Noel Gallagher says he is the ‘sum of his influences’ as Oasis songwriter shares six bands he loves

Noel Gallagher has shared the six bands he loves after saying he is the “sum of his influences”.

The Oasis songwriter will reunite with brother Liam Gallagher next month for the band’s first show in sixteen years. Noel Gallagher found further success after the break-up of Oasis with his High Flying Birds, and has since shared the six bands which have influenced him most of all. Gallagher’s music taste has become a thing of fascination in recent years, with the frontman writing off the likes of The Beach Boys and hailing acts like The Smiths, going as far as to cover the latter’s There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. Gallagher had plenty of praise for a few other bands too, with the Sex Pistols and The Smiths noted as having influenced the Don’t Look Back in Anger performer.

During an appearance in the Netflix documentary, Once in a Lifetime Sessions, Gallagher says he would listen to six bands on repeat. He said: “All the music I listened to … the Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Smiths, The Buzzcocks, Joy Division, New Order.

“It was all kind of very big guitar music and I am a sum of my influences. I didn’t invent anything. I was just a lad who listened to music a lot and then eventually ended up being a songwriter.”

Gallagher’s love of The Smiths runs so deep he even offered himself up as a session and touring guitarist on potential reunions, though it seems unlikely Morrissey and Johnny Marr will be getting back together any time soon.

Speaking of The Smiths, Gallagher said: “I never invented anything like The Smiths, who were the most unique band ever to come out of England. So I had an idea of what it should be like, but then when the songs came it was just unbelievable.”

In a separate interview with Apple Music, Gallagher added: “I would love, and it’s never gonna happen, it’s a thing in a parallel universe, if The Smiths got back together. I’m Craig Gannon and I’d go to Johnny [Marr] and say don’t get another guitarist mate – I’m your man.”

The Oasis songwriter would go on to perform a few cover versions of The Smiths’ discography, notably performing There Is a Light That Never Goes Out at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011. Fans were quick to praise Gallagher for the performance, saying he understood the fundamental shift needed when it comes to covering Morrissey’s music.

One person wrote: “Classic cover. If you want to buy it and a few really good versions of Oasis songs (as well as two more covers with Paul Weller) search for The Dreams We Have As Children.”

Another added: “I’ve been listening to this a lot lately since I learned this cover on guitar. Really fun one to play. Gotta love the emotion Noel puts into it.” Gallagher featured the song in his Royal Albert Hall gig, performing a series of Oasis hits including Wonderwall and Slide Away, as well as covering The Beatles’ All You Need is Love.