(Credits: Far Out / YouTube Still)
Fri 2 January 2026 7:49, UK
As much as Noel Gallagher often hides behind a cooler-than-ice, nonchalant persona, there are a number of subjects that do make him surprisingly earnest and sincere.
Many perks and privileges come with being a member of Oasis, which Gallagher used to his advantage in the 1990s. These ranged from the luxury of sending fans waiting outside his North London home to the shop to buy him cigarettes in exchange for an autograph, to being able to share a stage with his musical heroes, and one became a dear friend.
Since he was a child and heard the thrilling sounds of The Jam for the first time, Paul Weller has been Gallagher’s idol. Now, even though they have been close friends for 30 years and remain frequent collaborators, his view of Weller as an artist, as well as a person, is unmatched.
Although Oasis did finally reunite in 2025, finally putting the never-ending speculation to bed, it did seem, for a while, that he would follow Weller’s lead and leave the past in the history books. Weller was only in his early 20s when The Jam came to an end, and has never looked back since, even if it has meant pissing off the people that never wanted him to change.
Similarly, for many years, Noel ensured he didn’t become an Oasis tribute act, and seemed content playing smaller venues if it meant testing himself creatively rather than trying to appease his fanbase.
Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher on stage. (Credit: Alamy)
In the heat of Oasis’ split in 2009, Liam Gallagher even suggested that Weller, along with Johnny Marr, played an instrumental role in advising Noel around the time of their break-up. Weller denied telling Noel to walk out on Oasis, stating, “Listen – to put the record straight, I would never, ever give Noel Gallagher advice. What do you say to somebody who’s just sold 50 million fucking records? ‘Oh, I know what you should do…’ So that’s not true.”
Although he may not have told Noel what to do with his career, there’s no doubt that Weller is somebody who has been a wise, older brother figure to the Mancunian.
However, for Gallagher, it’s Weller’s career rather than his words of wisdom that he admires most, and the fact that ‘The Modfather’ has relentlessly walked to the beat of his own drum rather than following the crowd.
During a conversation for Apple Music with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Gallagher opened up about Weller’s influence on him and revealed why he’s a constant source of inspiration.
“Paul Weller, he’s in it for the only pure reasons,” Noel explained. “He’s in it for the music, the gigs, the clothes, and he still wants to be guy. He’s such an inspiring dude, when I’m in the studio with him either working on his stuff or my stuff, it’s a lesson in free expression. He’s been a constant in my life since 1979, and just a fucking dude.”
The love between the pair is reciprocal, with Weller once saying: “I don’t really need to talk about what a great songwriter he is, because everyone knows that. But, for me, he’s got better. I think his songs now have got a different sort of depth to them; lyrically as well.”
Weller and Gallagher are kindred spirits who have both, largely, ensured every decision they have made is for the right reasons. Even the Oasis reunion, which, at first, may have seemed like a half-hearted cash grab upon being announced, proved to be the feel-good story of the year that brought millions of people together during divided times. Only certain acts have the songbook in their arsenal to cause mass unity on that scale, but both Weller and Gallagher can count themselves as members of that extremely exclusive club.
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