Liam Gallagher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liam Gallagher
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Gallagher in 2018
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William John Paul Gallagher
21 September 1972 Manchester, England
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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| Children | 4 |
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William John Paul Gallagher (born 21 September 1972) is an English singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and a co-founder of the rock band Oasis. After Oasis, Gallagher led the band Beady Eye from 2009 to 2014. He then started a very successful solo music career in 2017. He is famous for his unique singing voice and his bold personality.
Gallagher was interested in joining a band called the Rain. They later changed their name to Oasis. His older brother, Noel, was asked to manage them. Noel then joined the band as their lead guitarist and songwriter. Oasis's first album, Definitely Maybe (1994), was very popular. Their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), became a top album in many countries. Their third album, Be Here Now (1997), sold faster than any other album in UK chart history at the time. Oasis continued to have successful albums and toured worldwide. In August 2009, Noel left Oasis. Liam and the other band members formed Beady Eye. They released two albums before breaking up in 2014.
In 2017, Gallagher began his solo career. His first solo album, As You Were (2017), was a big hit. It reached 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 September 2019. This made it his tenth album to reach number one, including his work with Oasis. In March 2010, readers of Q magazine voted him the greatest frontman of all time. In 2019, he won the MTV Europe Music Award for "Rock Icon". Gallagher's third album, C'mon You Know, was released in 2022. It became his fourth solo album to debut at number one in the UK. In 2024, Gallagher worked with former Stone Roses musician John Squire on an album called Liam Gallagher & John Squire.
Oasis's time was sometimes difficult, especially during their most famous period. Liam and Noel Gallagher had many disagreements. The band also had a friendly rivalry with another Britpop band, Blur.
Contents
Early Life and Music Start
Gallagher was born in Longsight, Manchester, on 21 September 1972. His parents, Peggy and Thomas "Tommy" Gallagher, were from Ireland. He is the youngest of three brothers, with Paul and Noel being older. The family later moved to Burnage, a suburb of Manchester.
When Liam was 10, his mother left his father. Liam kept in touch with his father sometimes as a teenager. Liam went to St. Bernard's RC Primary School and Barlow Roman Catholic High School. He was suspended from school for three months but returned to finish his studies.
As a young boy, Liam liked sports more than music. However, after an incident where he was hit on the head, his interest in music grew. He started to feel confident about his singing. He listened to bands like the Beatles, the Stone Roses, the La's, the Who, the Kinks, the Jam, and T. Rex. He became very interested in John Lennon from the Beatles. Liam and Noel went to a Stone Roses concert in 1988. Both brothers say that this concert inspired them to form Oasis. Liam also helped Noel with his job as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets.
Music Career Highlights
1991–2009: Oasis Years
Liam Gallagher joined his school friend Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan's band, The Rain, as a singer. He also wrote songs with guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. Noel Gallagher saw them perform in 1991. In 1993, Oasis played a show in Glasgow. Alan McGee from Creation Records saw them and signed them to a record deal.
The band's first album, Definitely Maybe, came out on 28 August 1994. It quickly became the fastest-selling British debut album ever. Liam's singing and stage presence made Oasis a popular live band. Critics often compared their sound to the Beatles and Sex Pistols. Liam's strong personality also got a lot of attention. The album is still considered one of the greatest British albums.
Oasis'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 the band Blur. This rivalry was often talked about in the media. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is seen as a very important album from the Britpop era.
Oasis's third album, Be Here Now, was released on 21 August 1997. It set a new record for the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. It sold over 424,000 copies on its first day. The album sold eight million copies worldwide by 2008. After Creation Records closed in 1999, the Gallagher brothers started their own label, Big Brother Recordings.
Oasis released Standing on the Shoulder of Giants in 2000. Founding members Bonehead and Guigsy left during the recording. This left Liam as the only original member from the band's early days. The album included Liam's first song for the band, "Little James."
Their next album, Heathen Chemistry, came out in 2002. It featured three more songs written by Liam. One of these was "Songbird", a song about his love for Nicole Appleton. The song reached No. 3 in the UK charts.
In 2005, Oasis released Don't Believe the Truth. This album also included three songs written by Liam. The album won two Q Awards. Gallagher and Oasis received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the BRIT Awards in 2007.
The band's final album, Dig Out Your Soul, was released in 2008. It featured three songs written by Liam. Dig Out Your Soul went straight to No. 1 on the UK Album Charts. It was the second-fastest selling album of 2008 in the UK. In August 2009, Oasis broke up during a tour. This happened because Noel felt he could no longer work with Liam.
2009–2014: Beady Eye
In November 2009, Gallagher announced that he and other former Oasis members were working on new music. He said Oasis was finished and this was a new project. He recorded an album with Gem Archer, Andy Bell, and Chris Sharrock.
In March 2010, Q magazine readers voted Gallagher the greatest frontman of all time. On 9 November 2010, Beady Eye released their first single, "Bring the Light". The band's first album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, was released on 28 February 2011. Liam, Andy Bell, and Gem Archer were all credited for songwriting on the album. Critics generally felt the album was better than expected.
On 3 April 2011, Beady Eye performed at a concert to help victims of the Japan Tsunami Disaster. Gallagher 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 single.
In March 2012, Gallagher 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 received mixed reviews. On 25 October 2014, Gallagher announced that Beady Eye had broken up.
2016–2019: Solo Success
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In January 2016, Gallagher initially said he wouldn't pursue a solo career. However, he later announced he would release solo songs in 2017. He explained he had many songs he had written over the years. His debut solo album, As You Were, was announced in March 2017. His first solo single, "Wall of Glass", was released on 1 June.
In June 2017, Gallagher played his first solo concert in Manchester. All the money raised went to victims of the Manchester terror attack. He also announced his first solo tour in the United States and Canada.
On 4 June 2017, Gallagher made a surprise appearance at the One Love Manchester benefit concert. He performed "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. He dedicated the performance to victims of recent attacks. On 30 June 2017, he released his second solo single, "Chinatown".
In July 2017, he performed in Serbia and Spain. He also made his first solo performance in the U.S. at a "secret gig" in New York City. In August, Gallagher performed at Reading and Leeds Festival. In October, he performed the Beatles' song "Come Together" with Foo Fighters and Joe Perry.
On 6 October 2017, As You Were was released to positive reviews. It debuted at No. 1 in the UK. It sold more copies in its first week than both Beady Eye albums combined. It also had the highest single-week vinyl sales in 20 years. In October, Gallagher announced a concert at Finsbury Park for June 2018, which sold out quickly. He also headlined the TRNSMT Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival in 2018.
In February 2018, Gallagher performed "Live Forever" at the Brit Awards. This was a tribute to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. In April, he supported the Rolling Stones at The London Stadium. He also confirmed he had started working on his second solo album. On 29 May 2019, Gallagher revealed the album would be called Why Me? Why Not.. On 7 June, "Shockwave" was released as the album's first single. A documentary called As It Was, about his return to music, was also released.
Gallagher played an acoustic set for MTV Unplugged in Hull City Hall on 3 August 2019. He performed his solo songs and some Oasis songs. Former Oasis guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs joined him for the Oasis songs. The special aired on 27 September, the same day Why Me? Why Not. debuted at number one in the UK.
Why Me? Why Not. received mostly positive reviews. Many praised the album for building on the sound of As You Were. Gallagher's vocals were also highly praised. In November, he received the first Rock Icon award at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
2020–2024: New Albums and Collaborations
On 31 January 2020, Gallagher released a live EP called Acoustic Sessions. It featured acoustic performances of his solo and Oasis songs. On 27 March, he announced that a planned show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later announced a free show for NHS staff at The O2 Arena. Gallagher also released his MTV Unplugged performance as his first live album, MTV Unplugged (Live At Hull City Hall), on 12 June 2020. It became his third UK number one album as a solo artist.
On 27 November 2020, Gallagher released a single called "All You're Dreaming Of". Money from the song went to Action for Children. It became the UK's highest-selling vinyl single of 2020.
In October 2021, Gallagher worked with Richard Ashcroft on a new version of "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)".
On 1 October 2021, Gallagher 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. This was nearly 26 years after he performed there with Oasis.
On 20 January 2022, Gallagher announced the first single from C'mon You Know would be "Everything's Electric". It was co-written by Dave Grohl, who also played drums. The song was released on 4 February 2022. Gallagher performed it at the 42nd Brit Awards on 8 February 2022. The album's title track was released on 1 April. The third single, "Better Days", was released on 22 April, with proceeds going to War Child.
On 17 March 2022, Gallagher announced he would release his Down By The River Thames performance as his second solo live album. It was released on 27 May 2022, the same day as C'mon You Know. On 3 and 4 June, Gallagher performed at Knebworth Festival. These concerts happened as C'mon You Know became a number-one album in the UK.
On 29 July 2022, Gallagher released his second EP, Diamond In The Dark. It included a cover of "Bless You" by John Lennon. On 10 October 2022, Gallagher released a fifth single, "Too Good For Giving Up", with mental health organization Talk Club UK.
On 16 October 2023, Gallagher announced a tour for June 2024. This tour celebrated the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe. He performed the album in full, along with B-sides.
In 2024, Gallagher worked with former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire on the album Liam Gallagher & John Squire. It was released on 1 March 2024.
2024–Present: Oasis Reunion
On 27 August 2024, it was announced that Liam and Noel Gallagher would reunite Oasis for a tour in 2025. The tour began on 4 July 2025 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. It will continue until 23 November 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil. The tour includes stops in the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, Asia, Australia, and South America. Both brothers have confirmed that there is no longer any bad feeling between them.
Musical Style and Influences
Gallagher's singing voice has been compared to John Lennon and Ian Brown. He says his main influence is Lennon and music in general. He often sings with his arms behind his back and his head tilted up. He says this helps him project his voice more powerfully.
Gallagher said his 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 not have gotten into music. He said he was amazed the first time he heard her song "Like a Virgin".
Other Projects and Interests
In 2010, it was confirmed that Gallagher's company, In 1 Productions, would adapt a book about the Beatles' record label, Apple Corps, into a film. Gallagher also used to own a clothing brand called Pretty Green.
In 2014, Gallagher designed a Parka-wearing Paddington Bear statue. It was one of fifty statues placed around London. These statues were later auctioned to raise money for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
In March 2015, Gallagher 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 musicians.
In October 2017, Gallagher appeared in the George Michael documentary Freedom. He called George Michael a "modern-day Elvis". In November, he appeared with his mother and son on a celebrity episode of Gogglebox to support Stand Up to Cancer. In December, he narrated an "alternative Christmas advert" for the Climate Coalition.
Gallagher released a documentary in 2019 called As It Was. It followed his life after Beady Eye and leading up to his first solo album.
Gallagher and his sons, Lennon and Gene, star in a documentary called Liam Gallagher: 48 Hours at Rockfield. It shows 48 hours at Rockfield Studios with performances and interviews. It was released in May 2022.
Gallagher was also interviewed for the documentary film If These Walls Could Sing. This film, directed by Mary McCartney, is about the recording studios at Abbey Road.
Personal Life and Views
Family and Relationships
On 7 April 1997, Gallagher married actress Patsy Kensit. They had a son, Lennon Francis Gallagher, born on 13 September 1999. They divorced in 2000. Gallagher's second son, Gene Gallagher, was born on 2 July 2001, to Canadian singer Nicole Appleton. Gallagher and Appleton married on 14 February 2008.
Gallagher has a daughter named Molly, born in March 1998. He did not meet Molly until May 2018. He later expressed hope for a continued relationship with her. Molly later changed her surname on social media to "Moorish-Gallagher". Gallagher also has another daughter, Gemma, born in January 2013.
Gallagher divorced Nicole Appleton in April 2014. He then started dating Debbie Gwyther, who is his manager. They live in Highgate, London, with their cats, Sid and Nancy, and their dog, Buttons. In August 2019, Gallagher proposed to Gwyther.
Views and Hobbies
Gallagher supported the Labour Party in the 2017 UK general election. He is concerned about climate change and has praised Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. He voted for the Green Party in the 2019 UK general election.
Gallagher is a supporter of Manchester City FC. He has said he never learned to drive or swim. He enjoys jogging. He supports the Mayo Gaelic Football Team and watches the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final every year. His favorite Oasis song is "Live Forever".
Health
In 2019, Gallagher shared that 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 and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as well as hay fever.
Gallagher had a fall after his performance at the 2021 Isle of Wight Festival. He sustained some injuries to his face.
Relationship with Noel Gallagher
Liam and Noel Gallagher have had a long and sometimes difficult relationship. During Oasis's American tour in 1994, tensions grew between them. In September 1994, Liam hit Noel with his tambourine during a show. Noel briefly left the tour after this.
During the recording of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? in 1995, the brothers had another disagreement. In August 1996, Liam did not perform at Oasis's MTV Unplugged set. Noel had to perform in his place. Liam said he had a "sore throat." Noel was upset when Liam watched from the balcony and made comments.
In May 2000, during a tour in Barcelona, a disagreement between the brothers led to Noel announcing he would not tour overseas with Oasis. Noel later returned for the British and Irish parts of the tour.
In 2009, before the band broke up, Noel described Liam as "rude, arrogant, intimidating, and lazy." The band finally split up at Rock En Seine in Paris. An argument between the brothers before their performance led to Noel's guitar being damaged. Noel then announced he was leaving the group.
Liam has said he and Noel do not speak 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 mostly only exchanged text messages at Christmas. Liam invited Noel to his wedding, but Noel said he was not invited to previous weddings and did not expect to attend. Despite their disagreements, the Gallaghers have shown affection for each other. Liam often calls Noel the best songwriter. Noel has called Liam "cooler" and praised his appearance. Noel has said that Oasis was largely defined by his relationship with Liam. During his 2024 tour, Liam reserved a seat for Noel at every concert.
On 27 August 2024, Liam and Noel announced their plans to reunite Oasis for a tour in 2025. Both brothers have confirmed that they no longer have animosity between them.
Discography
- 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)
- Solo albums
- As You Were (2017)
- Why Me? Why Not. (2019)
- C'mon You Know (2022)
- with John Squire
- Liam Gallagher & John Squire (2024)
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Awards | Work | Category | Result |
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| 1996 | NME Awards | Oasis | Best Act | Won |
| 1996 | Best Live Band | Won | ||
| 1997 | Won | |||
| 1998 | Best Live Act | Won | ||
| 1999 | Band of the Year | Won | ||
| 2001 | Best Live Band | Won | ||
| 2003 | Won | |||
| 2017 | Oasis:Supersonic | Best Music Film | Won | |
| 2017 | Q Awards | "Wall of Glass" | Best Track | Nominated |
| 2017 | Himself | Best Live Act | Won | |
| 2017 | GQ Awards | Rock n Roll Star of the Year | Won | |
| 2018 | Brit Awards | British Male Solo Artist | Nominated | |
| 2019 | MTV Europe Music Award | Best Rock | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Rock Icon | Won | ||
| 2019 | Scottish Music Awards | Best UK Artist | Won | |
| 2020 | MTV Europe Music Award | Best Rock | Nominated | |
| 2024 | MTV Europe Music Award | Himself | Best Rock | Won |
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
