Even though Beady Eye don’t claim to be the men behind Liam Gallagher would anybody, other than die-hard fans, actually care if Gem Archer, Andy Bell, Chris Sharock or Jay Mehler decided to leave?
Back in 1994 when Liam and Noel held their infamous but highly entertaining NME interview in which Liam threatened to hit Noel ‘with a f*ckin’ Rickenbaker, right on the nose!’ we all knew that this solo era would be upon us one day.
By the time the popularity of Oasis had gone stratospheric and their constant fallouts had become a national soap opera, certain experts predicted that the future for the Gallagher brothers would be thus: Liam would either be making obscure jazz records or would become a drug casualty and Noel would either become Prime Minister or still be the leader of Oasis.
Albeit by now, Oasis would consist of Paul Weller and his drummer’s brother as well as various members of Ocean Colour Scene.
Although none of these predictions came true, Noel has become something of a National Opinion Ombudsman. Policing a wide range of areas such as Musical Decency, Football Opinion, Reality TV and the use of Electronic Cigarettes – to name but a few.
Liam on the other hand has become the rock star that the tabloid press turns to when they need a story about a drunken indie-mod trying to sit on the back of an oversized dog tied up outside a London pub.
Somewhere within all of this remember, there is actually two brothers who, for a short while at least, were the best singer and the best songwriter of their generation.
Noel’s 2011 release under the guise of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, was met with modest acclaim whereas Beady Eye’s Different Gear, Still Speeding was mocked in certain quarters for its title and its lack of lyric prowess. All of this was before Liam’s often criticized vocals, had even been addressed.
Since his mid-90s peak, Liam’s vocal range has diminished considerably, yet much of the criticism surrounding his voice comes from those who still care are willing him to deliver those magical tones that gave genuine shivers with such ease when he was at the height of his vocal powers.
Beady Eye’s second album BE, released in June of this year, has faired slightly better with critics although Liam’s old nemesis Robbie Williams did amusingly refer to lead track Flick The Finger as “f**king amazing if (it) had a chorus.”
It has not been an easy ride for Beady Eye since they last played Manchester in June of this year.
Liam’s very public split with wife Nicole Appleton and guitarist Gem Archer’s fractured skull have all taken the attention away from Beady Eye’s actual music although Liam’s recent appearance at The Charlatans organised Evening For Jon Brookes showed that there may still be some life left in those vocal chords.
On an evening where Liam Performed George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord, as well as both Columbia and Live Forever, his voice sounded like the voice of old. Maybe he knows that he, as well as Beady Eye have got something to prove.
Maybe he knows that the year has been a roller coaster for all involved with Beady Eye and maybe he knows that this is the point where he starts putting things right.
Liam Gallagher with a point to prove could be a dangerous prospect but then again, it could be a magical one.
Beady Eye play Academy 1 in Manchester on November 15 and 16.
Image courtesy of Dena Flows via Flickr, with thanks.
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