Being a great musician and being a rock star aren’t the same thing. A musician might sing beautifully or play an instrument really well, but a rock star needs something extra—like a cool attitude and a big personality that makes people notice them. Noel Gallagher, a guy from the band Oasis who’s known for being clever and opinionated, thinks there’s a big difference between just playing music and being a true rock star. He even says that two famous singers from huge bands don’t quite fit his idea of what a rock star should be.
Noel knows a lot about rock music because he’s been part of it for years with Oasis. He got ideas from all kinds of songs—like “All the Young Dudes” for his song “Whatever,” or Stevie Wonder and T-Rex for hits like “Step Out” and “Cigarettes and Alcohol.” He took those ideas and turned them into something new and exciting that made Oasis special.
Noel and his brother Liam made Oasis awesome together. Liam sang with a tough, growly voice, and Noel played the guitar in a way that mixed old rock with a punk attitude. They brought a fresh sound when other music, like grunge, was fading away. Oasis wasn’t afraid to say what they thought, sometimes teasing other bands like Blur, Phil Collins, and Robbie Williams. For Noel, rock music wasn’t just about the songs—it was about having a bold personality too.
Noel loved bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but he didn’t think everyone in those bands was a real rock star. He had strong opinions about Paul McCartney from The Beatles and Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones. He didn’t think they had the wild, over-the-top style he expects from a rock star.
In a 1998 interview, Noel said, “Rock stars shouldn’t be polite and boring. Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones—he’s a rock star. Mick Jagger isn’t. Keith is. Paul McCartney isn’t a rock star either, but Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones is. Rock stars should feel big and crazy, like they could grow wings and fly away any second. That’s what makes them special.”
To Noel, being a rock star means being wild and a little dangerous. Mick Jagger could dance and perform, but Noel thought Keith Richards had the rough, cool edge that rock needs. And while Paul McCartney wrote fun, happy songs for The Beatles, Noel believed John Lennon had the bold, rebellious spirit that really mattered in rock.
Over time, Noel’s thoughts about his heroes have gotten a bit nicer, but he still believes rock stars should have that wild spark. In Oasis, Noel wrote the songs, but he says Liam was the one who brought the crazy, exciting energy to their shows.
For Noel, being a rock star is all about that untamed, adventurous vibe—something he thinks even some of the biggest names in rock don’t always have.
