer happy. His unhappiness had been going on for a long time. Not because he no longer liked Oasis, but because he had longed to live a normal life, with his family, his children. The fact is he couldn’t make such an important decision, that of leaving a band like Oasis. He confided in me and asked how I managed to make such a drastic choice. ‘How does it feel?’, he asked. I replied that it was a strange feeling, but I had already done it. If he really wanted to leave and that was his final decision, he had to do it. Yes, it’s true, I may have influenced him, but it was a choice dictated by reasons different from mine.
What was Liam and Noel’s reaction to your choice to leave the band?
Liam’s reaction was very emotional. Liam is still my best friend. He considers me like a brother and I feel the same about him. Liam’s reaction was like: ‘Oh my God!!! Bonehead left!!!’. Noel’s reaction was more of a businessman, a man of business, the type: That’s the door, fuck it!!! – or – Let’s give Bonehead a month or two, then he’ll come back – or – Let’s pick up the guitars and move on!!! They are two very different people and had different reactions. Now that I think about it, I believe I’m telling you too much!!!
Musically speaking, was Noel the only driving force of the band, or did you and Liam also contribute technically?
Everyone says that. Noel is still the real engine of the band, he writes the songs. Liam also started writing songs, they aren’t the best songs in the world. I also jokingly tell him that his songs suck, but they are still good songs. They aren’t like Noel’s. Twenty years ago Noel wrote a song like Live Forever. Wow!! He’s the real driving force of the band, he leads Oasis, but he’s also a real businessman. While the rest of us were getting drunk, he was on the phone making decisions, giving interviews. Not because we didn’t want to, but he told us: “Liam, Bonehead, don’t give interviews!”. That’s Noel! But he’s also a great songwriter. Now though he’s changed. He always said he would never let Liam write songs. He gave Liam, Gem and Andy a chance to write songs that would end up on albums. But before that, he was the only one leading the band. It’s like riding a horse, now he loosened the reins. He probably thought: “Let’s give someone else a chance!”.
Do you think Noel gave others the chance to write songs because he is losing inspiration?
I can’t speak for Noel, but I can imagine that when you write songs like ‘Wonderwall’, ‘All Around The World’, ‘Live Forever’, ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’, and all the other songs he’s written as well as the music, you naturally reach a point where you stop and think: ‘Damn! I can’t write or compose anymore!!’. By taking Gem and Andy into the band he probably thought: ‘Ok, let’s give them a chance’. Maybe he wants to write only the best songs that will end up on the album. I don’t know exactly how he’s working now, I can’t speak for him.
Over the years Andy’s musical contribution has been particularly significant, especially regarding Don’t Believe The Truth, much more than Gem. What do you think?
That’s true. I think so too.
Noel had a whole life to write songs like Wonderwall and Live Forever. Now he only has a few years to fully compose a new album. It must be difficult for him.
When he wrote ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ and ‘Live Forever’ he was a normal person, living in a normal house, in a normal working-class neighborhood of Manchester. He had plenty to write about.
Now a brief list of names. Can you describe them briefly, using a few adjectives, maybe even just one word. For example, which word would you use for Noel?
I need two: The Chief! The supreme boss. A loyal man, but not very emotional, impassive.
Liam?
My friend. Honest. Emotional.
Guigsy?
Crazy. No, jokes aside, for him I’d say honest and not very emotional.
Alan White?
Funny. Nice. A good guy.
Tony McCarrol?
A friend. I talk a lot with Tony.
Alan McGee?
The inspiration. Even today. Maybe we don’t speak for a long time. Then I pick up the phone and call him.
(grabs his iPhone and says he just received a text from Alan McGee).
Marcus Russell?
Mr. 15%. That’s how much I still pay him. In England, there are many bands that have the chance to do something good. When I meet these groups of five guys and ask them: “Who is your manager?”, they point to some kid and I ask: “So you would be their manager? And tell me, what are your plans for your band?”, he answers: “Well! I don’t know”.
At first we didn’t have a manager. Alan McGee offered to handle the album, but then told us we absolutely needed a good manager. Noel knew Johnny Marr, Marcus was Johnny Marr’s manager, and he was the one who recommended Marcus Russell to us. From that moment, Marcus became our manager and still is as far as I’m concerned. It’s also thanks to Marcus Russell that today I’m still here, driving a Maserati, I have a big house in England and another house in Spain. Marcus is a real manager. Nowadays there aren’t many great managers around, but all the great bands who stayed grounded in their career, like Led Zeppelin and U2, had a great manager behind them who never let them lack anything, just like Marcus.
Gem?
I’ve known Gem for a long time. Oasis needed him and he was very nervous when he joined the band. I consider myself a good rhythm guitarist, but I can’t play lead guitar. I can play piano, I can play the flute, but not lead guitar. Gem was taken as a rhythm guitarist. He may not be as good as me, but when needed he can also become the lead guitarist, giving Noel the chance to express himself at his best. He’s ok, he’s the right man for the job.
Andy?
Also crazy, like Guigsy. Jokes aside, Andy is a brilliant musician. He was hired to play bass, but he’s an excellent guitarist, probably the best, and a great pianist. Very versatile. A good guy.
The last one. Zak Starkey? You already said everything last night!!!
That’s true! We already talked about it last night! (and gestures to keep quiet). But maybe with another beer… I could… Probably one day the whole truth about Zak and his departure will come out. As far as I’m concerned, I can only tell you that Zak Starkey has a nice surname. And that’s it.
Starting from Definitely Maybe, give us your opinion on each album you recorded with Oasis, maybe mentioning some anecdotes or behind-the-scenes stories that are still unpublished today.
(with a surprised but at the same time playful look, he answers) About every album? I can’t remember everything, I’ve had too many beers in my hands!!! I don’t even remember which was the first album I recorded! Remind me, which is the first album? Maybe Be Here Now?”
So we, following his playful tone, suggest that the first album he recorded in his career with Oasis is Definitely Maybe. And from there he resumes the thread of the conversation as his tone turns serious. After all, the topic we’re addressing is of some importance.
Yes, that’s right, Definitely Maybe! From that album, I remember five guys from the street. We had entrusted our record to Alan McGee. We went to the studio for recordings thinking we knew what to do. All the songs were already ready to be recorded. We were ready to start. We entered the studio full of immense passion, but the situation became difficult when Alan McGee told us we needed a producer and we, surprised, asked him: “What’s a producer?!”. We really didn’t know what a producer was. We thought that to record an album you just needed a studio, press the REC button and the record was done. But no! We needed a producer, but also a manager. So we hired a producer, whose name I don’t even remember now, and we hired him because he had previously worked with the Rolling Stones. The combination could be a winning one. The problem was that he couldn’t capture the sound we were looking for and, moreover, it was costing us a lot of money. Alan McGee listened to the first recordings and immediately realized they were garbage. ‘The sound sucks and doesn’t represent you’, he said. ‘It doesn’t show who you really are!’. We had gone to the wrong producer, so we hired Mark Coyle. Mark immediately understood what kind of people we were, fully understood the songs we had to record and the kind of sound we were looking for. And like magic, the songs came out in no time.
In an old interview Noel said that Definitely Maybe was recorded immediately, live, kind of 'first take'. Is it true?
Exactly! The first producer followed the normal rules observed for recording an album. Each of us recorded our part alone. But we were a band, people used to playing together. So Mark Coyle put us all together in the same room: “Ready? Ok, recording! 3, 2, 1, go!”, and we played. That’s how Definitely Maybe was born, and that’s why I remember everything about that album fondly, because what we did, we did well!
What can you tell us about (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Bonehead gives a hint of a smile, looks amused, thinks for a moment, then with an almost serious air declares:
Very enjoyable, very drunk, it enriched us. There would be many stories to tell about ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’, but it’s right that they remain confidential between me and the band. What I can tell you is that it was a lot of fun, we understood how to really make an album, we didn’t repeat the mistakes we had made with ‘Definitely Maybe’. We entered the studio with the right producer, Owen Morris, a crazy motherfucker, and this time we knew exactly what to do, we were a band in every sense. It was fun to make, maybe not as much as ‘Definitely Maybe’, but definitely more relaxed. We had learned what to do.
And what about Be Here Now?
Bonehead chuckles, perhaps already knowing he shouldn’t express too much about an album like Be Here Now, and says:
I love Be Here Now, I really like it. I like all its songs. I don’t intend to blame Noel, but I’ve never done heavy drugs in my life. Be Here Now is an album conceived at a time when Noel was using drugs, if you know what I mean.
In a hypothetical ranking of the first three Oasis albums, Be Here Now would probably be last. Not that it’s a bad album, but maybe it’s below the first two.
You know what, I think so too, it’s the album I like the least of all. But I still like it. I believe ‘Be Here Now’ is an album that was recorded during a period when fun and passion were starting to fade. If you were in a band and your manager came to you and said: ‘Tomorrow we go record in London at Abbey Road Studios!’—right where the Beatles usually recorded—the excitement would be huge. The Oasis entered Abbey Road Studios without any excitement, with a reaction like: “Ah! So this is Abbey Road Studios!”. From that moment, passion started to fade, especially for someone like Guigsy. I was thrilled and excited, but listening to that album, other aspects prevail, other feelings, like those generated by too much money and partying that gave life to that record.
Could you indicate your favorite song for each album?
I can tell you that ‘Columbia’ is absolutely my favorite song. I have my favorite songs, but I don’t worry if they are from this or that album. I love ‘Columbia’ because it’s pure rock’n’roll, a song made of three chords, I adore it for that. Many would answer ‘Live Forever’. I don’t particularly love ‘Live Forever’, I like it yes, but not excessively, I like ‘Rock’n’Roll Star’, I find ‘Rockin’ Chair’ a brilliant song. I love ‘Columbia’ because it brings back memories of when I recorded it, of the people in the studio cheering me on (and he pretends to energetically play the guitar, miming the riff of Columbia with his mouth). I don’t care if that specific song is in that specific album. I love a song like ‘All Around The World’ because it’s very long, because Noel wrote it before the Oasis were even born. He let me listen to it before any other song and said: “One day we’ll make some money and add an orchestral arrangement”. I like it especially for this, because we realized our dream of recording it and having an orchestra accompany it.
When did you realize you had become a rockstar?
I don’t know, maybe in 1994, right after the record deal. Alan McGee offered us the contract and immediately after we had to be in the studio to record our album. Everything happened very quickly. Our manager told us we would do an extended tour in the UK and maybe after 3 years we’d reach the US and Japan. But just a few weeks later, I received a call from the record label announcing the tour in America and Japan. Much earlier than expected, all in the first year. While in England, people started paying more attention and going crazy for us. Maybe I realized the change when I got home, because when we left for the tour I was an ordinary person. When I returned from the tour, just six months later, landing at the airport, some people started pointing at me and saying: ‘Hey, that’s Bonehead’ – ‘What? I know my name well’ – ‘You’re in the Oasis!’… That’s how it was, everything changed in six months. It was a strange feeling.
How does it feel to have a photo of your old living room on one of the most important rock covers ever? Do you still own that house?
I don’t have that house anymore, I gave it to one of my sisters. When I moved to a bigger house, I was asked to sell that house. But I didn’t want to. I gave it to my sister so she could live there. She thanked me a lot: ‘Thanks Bonehead, you’re a good brother’, and then a year later she sold the house making a lot of money.
(we all burst out laughing here)
Maybe one day it could become a museum.
And it really is. Noel and Liam went back for a special, I went back. And I know the people who bought the house did it because it’s the Definitely Maybe cover. They organize parties and walk on the floor where Liam lay for hours. But I took with me the fireplace and the window glass. They’re at my home now. I have many things from that cover in my new house. The colored glass from the window is installed on one of my doors. The fireplace is covered with white marble but it’s the same. At the time, the reason we did that cover was that we had no idea how to take the photo for the album. Everyone said: ‘Ok, let’s meet at Bonehead’s house and decide’. In the end, someone proposed: ‘Why not do it here, drinking beer, playing guitar, listening to music’ and that’s how it went.
Is it true that…
No, no-no-no… (Bonehead interrupts to elicit another smile)
Is it true that back then you personalized your car plate so that it read Oasis from the rearview mirrors?
Yes it’s true, I still have it. The plate reads S1SAO. I keep it carefully and pay the government fee every year. Want to buy it? It costs me 900 pounds every year. Just kidding, I’m not selling it, it’s so valuable to me. Maybe one day I’ll give it to my daughter Lucy Oasis when she gets her license. But if you want to buy it, it would cost a lot.
We laugh again as Bonehead jokingly suggests prices: “15 thousand… you know I would never sell it”
Back to music, do you think the Oasis improved musically and compositionally with Andy and Gem?
I think the Oasis didn’t improve as a band. They were the best band in the world in the beginning. At the time of ‘Cigarettes And Alcohol’. That was the best moment. You can then change the band as you like. All you need is Liam. You can’t lose Liam. If Liam leaves the Oasis it’s over. Personally, I think Noel could leave the Oasis and Matt Deighton could play in his place. People would still pay as long as Liam is in the band. But obviously you need Liam and Noel to have the Oasis. Anyone else who can play could join the Oasis. Andy or Gem or Zak Starkey aren’t indispensable. Alan McGee always said – ‘Liam and Noel are the Oasis’… and then Bonehead. I’m third! Anyway, we tried, without me and Guigsy the Oasis are still top.
Have you been in contact with Gem and Andy recently? What is your impression of them? How do they feel about being in the Oasis?
Yes, I hear from them, I think they still don’t fully realize they are in the Oasis. Especially Andy. He needed a lot of time to realize he was playing for the Oasis. A year later he was still very excited and incredulous to get on stage with Liam and Noel. They are very happy to be part of the band and have really started contributing. Sometimes I wish I could have added my songs to the albums. But before it wasn’t like that. Now everything is easier.
Was it Noel who decided the band replacements?
It wasn’t just Noel, there was also Liam and the manager for these kinds of decisions. I don’t think they knew immediately who to take. There were many rumors about Johnny Marr from the Smiths. Until one day I got a call from him: ‘I’m Johnny Marr, just so you know I’m not taking your place in the band’. They could have anyone, I think. Everyone wanted to join the Oasis. Anyway, the final decision was obviously more Noel’s than Liam’s.
Do you prefer Andy’s previous musical career (Ride, Hurricane#1) or Gem’s (Heavy Stereo)?
Tonight I’ll pick Ride and not Heavy Stereo. Years ago we went to see Heavy Stereo, they were on our same label, Creation. Alan McGee invited us to London to see them. I think they were a good group, but I was a big fan of Ride. I think Noel made the calls: ‘Hi, it’s Noel, do you want to join the Oasis?’ – ‘Call me in an hour, I need to think’.
(we laugh again)
In the end, to change your life, just one call from Noel is enough…
Noel is the boss. The same happened for Alan White. (with his hand he pretends to pick up a phone): ‘Hello, Alan White? It’s Noel from the Oasis’, he decides. We didn’t know Alan White. Paul Weller told Noel: ‘My drummer Steve White has a brother who plays drums, he’s really good’ and Noel replied: ‘Ok give me his number and I’ll call him immediately’. That’s how it went.
If you were still in the Oasis…
I’m still here… (laughs, then immediately becomes serious and adds ‘not true’)
…If you were still in the band, how do you imagine your career would have evolved?
(waits a few seconds in silence) I don’t know, I can’t imagine. If you had asked me this eight years ago maybe I could have imagined it. But now I have really left the Oasis. I think it took me three years to realize I was no longer part of the band. Not being part of the Oasis anymore. This was quite difficult for me. Now I can meet Noel or Liam, hug and drink together. Noel once invited me to get on stage and play ‘Rock’n’Roll Star’ together. I couldn’t do it, seven years ago I could never have done it. It was too strong an emotion. If he asked me now, I don’t know…
Personally, what were the most important concerts for you with the Oasis…
There are too many… maybe I should say Knebworth. That was insane, number one. 250,000 people who paid a lot of money and couldn’t even hear or see us because we were far from the stage. We were the biggest rock’n’roll band in the world. There was no room, as usual, for the backstage. We had 7,000 people invited to the backstage, we had the Backstage Village. Alan McGee was not allowed in because he didn’t have his ID with him. Seven thousand guests backstage. I don’t think I have ever met seven thousand people in my life. It’s a lot of people… We arrived by helicopter, escorted by the police. For me, this is crap. Two years earlier we played in small clubs with a few people. Maybe for me the best was Glasgow Barrowlands, we were close to the fans, everyone screaming. But all concerts were special for one reason or another. I can’t tell you just one. But I won’t tell you Knebworth.
Of the latest Oasis albums, which do you like the most?
I speak as a fan, as Oasis fan number one. But they didn’t excite me much like: ‘Yes, they are the best band in the world’! I didn’t have that reaction. (pauses briefly and continues) The passion is gone. They are a great rock’n’roll band, but the passion is gone. That’s how I see it.
Do you think ‘Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants’ could have been a better album maybe by changing some songs in the tracklist?
It couldn’t have been better than that. I left during the recordings. Noel recorded the missing bass and guitar parts. We had everything at that moment, lots of money, all the time we wanted, we were in a big chateau in France, a 4-car garage turned into a recording studio. It was no longer fun to play. It couldn’t have the strength of the first album. I shouldn’t say it but these are things you already know. Liam had problems and drank too much. Noel had problems with his ex-wife Meg. They couldn’t concentrate and it came out on the album. And it’s also one of the reasons why I left. It wasn’t fun anymore. There was always a heavy atmosphere.
What do you think of ‘Heathen Chemistry’?
It’s good. I like it. It’s the first self-produced album. Which is a good thing. But it’s difficult for me to talk about albums where I didn’t play, I couldn’t tell you if it needed more or fewer guitars. If I sit down and listen to it, for me it’s fine, if it’s an Oasis album, for me it’s fine.
What do you think of Liam’s songwriting abilities?
I think Liam is improving more and more as a songwriter. Liam’s first song was ‘Little James’… (sighs) do you understand? It was written with heart and we were all proud of Liam: ‘Ok Liam, you wrote a song’ (briefly gestures ‘Little James’). But it was important for him to have Gem Archer nearby. Liam has ideas for some melodies and starts playing the guitar. Gem helps him build the song and encourages him. Noel would never help his brother Liam, he would say: ‘Do you want to write a song? Fine, but don’t bother me’. Gem instead assists and helps him. Liam plays guitar but he’s not very good. He tries. His songs will always get better. In 10 years they will be wonderful. But I am already proud of Liam. He is my brother.
Do you live in Manchester now?
Yes
How do you spend your days? Are you still involved in the music world?
At the moment I’m engaged in some DJ nights. More than real bands I would talk about musical projects, with Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke (former drummer and bassist of The Smiths). I play for Vinny Peculiar’s live band tour. In November I will do an acoustic tour with Pete McCloud. I recently received a call from Alex, former member of Hurricane #1, Alex Lowe, who played with Andy Bell. He has a new band called Garage Flowers. I should do something with him. I still have a lot to do with music. I also tried to form a band but it would never be like being in ‘that’ band. So it’s much easier and comfortable to collaborate with various musicians and do things calmly. Like driving my Maserati. I told you last night.
Another ‘big beer’ arrives and maybe it’s time to ask gossip questions, hoping Paul Arthurs reveals some funny behind-the-scenes stories. He was not just a witness but also a co-protagonist of many episodes that later became legend. We remind him of a certain little dragon that was taking the Oasis to the Netherlands for a concert in Amsterdam…
I remember it. But I wasn’t arrested. Liam was arrested, Guigsy was arrested. Noel was allowed to go. But it’s not a nice story.
It’s clear that Bonehead doesn’t really want to recall that episode, certainly not one of the most edifying pages of the long Oasis story, but we insist with the gossip. The temptation is really too strong.
What can you tell us about when Liam left the band just before the US tour of ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’ in September 1996…
Liam left the tour because he was married to Patsy (Kensit). He had to go buy their house. We were at the airport, Liam was at the airport. Alan White and I had one last beer before boarding and five minutes before we headed to the gate for our flight and we crossed Liam passing on the other side in one of those vehicles meant for internal transport of things and people… the ones with the flashing light on a pole… you know which I mean? He was the passenger of one of those vehicles. And we asked him: ‘Hey Liam, where are you going? The flight is leaving’ and he replied ‘I got a call from Patsy, I have to go’. We were speechless, we didn’t know what happened. Then on the plane, Noel was furious and we asked about Liam: ‘He’s not coming because he has to buy a house’. This is Liam. Sometimes he’s crazy. That’s why I love Liam.
Why were all the songs you and Liam wrote in the first lineup, before Noel arrived, discarded… Are you talking about the demos? Because you heard them?
Yes, they are circulating on some bootlegs…
Which song did you hear?
Bonehead is clearly amazed that we remember the titles of his very first Oasis demos, perhaps even flattered; moreover, he pretends to play the air guitar and to sing very badly to imitate the first demos’ sound.
‘Take Me’… that one is brilliant. We recorded it in 1992 in Manchester. I wrote the first verse, Liam the chorus. We played it live once or twice at the Boardwalk. It’s a great song. But then Noel arrived and put it aside. All these songs are perfect, maybe one day we’ll record them again.
Bonehead is clearly amazed that we remember the titles of his very first Oasis demos, perhaps even flattered; moreover, he clearly prefers to talk about music.
Take Me… for example, it’s a nice song
Take Me is a good song and Noel thought the same. It needed some development.
So why was it never taken into consideration
We played our songs in a room, Noel arrived and asked if he could join our band. Sure, then join our band. I didn’t know what Noel could bring us, Liam didn’t know what his brother could bring to the band. We played him ‘Take Me’… (hums Take Me with an ‘air guitar’). Noel listened and then started singing ‘Maybe I don’t really want to know…’ (starts singing ‘Live Forever’) and we were amazed, then it was the turn of ‘All Around The World’. We immediately understood what to do, throw everything we had done before. That’s the reason. Because Noel Gallagher already had all these classics ready to record.
Do you remember anything particular that happened in Italy during one of the concerts with the Oasis?
Fans going crazy. You could never leave the hotel. (we laugh together). I remember a funny episode. Paul Stacey was playing keyboards with us, he was a session musician for us in 1997. And he had recently played for Take That too. We returned to Italy at the peak of our success and traveled from Bologna to Milan by train. Which is already strange. Usually, we traveled by tour bus or plane. But this time we took the train. We were at Bologna train station and there were hundreds and hundreds of people waiting. We were all ready for the fans’ assault. We’re the Oasis, let’s go. But Noel passes and everyone ignores him, Liam passes with his usual attitude – Hey I’m Liam Gallagher! – And no one notices. Same for me and the others. Once on board we said: ‘Fuck, it’s really strange, nobody recognized us’. Meanwhile Paul Stacey was leaving and all those kids started screaming: ‘Paul Stacey… Whoooaaaa… Take That’. This is one of my memories of Italy, they are crazy about Paul Stacey. Just because he played for Take That. He had 15 girls in his hotel room and played Take That songs for them.
To close, do you want to say or ask anything to the Italian fans?
Do you miss me? (laughs) Many are still writing to me on MySpace and I know I’m still in the hearts of the first fans. I know because it happens everywhere. Everywhere in the world someone recognizes me. It feels nice.
Thank you for your time. You’ve told us a lot…
It’s been a pleasure. I love Italy and it was nice to come back. I’d like to come back more often to Italy and maybe drive my Italian car here.
So we jokingly suggest creating together a kind of supergroup, gathering everyone on a double-decker bus and starting a tour. Liam Gallagher on vocals. Bonehead on rhythm guitar. Andy Rourke on bass. Mike Joyce on drums. We couldn’t leave Alan White out, so we think of having two drummers, maybe one of them becomes a percussionist. For lead guitar, Noel Gallagher is ruled out (only because he would never accept) and in the end Bonehead suggests Nick McCabe (Verve).
In the end he says: ‘Let’s do it’, takes his iPhone and calls Andy Rourke. The answering machine picks up, to which he leaves a message: ‘Hi, this is Bonehead. Call me back because there’s a chance to form a supergroup, there’s me, you, and we have Mike Joyce on drums. We need to think of a good singer, the one we’re thinking of isn’t available. Let me know.’ Then he adds: “Later he’ll probably leave me a message telling me to go to hell. I always make these kinds of calls.”
Later, on the same day, Bonehead is the absolute star of an unforgettable Supersonic Night at the Limelight in Milan, packed with over 800 fans. He watches the performances of the two tribute bands, briefly getting on stage with them to encourage them, and remains available for many fans to take photos and sign autographs.