Liam Gallagher

This article is about the singer and songwriter. For the Shameless character named after him, see Liam Gallagher (Shameless).

Liam Gallagher
Gallagher in 2018
Born
William John Paul Gallagher

(1972-09-21) 21 September 1972 (age 52)
Manchester, England
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1991–present
Spouses
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(m. 1997; div. 2000)​
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(m. 2008; div. 2014)​
Children4
Relatives
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • tambourine
  • guitar
Labels
Member ofOasis
Formerly ofBeady Eye
Websiteliamgallagher.com

William John Paul Gallagher (born 21 September 1972) is an English singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, which he co-founded in 1991. He fronted the rock band Beady Eye from 2010 to 2014, before starting a successful solo career in 2017.

Gallagher was interested in joining a band called the Rain. After mutual agreement, the band underwent a name change to Oasis, and his older brother Noel was initially approached to be their manager.[1][2] He was subsequently extended an invitation to join the band as their lead guitarist, which he accepted. The band's debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994), was a critical and commercial success during the emergence of Britpop. Their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), reached the top of the album charts in many countries, and their third studio album, Be Here Now (1997), became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. Britpop eventually declined in popularity, and Oasis failed to revive it; however, all of their subsequent albums topped the UK charts, and they continued to tour, playing gigs to 1,000,000+ people worldwide, but particularly in Europe, and South America.[3][4][5][6] In August 2009, following Noel's departure from Oasis, Gallagher and the remaining band members would go on to form Beady Eye, with whom he released two studio albums before they disbanded in 2014.

In 2017, Gallagher began his solo career with the release of his debut solo album, As You Were (2017), which proved to be a critical and commercial success. It topped the UK Albums Chart and was the ninth fastest-selling debut album of the 2010s in the UK, with over 103,000 units sold in its first week.[7] In 2018, the album was certified platinum with over 300,000 units sold in the UK.[8] His second album, Why Me? Why Not, received mostly positive reviews and topped the UK charts upon its release in September 2019. This made it his tenth chart-topping album including eight with Oasis, and it also became the fastest-selling vinyl of 2019.[9] In March 2010, he was voted the greatest frontman of all time in a reader poll by Q magazine.[10] In 2019, he received the MTV Europe Music Award for "Rock Icon". Gallagher's third album, C'mon You Know, was released in 2022 and became his fourth solo album to debut at number one on the UK Albums Chart.[11] In 2024, Gallagher collaborated with ex-Stone Roses musician John Squire on the studio album Liam Gallagher & John Squire, which was released on 1 March 2024.

Oasis's time was marked by turbulence, especially during the peak of Britpop, during which Gallagher was involved in several disputes with Noel. Their conflicts and wild lifestyles regularly made tabloid headlines. The band had a rivalry with fellow Britpop band Blur. One of the most recognisable figures in British rock music, Gallagher is noted for his distinctive vocal style and outspoken personality.

  1. ^ Masia, Laura (26 August 2024). "Why Is Oasis' Potential Reunion Such a Big Deal? The Liam & Noel Gallagher Beef, Explained". PEDESTRIAN.TV. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  2. ^ Interview with Frank Skinner, The Frank Skinner Show, 2000
  3. ^ "Oasis – live at Wembley review (July 2005)". NME. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Oasis: The First Noel". The Music. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Oasis: Québec Concert Review". stopcryingyourheartout.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ Strauss, Neil (30 April 2002). "Festival Review; A Weekend of Rock, Trouble Free (Except for the Naked Drummers)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  7. ^ "The fastest-selling debut albums of the decade so far". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  8. ^ "British certifications – Liam Gallagher". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 January 2023. Type Liam Gallagher in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  9. ^ "Liam Gallagher scores second solo Number 1 album, fastest-selling vinyl album of 2019: "Now that's what I call biblical!"". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Roberts, Hannah (18 August 2023). "Liam Gallagher overtakes brother Noel to secure fifth solo number one album". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 November 2023.