Noel Gallagher

Noel Thomas David Gallagher, born 29 May 1967, is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the primary songwriter, lead guitarist, and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis. After leaving the group, he formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Gallagher is recognized as one of the most successful and influential songwriters in British music history, having achieved ten consecutive UK number-one studio albums and nine UK number-one singles across his career.

Gallagher was born in the Longsight area of Manchester to Irish Catholic parents Peggy and Thomas Gallagher, and was raised alongside his brothers Paul and Liam in Burnage. He experienced a difficult childhood marked by physical abuse from his father, which contributed to a stammer that required four years of speech therapy. After his mother left his father in 1982, she raised her three sons as a single mother. As a teenager, Gallagher was expelled from school at age 15 and received probation at age 14 for robbing a corner shop, during which time he taught himself to play the guitar.

While working for a building firm sub-contracted to British Gas, Gallagher sustained a foot injury and was reassigned to a storehouse role. He used his time there to practise guitar and write songs, including early Oasis material. In the late 1980s, after recording early demo tracks, he auditioned to be the lead vocalist for the band Inspiral Carpets. Although he was unsuccessful, he joined the group's road crew and worked as a technician for two years.

In 1991, Gallagher joined his brother Liam's band, the Rain, which had been renamed Oasis. He agreed to join on the condition that he would serve as the group's sole songwriter, lead guitarist, and creative leader. In May 1993, Creation Records founder Alan McGee saw Oasis perform in Glasgow and signed them to a contract. Oasis released their debut single, Supersonic, in early 1994, followed by their debut album, Definitely Maybe, in August 1994. The album entered the UK charts at number one and became the fastest-selling debut album in British history at the time.

Gallagher wrote all the tracks for Oasis's next two albums, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) and Be Here Now (1997). Morning Glory became the second fastest-selling album ever in the UK and produced hits including Some Might Say, Wonderwall, and Don't Look Back in Anger, on which Gallagher sang lead vocals. In August 1996, Oasis played to over 250,000 fans over two nights at Knebworth. Outside of Oasis, Gallagher collaborated with artists such as the Chemical Brothers, Paul Weller, Ian Brown, and Johnny Depp, and recorded with the charity supergroup Smokin' Mojo Filters.

Despite ongoing internal disputes with his brother Liam, Oasis continued to achieve major commercial success, earning additional number-one albums and singles. Following an altercation with Liam in August 2009, Gallagher announced his departure from Oasis. He subsequently formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, with whom he has released four studio albums. During his time in Oasis, Gallagher won seven Brit Awards and two Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting.