Liam Gallagher has thrown cold water on the sizzling hype surrounding a new Oasis album, leaving fans feeling like they've been punched in the gut. The fiery frontman has made it crystal clear that he's not about to put himself through the wringer of criticism and expectation after such a long break from the band.
In a blunt response to a die-hard fan on X, Gallagher laid down the law: "NO! I'm just not prepared for the criticism if it doesn't sell 100 million copies in the first hour, cure bad breath and constipation for the nation, turn back time for Cher and all that other bollocks. Let's just get out there and play some gigs and be happy, thanks." It's a candid admission that reveals just how much pressure is being piled on these Britpop legends – whose last studio album, 'Dig Out Your Soul', was released in 2008.
This latest stance marks a more decisive position from Gallagher, who has previously engaged in a playful game of cat and mouse with fans regarding new music. Last year's comeback news sparked a wave of excitement, only for him to later reveal it was all a load of old codswallop – "f***ing joking" he'd said. The subsequent mixed signals from the band's manager about no new music plans have left fans scratching their heads and wondering what's really going on.
Gallagher has given some insight into his thinking, agreeing with another fan who pointed out that a new album would likely face flak if it didn't sound exactly like Oasis used to. "Exactly," he tweeted, "Momma didn't raise no fool there mad for putting the boot in but can't if the gigs are great." When asked hypothetically about the sound of a new record, he said it should still be an oasis, not some watered-down attempt to stay relevant – "electronic umbrellas" trying to keep up with the times, as he put it.
Those recent sightings of Gallagher at Abbey Road Studios earlier this year only added fuel to the fire, but it's now clear that was just a one-off session and nothing to do with new Oasis material. The presence of John Squire from The Stone Roses at the same studio around the same time suggests another collaborative project might be in the works – leaving Oasis fans feeling like they've been left out in the cold.