The Gallagher Brothers: What Have They Been Up to Since Oasis?
The breakup of Oasis in 2009 may have seemed like the end of an era, but the Gallagher brothers have hardly been idle. Liam and Noel have both maintained successful careers in music, releasing extensive amounts of material and enjoying sold-out concerts, No. 1 albums, and multi-platinum sales.
Liam Gallagher’s Journey
Liam was the first to announce his plans for a new band, Beady Eye, just three months after Oasis disbanded. The group consisted of Gem Archer (guitar), Andy Bell (guitar), and Chris Sharrock (drums), all of whom had previously been part of Oasis. Liam’s confidence in Beady Eye was evident, as he stated, "We’ll do it in a different kind of way now. I’ll try and reconnect with a new band, new songs, and I’m feeling confident about the songs.” The band’s critically-acclaimed debut album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, was released in February 2011.
While Beady Eye didn’t match Oasis’ commercial heights, the band still enjoyed some success. They performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, playing Oasis classics like "Wonderwall". Their second studio album, BE, released in June 2013, received less enthusiasm, especially in America. Liam eventually announced the group’s disbandment in October 2014.
Liam then embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut single, "Wall of Glass" in June 2017. He quickly became a vocal supporter of his hometown of Manchester after a tragic terrorist attack, appearing at several notable benefit events, including the One Love Manchester concert.
Liam’s solo album, As You Were, dropped in October 2017 to overwhelmingly positive reviews, debuting at No. 1 on the U.K. chart and featuring larger commercial popularity than his previous efforts. Since then, he has released two more albums, Why Me? Why Not (2019) and C’mon You Know (2022), which both debuted at No. 1 in the U.K.
In November 2019, Liam received the first Rock Icon award at the MTV Europe Music Awards. His acceptance speech was brief, yet featured some of his trademark swagger, including a statement about recognizing his "brilliance".
More recently, Liam collaborated with former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire on the aptly-titled album Liam Gallagher & John Squire, which released in March 2024 and debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. chart. He also embarked on a 30th-anniversary tour for Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe, performing the album in its entirety alongside other Oasis classics.
Noel Gallagher’s Journey
Unlike Liam, Noel took a bit more time to move on from Oasis. He played his first post-breakup gig in February 2010, and it wasn’t until July 2011 that he unveiled his new project, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. The name reflected Noel’s solo work with a rotating cast of musicians, similar to how Paul McCartney created with Wings.
Debut album Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds released in October 2011 to critical and commercial success, reaching triple-platinum status in the U.K. and solidifying Noel’s position as one of the U.K.’s most revered rockers.
Noel has continued to release music with High Flying Birds, dropping three more albums: Chasing Yesterday (2015), Who Built the Moon? (2017), and Council Skies (2023). While Council Skies fell short of debuting at No. 1, it marked a successful streak of No. 1 albums for Noel in the U.K.
Collaborations
Noel has also explored collaborations with other artists since Oasis’ breakup. In 2016, he co-wrote the song "Birth of an Accidental Hipster" with Paul Weller, which was given to the Monkees for their album Good Times!. In 2017, Noel joined forces with Damon Albarn, an unlikely partner given their former rivalry in the ’90s. The two wrote three songs for Albarn’s animated group Gorillaz and performed on all three tracks, "Only Lover Matters", "You’ll Pay", and "On the Game".
Recently, Noel co-wrote three tracks for the Black Keys’ 2024 album Ohio Players, playing guitar and providing backing vocals on all three songs.
Conclusion
While Oasis may be a thing of the past, the Gallagher brothers have both continued to thrive in the music world. Liam has found success as a solo artist, releasing critically-acclaimed albums and enjoying sold-out tours, while Noel has maintained his position as a respected rock musician with his High Flying Birds project.
FAQs
- What happened to Beady Eye after Liam Gallagher’s solo career began?
Beady Eye disbanded in October 2014, with Liam announcing the end of the group.
- What were the Gallagher brothers’ first projects after Oasis broke up?
Liam Gallagher formed Beady Eye in September 2009, while Noel Gallagher started Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in July 2011.
- How have the Gallagher brothers’ solo careers compared to each other?
Liam’s solo career has seen more commercial success, while Noel’s High Flying Birds project has received critical acclaim.
- Has the Gallagher brothers’ relationship improved over the years?
There have been rumors of a budding friendship between Liam and Noel, but both brothers have been tight-lipped about their personal relationship.
