Having just signed a three-album, multi-million-dollar deal with SonyBMG, Oasis' Noel Gallagher can basically do as he pleases. But give music away for free? Not very likely. In fact, on the subject of Radiohead and their recent pay-what-you-like policy for the album In Rainbows, the Manchester guitarist has labeled the entire affair a "free marketing ploy."
Stating categorically that Oasis would not be following the same release pattern for its upcoming album, Dig Out Your Soul, Gallagher said, "That's not our bag. I didn't spend a year in the most expensive studio in England, with the most expensive producer in America and the most expensive graphic designer in London to then give it away. Fuck that."
But Gallagher, always known for his blunt take, seems to show signs of mellowing with age. Consistent with his bash-him-but-I-really-like-him comments about rapper Jay-Z, he had this to say about Radiohead themselves: "To be honest, to me it looked like marketing - a great way of getting a load of marketing for free really. But good for them. That's what they do, they're rebels and outsiders."
Even so, we'd love to hear his assessment on Nickelback.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.