Liam Gallagher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liam Gallagher
Gallagher in 2018
Born	William John Paul Gallagher (1972-09-21) 21 September 1972 (age 52) Manchester, England
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Patsy Kensit ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2000)​ Nicole Appleton ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2014)​
Children	4
Relatives	Noel Gallagher (brother) Anaïs Gallagher (niece)
Musical career
Genres	Britpop hard rock alternative rock
Instruments	Vocals tambourine guitar
Labels	Creation Big Brother Epic Warner

William John Paul Gallagher (born 21 September 1972) is a famous English singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, which he helped start in 1991. After Oasis, he was the frontman for the band Beady Eye from 2010 to 2014. Since 2017, he has had a very successful solo music career.

Gallagher first wanted to join a band called the Rain. They later changed their name to Oasis. His older brother, Noel, joined the band as their lead guitarist. Oasis quickly became popular with their first album, Definitely Maybe (1994). This was during a time when a style of music called Britpop was very popular.

Their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), became a huge hit around the world. Their third album, Be Here Now (1997), sold faster than any other album in UK chart history. Even after Britpop became less popular, all of Oasis's later albums still reached the top of the UK charts. They played concerts for millions of people worldwide.

In August 2009, Noel left Oasis. Liam and the other band members then formed Beady Eye. They released two albums before the band broke up in 2014.

In 2017, Liam started his solo career. His first album, As You Were (2017), was a big success. It went straight to number one in the UK. It was also one of the fastest-selling debut albums of the 2010s in the UK. His second album, Why Me? Why Not, also topped the UK charts in 2019. This made it his tenth album to reach number one, including his work with Oasis.

In 2010, Q magazine readers voted him the greatest frontman of all time. In 2019, he won the MTV Europe Music Award for "Rock Icon". His third solo album, C'mon You Know, was released in 2022 and also reached number one. In 2024, he worked with John Squire from the Stone Roses on an album called Liam Gallagher & John Squire.

Oasis was known for some disagreements, especially between Liam and Noel. These conflicts were often reported in the news. The band also had a friendly rivalry with another Britpop band, Blur. Liam Gallagher is famous for his unique singing voice and his honest personality. He is one of the most recognizable figures in British rock music.

Early Life and Music Journey

William John Paul Gallagher was born in Manchester, England, on 21 September 1972. His parents, Peggy and Thomas Gallagher, were from Ireland. When he was 10, his mother left his father.

Liam and his brothers had some challenges growing up. In his teenage years, Liam was hit on the head with a hammer by a student from another school. He believes this event changed his view on music. After this, he became very interested in joining a band. He started to feel confident about his singing. He listened to bands like the Beatles, the Stone Roses, and the Kinks. He became a big fan of John Lennon.

Music Career Highlights

Oasis: The Early Years

The Gallagher brothers performing with Oasis in September 2005

Liam joined his school friend Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan's band, The Rain, as a singer. He also helped write songs with guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. In 1991, Liam's brother Noel saw them play in Manchester. In 1993, Oasis played a show in Glasgow where Alan McGee from Creation Records discovered them. He signed them to a six-album deal.

Oasis's first album, Definitely Maybe, came out on 28 August 1994. It quickly became the fastest-selling debut album in British history. People loved Liam's singing on the album, and Oasis became a popular live band. Critics said their music sounded like the Beatles and Sex Pistols. This album is still considered one of the greatest albums of all time by many music magazines and polls.

Rise to Fame and Britpop Era

The band's second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, was even more successful. It became one of the best-selling albums in British history. Around this time, Oasis had a well-known rivalry with another Britpop band, Blur. Oasis was seen as a working-class band from the north, while Blur was a middle-class band from the south. This made the media see them as natural rivals.

In August 1995, Blur and Oasis both released new songs on the same day. Blur's song "Country House" sold more copies than Oasis's "Roll with It" that week. When Oasis performed their song on Top of the Pops, Liam pretended to play Noel's guitar, and Noel pretended to sing. This was a playful jab at the show's lip-syncing rule. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is considered a classic album of the Britpop era and one of the best albums of the 1990s.

Gallagher performing in February 2006

Oasis's third album, Be Here Now, was released on 21 August 1997. It set a new record as the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. On its first day, it sold over 424,000 copies. By 2008, the album had sold eight million copies worldwide. It was the best-selling album of 1997 in the UK.

In 1999, Creation Records closed down. The Gallagher brothers then started their own record label, Big Brother Recordings, for future Oasis music. Oasis released the album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants in 2000. Some original band members left during its recording. Liam wrote his first song for the band, "Little James," for his wife's son.

Oasis's next album, Heathen Chemistry, came out in 2002. It included three more songs written by Liam. One of these was "Songbird", a love song for Nicole Appleton, who he later married. This song became a top 3 hit in the UK.

In 2005, Oasis released their sixth album, Don't Believe the Truth. It featured three more songs written by Liam. The album won two Q Awards. In 2007, Liam and Oasis received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the BRIT Awards.

The band's last album, Dig Out Your Soul, was released in 2008. It included three songs written by Liam. The album went straight to number one in the UK. It was the second-fastest selling album of 2008 in the UK. Many critics praised Dig Out Your Soul as one of the band's strongest albums. In August 2009, Oasis broke up during a tour.

Beady Eye: A New Chapter

Gallagher performing with Beady Eye in March 2011

In November 2009, Liam announced that he and the other former Oasis members had new music. They were starting a new band. On 19 November 2009, he said they would record an album around Christmas. He felt confident that their new songs could be even better than Oasis.

In March 2010, Liam was voted the greatest frontman of all time in a poll by Q magazine. On 9 November 2010, his new band, Beady Eye, released their first song, "Bring the Light", as a free download. Their first album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, came out on 28 February 2011. Liam, Andy Bell, and Gem Archer wrote the songs together. Critics generally agreed that the album was better than expected.

On 3 April 2011, Beady Eye played a concert to help raise money for the Japan Tsunami Disaster. Liam organized the event, which raised over £150,000 for the British Red Cross. Beady Eye also released their version of the Beatles' "Across the Universe" as a charity song.

In March 2012, Liam said Beady Eye would start playing Oasis songs. They did this for the first time in June 2012. In August 2012, Beady Eye performed "Wonderwall" at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.

The band's second album, BE, was released on 12 June 2013. It was recorded with producer Dave Sitek. The album received mixed reviews. On 25 October 2014, Liam announced that Beady Eye had broken up. He thanked fans for their support.

Solo Success: As You Were and Why Me? Why Not.

Gallagher performing in August 2017

In 2016, Liam announced he would release solo songs in 2017. He had many songs he had written over the years. His first solo concert was in Manchester, and all the money went to help victims of the Manchester terror attack. He also planned his first solo tour in the United States and Canada.

On 4 June 2017, Liam made a surprise appearance at the One Love Manchester benefit concert. He played "Rock 'N' Roll Star", "Wall of Glass", and "Live Forever" with Coldplay. He also performed at Glastonbury in June 2017. During his set, he sang "Don't Look Back in Anger" for the first time, dedicating it to the victims of recent terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire.

His debut solo album, As You Were, was released on 6 October 2017. It received good reviews and debuted at number one in the UK. It sold 103,000 copies in its first week. It also had the highest vinyl sales in 20 years.

Gallagher performing in July 2018

In February 2018, Liam performed "Live Forever" at the Brit Awards. This was a tribute to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. In April, he started working on his second solo album. On 29 May 2019, he announced the album would be called Why Me? Why Not.. The first song from the album, "Shockwave", was released on 7 June. A documentary called As It Was, about his return to music, was also released.

Liam played an acoustic show for MTV Unplugged in Hull City Hall on 3 August. He performed his solo songs and some Oasis songs. For the Oasis songs, he was joined by former Oasis guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. The show aired on 27 September, the same day Why Me? Why Not. debuted at number one in the UK. The album received mostly positive reviews. In November, he won the first Rock Icon award at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Recent Projects and Oasis Reunion

On 31 January 2020, Liam released a live EP called Acoustic Sessions. It featured acoustic performances of his solo and Oasis songs. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he announced a free show for NHS staff at The O2 Arena. He also released his MTV Unplugged performance as a live album, MTV Unplugged (Live At Hull City Hall), which became his third UK number one album as a solo artist.

Liam Gallagher and John Squire performing in Milan in 2024

On 27 November 2020, Liam released a song called "All You're Dreaming Of". The money from the song went to Action for Children. In October 2021, he worked with Richard Ashcroft on a song for Ashcroft's album.

On 1 October 2021, Liam announced his third solo album, C'mon You Know, would be released on 27 May 2022. He performed at Knebworth Park on 3 and 4 June 2022, nearly 26 years after Oasis played there. The first song from C'mon You Know was "Everything's Electric", co-written by Dave Grohl. It was released on 4 February 2022. The album's third song, "Better Days", was released on 22 April, with money going to War Child.

Liam Gallagher at the Brit Awards 2022

On 27 May 2022, Liam released his second solo live album, Down By The River Thames, on the same day as C'mon You Know. C'mon You Know became a number-one album in the UK.

In 2024, Liam worked with former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire on an album called Liam Gallagher & John Squire.

On 27 August 2024, it was announced that Liam and Noel Gallagher would reunite Oasis for a tour in 2025. This will be the band's first tour in 15 years. Both brothers have confirmed that there is no longer any bad feeling between them.

Musical Style and Inspirations

Gallagher's singing pose, with his arms behind his back and head arched up towards the microphone

Liam Gallagher's singing voice has been compared to artists like John Lennon and Ian Brown. He says his main influence is Lennon and "music" itself. He often includes styles like punk, indie, and new wave in his music.

When he sings, he often puts his arms behind his back. He says this helps him project his voice more powerfully. He also leans forward and arches his head towards the microphone.

Liam's first record purchase was the debut album by the Stone Roses. In 2017, he shared that if it wasn't for pop singer Madonna, he might never have gotten into music. He said he was amazed the first time he heard her song "Like a Virgin".

Other Projects

In 2010, Liam's production company planned to make a film about the Beatles' record label, Apple Corps. Liam also used to own a clothing brand called Pretty Green.

Gallagher's Parka-themed Paddington Bear statue in Carnaby Street, London, auctioned to raise funds for the NSPCC

In 2014, Liam designed a Parka-wearing Paddington Bear statue. It was one of fifty statues placed around London to promote the film Paddington. These statues were later auctioned to raise money for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

In March 2015, Liam appeared in a short film for Comic Relief called National Treasures. In June, he played in a charity football match. He also performed on a special TV show, singing "My Generation" by The Who with a group of famous musicians.

In October 2017, Liam appeared in a documentary about George Michael. In December, he narrated a Christmas advertisement for the Climate Coalition about climate change.

In 2019, Liam released a documentary called As It Was. It showed his life after Beady Eye and leading up to his first solo album. In May 2022, another documentary, Liam Gallagher: 48 Hours at Rockfield, was released. It featured Liam and his sons, Lennon and Gene.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

On 7 April 1997, Liam married actress Patsy Kensit. Their son, Lennon Francis Gallagher, was born on 13 September 1999. They divorced in 2000. Liam's second son, Gene Gallagher, was born on 2 July 2001, to Canadian singer Nicole Appleton. Liam and Nicole married on 14 February 2008. They divorced in April 2014.

Liam has a daughter named Molly, born on 26 March 1998, with singer Lisa Moorish. Liam did not meet Molly until May 2018. After they met, he hoped to be a part of her life. Molly later changed her surname on social media to "Moorish-Gallagher".

Liam is now engaged to Debbie Gwyther, who is also his manager. They live in London with their two cats and a dog. In 2019, he praised all the mothers of his children for raising them well.

Views and Hobbies

Liam Gallagher supported the Labour Party in the 2017 UK general election. He has spoken about his concerns regarding climate change. He has publicly praised climate activist Greta Thunberg and voted for the Green Party in the 2019 UK general election.

Liam is a big fan of Manchester City FC. In 2019, he shared that he never learned how to drive or swim. His favorite films include Quadrophenia and Trainspotting. He also supports the Mayo Gaelic Football Team and watches their championship final every year. His favorite Oasis song is 'Live Forever'.

Health

Liam often goes jogging. In 2019, he said he had started to suffer from arthritis in his hips. Doctors advised him to jog less. In early 2023, he had hip surgery. He also has psoriasis, which sometimes requires him to wear protective gloves, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

After a concert in 2021, Liam fell out of a helicopter. He got cuts and bruises on his face. The injuries were serious enough that he had to delay a performance.

Relationship with Noel Gallagher

The relationship between Liam and Noel Gallagher has often been difficult. During Oasis's American tour in 1994, Liam sometimes changed the words of Noel's songs to be rude. In September 1994, during a show in Los Angeles, tensions grew between them.

In August 1996, Liam decided not to perform with Oasis for their MTV Unplugged show just minutes before it started. Noel had to fill in. Liam said he had a "sore throat," but Noel claimed he was hungover. Noel was also upset when Liam heckled him from the balcony during the performance.

In 2009, before Oasis broke up, Noel called Liam "rude, arrogant, intimidating, and lazy." The band finally split during a tour in Paris. An argument between the brothers led to Noel's guitar being damaged. Noel then announced he was leaving the group.

Liam has said that he and Noel do not talk much and "don't really have a relationship." While they were in Oasis, they rarely spent time together outside the band. Since the band split, they have only exchanged text messages at Christmas. Liam invited Noel to his wedding, but Noel said he was not invited and would not go.

Despite their disagreements, the brothers have shown affection for each other. Liam often calls Noel the best songwriter. Noel has called Liam "cooler" than himself and praised his looks. Noel has said that Oasis was all about his relationship with Liam. During his 2024 tour, Liam even reserved a seat for Noel at every concert.

On 27 August 2024, Liam and Noel announced that Oasis would reunite for a tour in 2025. Both brothers later confirmed that they no longer have any bad feelings towards each other.

Discography

Studio albums

• As You Were (2017)
• Why Me? Why Not. (2019)
• C'mon You Know (2022)

with Oasis

• Definitely Maybe (1994)
• (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
• Be Here Now (1997)
• Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000)
• Heathen Chemistry (2002)
• Don't Believe the Truth (2005)
• Dig Out Your Soul (2008)

with Beady Eye

• Different Gear, Still Speeding (2011)
• BE (2013)

with John Squire

• Liam Gallagher & John Squire (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Touring Band Members

Current members

• Mike Moore – guitar (2017–present)
• Drew McConnell – bass, backing vocals (2017–present)
• Dan McDougall – drums, backing vocals (2017–present)
• Jay Mehler – guitar (2017–present)
• Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs – guitar (2017–2022, 2023–present)
• Christian Madden – keyboards (2017–present)

Former members

• Adam Falkner – drums (2023)
• Barrie Cadogan – guitar (2022–2023)

See also

In Spanish: Liam Gallagher para niños