Liam Gallagher is touring across North America now, supporting his debut solo album, As You Were. The album, released on Warner Bros. Records, was produced by Greg Kurstin, Dan Grech-Marguerat and Andrew Wyatt.

Before his sold-out show in the First Avenue Mainroom on Monday, Nov. 20, Liam Gallagher took some time to talk with Jill Riley and Brian Oake.

Liam Gallagher - Interview Highlights

On how he categorizes himself, career-wise:

I don't see myself as an artist; I see myself as just a rock and roll singer who writes an odd tune every now and again. Seriously. That "artist" word for me is — I'd leave that for the likes of Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher, you know what I mean? Because I think they enjoy the word "artist." For me, it doesn't sit right for me.

I do love being in the studio, without a doubt. I love it all, man. I love everything to do with it — I don't love making videos, that's probably about it. I still don't cast myself as an artist in the studio; I cast myself as a singer. The word "artist" I think is a bit pretentious.
…
I'm just a singer. I don't even see myself as a performer. I enjoy singing. And punk rock as well. I've got a bit of [Johnny] Rotten about me as well, a bit of Pistols and that. That's the way I like to see myself.

On his approach to touring:

If you've gone one place, you've got to go to them all, haven't you? It's like anywhere. It's like England; if you just play London and Manchester, and you don't get up and about everywhere, you know what I mean, you've got to go every place, haven't you? If you just did L.A. or New York, if you're just in all the big cities or whatever or all the so-called hip places, that's not right for me, man. You've got to get out and about.

On the types of audiences he prefers:

I'm easy, man. As long as they're listening, you know what I mean? I've been going to gigs, and I stand at the back and I sort of just … I'm at the best experience in my life. It's not all about jumping around and throwing drinks on each other and head-butting each other and all that. As long as they're listening, that's cool. If you were going to ask me, Do I prefer a crowd that stand there and listen or do I prefer a crowd that jump up and down and listen? I prefer the people that are going mental. I think it makes for a better gig.

On working with producer Greg Kurstin:

The record company contacted me and said "Look, have you heard of Greg Kurstin?" I said, "Not really." And they went, "Oh, well, he's done a lot with Beck and he's done obviously with Adele, and he's done loads of stuff." And I said, "OK."

[Kurstin] was fast. We were just getting on with it … We'd done three songs in three days, written and recorded in three days, you know what I mean, so that was good.

On how he defines pop music:

I just think it's a good song with a good melody with good lyrics. Lyrics are not that important for me. Others go, "It's got to be deep and meaningful." Some things don't have to mean anything. Some people get uptight about lyrics, like Mr. Paul Weller over in England, you know what I mean, he's like, "Oh, they're a bit substandard and a bit like this." Well, not everything has to have a deep meaning to everything, you know what I mean? So what I'm saying about pop music is like, as long as it's got a good melody and you can hum it and it stays in your head, I think that's just a good tune. I don't know what pop is. What is pop? What's rock and roll? What is it? It's just a good tune, innit?

Like Taylor Swift, she does good pop. There was one song, "Shake it Off," that was a mega, mega pop song, because it's catchy. It's in your head. The Beatles did pop music, and then they went a bit deeper as their days went on.

On what he thinks helps new bands break out:

You don't have to be super talented. The look's important, as well, man. If you get the look right and you get the music right, then that's when we're talking proper stuff. There's always time to develop yourself as being great. But if you're into waistcoats [North American: vests], you're always going to be into waistcoats.

On his passion for running:

I used to run for my school in Manchester and I was pretty good at it. … Maybe 10 years ago, I started thinking, "I need to get out of the house and go for a bit of a run." I went for a walk and started running; I'm obsessed with it now. Good for the head. I don't do it for any other reason, because it doesn't change my appearance. I still drink and I still smoke and I still eat food that I like to eat. I just do it — my head's clear. If you split my head open, there'd be a six-pack in there. Obviously, you do it because you want to keep trim and that, but it doesn't seem to be working in that way for me. It works more in my mind.

On his relationship with his brother, Noel Gallagher:

Without a doubt, I love my brother. I've never stopped loving him. Obviously, he's pissed me off, and I think he threw me under the bus to split Oasis up to further his career as an artist. That's always going to be bubbling away inside. I think he's a bit smug as well, the way he walks the earth these days, you know what I mean, I think he needs bringing down a peg or two. So I'm just shining the light on him, you know what I mean? He had four years when I was sitting at home going through my personal stuff, which was all my own doing and that, but as a brother, you think you'd get like a little call and that, so yeah, I've got the hump with him, but I still love him, without a doubt, you know what I mean? Without a doubt.

Use the audio player above to listen to the complete interview.

Produced by Anna Reed
Transcribed by Luke Taylor

Resources

Liam Gallagher - official site