Noel Gallagher on meeting fans

Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967) is an English musician, best known as the former co-lead vocalist (with younger brother Liam Gallagher), principal songwriter, and lead guitarist of English rock band Oasis.

Raised in Burnage, Manchester with Liam, Gallagher began learning guitar at the age of thirteen. After a series of odd jobs in construction, Gallagher joined local Manchester band, Inspiral Carpets as a roadie and technician in 1988. Whilst touring with the Inspiral Carpets, he learnt that Liam had formed a band of his own, known as The Rain, which eventually took on the name "Oasis". After Gallagher returned to England, he was invited by Liam to join Oasis as songwriter and guitarist.

Oasis' debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994) marked the beginning of the band's rise to fame as head of the Britpop movement. Oasis' second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? became a massive commercial smash. However, Britpop soon declined in popularity, and Oasis' next three albums failed to revive its popularity, however the band's final two albums Don't Believe the Truth (2005) and Dig Out Your Soul (2008) were hailed as the bands best efforts in over a decade, which found the band renewed success. On 28 August 2009, following an altercation with Liam prior to a gig in Paris, Noel announced his departure from Oasis and on 23 October 2009, he confirmed he would embark on a solo career.

Noel's run with Oasis was marked by turbulence, especially during the peak of Britpop, during which Noel was involved in several disputes with Liam, and the brothers' fights and wild lifestyles regularly made headlines in British tabloid newspapers. Noel (along with Oasis) also shared a personal rivalry with fellow Britpop band Blur. However, Noel was often regarded as the spear-head of the Britpop movement, and at one point of time, NME termed a number of Britpop bands (including The Boo Radleys, Ocean Colour Scene and Cast) as "Noelrock", citing Gallagher's influence on their success. Many have praised Gallagher's songwriting, with George Martin claiming Noel to be 'the finest songwriter of his generation'.