A music legend thought very little of Oasis, and dubbed Liam Gallagher a “silly” frontman who was just “excess baggage” for the band.
George Harrison, whose work with The Beatles, Jeff Lynne, and Bob Dylan is still celebrated today, was not keen on the Gallagher brothers’ work. The Something and All Things Must Pass songwriter was critical of Liam Gallagher in particular, suggesting the rest of the group did not need him for their success. Harrison’s view of Oasis was not entirely negative, with plenty of praise for the rest of the group and their music, but Liam Gallagher, who has made it clear how influential The Beatles are on his work, was singled out by the “quiet one” of the Fab Four.
In an interview given during the peak of Oasis’ fame, Harrison suggested the group would be better off without Liam Gallagher. Harrison said: “He’s a bit out of date. He’s a bit of a – he’s just silly. I feel a bit sorry for him, really, because I think he’s totally missed the bus.
Harrison went on to suggest there was proof of Oasis being weighed down by Liam Gallagher fronting the band. He shared: “I think it was proven when you see the band without him singing, you know, they’re more in tune. He’s just excess baggage. All he does is make people think ‘what a bunch of prannies they are.'”
Further comments were made by Harrison, which prompted a response from Noel Gallagher, who stuck up for his brother. Harrison shared: “The one who writes the songs, Noel, he’s okay. But they don’t have that much depth, and the other bloke, I don’t think they need him.
“The one who writes the songs, he can sing just as well, but maybe because it’s his brother he’s got to keep him in the band.” Noel Gallagher responded to Harrison, saying the music veteran “doesn’t know” Liam Gallagher and how much he brings to the band.
Noel said: “George Harrison doesn’t know Liam. If you didn’t know Liam and you read about him in the papers, then I suppose you wouldn’t like him, but unless you get to know him, you shouldn’t be making statements like that. We all love you, George. We think you’re top.”
Following Oasis’ split, the Gallagher brothers would work on music projects separately. Noel Gallagher would front The High Flying Birds while Liam Gallagher would release two albums with Beady Eye, before disbanding the group and pursuing a solo career.
The pair will now reunite for the first time in sixteen years for a series of sold-out shows across the globe. A performance from the pair later tonight in Cardiff, Wales, is hotly anticipated. You can listen to Harrison’s comments on Oasis below.
