Vol. 1Thursday, October 22, 2026Est. 2026

The stories behind the people who make the music

Music Folks

Noel Gallagher: The Songwriter Behind Oasis and the High Flying Birds

October 14, 2026 · by Music Folks

Noel Gallagher is the songwriter who gave Oasis their anthems, from “Live Forever” and “Wonderwall” to “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” After walking out of the band in 2009, he spent more than a decade proving himself all over again with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, before reuniting with his brother Liam for a tour that drew millions.

Quick Facts

  • Born: Noel Thomas David Gallagher, May 29, 1967, Longsight, Manchester, England
  • Known for: Lead guitarist and songwriter of Oasis; Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
  • Genre: Rock, Britpop
  • Key songs written: “Supersonic,” “Live Forever,” “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Champagne Supernova”
  • Solo albums: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (2011), Chasing Yesterday (2015), Who Built the Moon? (2017), Council Skies (2023)
  • Awards: Ivor Novello for Outstanding Song Collection (2013); BRIT Songwriter of the Year (2026)

From Burnage to the Road

The middle of three Gallagher brothers, Noel grew up in Manchester’s Burnage area, left school at 15 and went to work on building sites. In 1988, after failing an audition to be the singer of Inspiral Carpets, he became the band’s roadie and guitar tech, spending about two years on the road with them.

Writing for Oasis

Back home in 1991, he found Liam fronting the local band that became Oasis. Noel joined, reportedly on the condition that he would be the sole songwriter. “I had no intention of joining [Oasis] but fate took over,” he later told The Big Issue. He wrote the songs that made them one of Britain’s biggest bands, and sang some himself: “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” a UK No. 1, has his lead vocal. Our Oasis post tells the band’s full story.

On August 28, 2009, shortly before a festival show in Paris, Noel quit Oasis, saying the intimidation he faced within the band had become intolerable.

High Flying Birds

His first solo album, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, arrived in October 2011 and went to No. 1 in the UK, spending 60 weeks on the chart. Chasing Yesterday (2015) and Who Built the Moon? (2017) also topped the chart, as did the 2021 compilation Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2011-2021). Council Skies (2023) peaked at No. 2. In 2013 he won the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.

The Reunion

In August 2024 Noel and Liam announced that Oasis were reforming. The Live ‘25 tour opened in Cardiff on July 4, 2025, with Noel taking a short solo spot each night, and ran for 41 dates before closing in São Paulo that November. In February 2026, in his home city of Manchester, he was named Songwriter of the Year at the BRIT Awards.

Where He Is Now

As of October 2026, Noel is preparing for Oasis Live ‘27, a run of stadium shows across the UK, Europe and the US with Richard Ashcroft as guest, including a return to Knebworth. No new High Flying Birds album has been announced.

More Music Folks

Sources

Tagged: , ,