Paul McCartney’s opinion on Oasis

Paul McCartney started his musical career in 1957, helping to form The Beatles in 1960. His contribution to the band was unbelievable and he still is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time alongside his bandmates. Even though the band came to an end in 1970, the musician formed The Wings and later on continued with his solo career.

He saw the evolution of Rock and Roll music up close and gave his opinion over decades on many bands. Including the brit-pop group Oasis, led by the brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher.

What is Paul McCartney’s opinion on Oasis

Oasis was formed in 1991 in Manchester, England and right after the release of their debut album “Definitely Maybe” in 1994 became a huge sensation. They went on the become one of the biggest bands that appeared in 90s and after many praised and successful albums, they broke-up in 2009.

But the group wasn’t known only for their music, but also for the strong personality of the two brothers Liam and Noel. They were always sincere in interviews and were never afraid to say bad things about other bands or musicians. That often caused a reaction from the artists who were being criticized by them.

One of them was Paul McCartney, who was not very happy when Oasis said that they were better than Beatles. In an interview with MTV in 1996, Noel Gallagher said that their albums  “Definitely Maybe” (1994) and “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory” (1995) meant they were bigger than The Beatles. In 2015 the musician said that he was high when he made that claim.

But as pointed by the Irish Times newspaper in 1997, The Beatles bassist and singer replied to that, saying: “They’re derivative and they think too much of themselves. They mean nothing to me.”

In 1995, Noel Gallagher had recorded a version of “Come Together” alongside Paul McCartney and Paul Weller for War Child’s “Help” album

Paul changed what he used to say about Oasis after Noel badmouthed The Beatles

A few years later in 2001, during an interview with Howard Stern (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), he was asked by the radio host if he had “badmouthed Oasis”. But Paul explained that at first he was saying good things about them, but after what Noel said he changed the tone.

“You know what, Did I? No. The trouble is, everyone (ask) because they are so ‘beatly’. (People ask) ‘what you think about Oasis’? I got fed up of being asked. I started off (saying) ‘they’re ok. Hey, I wish them good luck.”

“They’re young guys, it’s difficult out there”. You know, just trying to help kind-of-thing. But then they started to badmouth us and stuff. They started to say ‘we’re much better, man!’ (So that got to me) And in the end, I didn’t badmouthed them that much. I’ve just said they are slightly derivative,” Paul McCartney said.

Paul McCartney believed that badmouthing The Beatles was the biggest mistake made by Oasis

For McCartney the biggest mistake Oasis made was saying they were bigger than The Beatles. The musician said that in an interview with Q Magazine in 2016 and explained that after that was said, everyone started to compare them even more with the Fab Four. “Oasis were young, fresh and writing good tunes,” McCartney told Q. “I thought the biggest mistake they made was when they said ‘We’re going to be bigger than The Beatles’.”

“I thought ‘So many people have said that, and it’s the kiss of death.’ Be bigger than The Beatles, but don’t say it. The minute you say it, everything you do from then on is going to be looked at in the light of that statement,” Paul McCartney said.

He would like to see Oasis reunited

Even though there was turbulence between Paul and Oasis over the years, everything is fine between them now. During a session of question and answers with fans in 2015, Paul McCartney was asked to give an advice to Oasis. He said that they should get back together because everybody would love to see that.

“My advice to them? Just get together and make some good music. But they have got to want to do it. I think a lot of people would like them to do that. They are pretty cool guys.”

“I don’t know if they will ever make up. It would be good because I think everyone likes brothers to like each other — and make up. It’s a pity because they are very good together. Like many brothers, they are crazy. But it would be nice if they got together,” Paul McCartney said.

The story of the first time that Noel Gallagher saw Paul McCartney face-to-face

In 1994, in the same year that Oasis released their acclaimed debut album, Noel Gallagher had the chance to meet Paul McCartney and spend sometime with him. However, he had no idea that Paul would be in the party that he was invited that night. He also was lucky enough to meet Paul’s “meditation bubble” that was used by him and The Beatles in the 60s. He recalled that funny story in an interview BBC Radio 6 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

“It was great (The first time they’ve met). Stella McCartney who I have never met had a first-ever fashion show in London in 1994. I was still living in a basement flat in Camden at the time. Somebody called my flat and said they were having a party and that Stella was at the party. But didn’t tell me that McCartney was going to be there because they thought I might freak out kind of thing.”

“So (we went to the place, entered the house) in this hallway on the left we entered a room, with embossed wallpaper, it was just embossed flowers, all hand painted. Inside, dancing to Desmond Dekker’s “Israelites” there is Paul McCartney. They had a jukebox in the room and someone said ‘What’s his name? From Oasis’. Then he went ‘Hey man, great to meet you’. I happened to have at the time a brown suede jacket and long hair, like the one on the cover of ‘Rubber Soul‘.”

Noel Gallagher continued:

“He said: ‘Hey, you look like a Beatle’ and I’ve said ‘So do you’. We had a great night, Linda was an amazing host, she went out and got vegetarian food for us. Then he took me to the bottom of his garden where he has this big meditation  bubble.”

“It’s literally a glass bubble with a round bed in it. Me and him got in and he pressed this button and the bed goes up into a (smaller) bubble. He said: ‘Yeah, we used to sit here in the 60s and look at the stars’. I was thinking ‘you better not try to go off with me (laughs). (He didn’t) he is an amazing dude, such a warm open brilliante. He is a proper geezer, man. I love him,” Noel Gallagher said.