Sony Music Philippines arranged this phone interview with Andy Bell, Oasis’ new bassist and almost Gay Dad member. Pulp talked to the musician about being in a cheeky band, their new album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, and where he’d place his money in the Gallagher-Williams match.
PULP: How’s Japan?
Andy Bell: Top fucking class, man! (Our Gigs) have been fantastic, others are just fine.
P: Where are you guys off to after Japan?
AB: We’re doing a couple of gigs in Europe and then we’re off to America.
P: How’s your wife and daughter?
AB: They’re fine, thanks…they’re missing me right now.
P: You mentioned in previous interviews that your favorite Oasis songs are “Live Forever” and “Wonderwall.” Any favorites on the new album?
AB: Yeah.”Rollover” – that’s the one I like best. It reminds me of…I dunno. If just sounds cool. Fucking cool!
P: Same one as Noel’s (favorite). Liam’s is “I Can See a Liar.”
AB: Right. It’s simply the best on the album.
P:Why do you like that song?
AB: I just love the lyrics and the melody and the production. It’s as simple as that. It’s uplifting.
P: I heard that Noel wants to do bass and let you take over lead guitar, which you did for Hurricane One. Do you see that happening any time soon?
AB: If it does happen it’ll be on the next album.
P: What can we expect from the Oasis, given the new lineup?
AB: Musically, the gigs will be the same but mainly better. I think we just want to be there, on that stage. Whereas the other two guys who quit didn’t want to be there, that’s why they left. The five of us really do want to be where we are, we really want to be doing it, and we’re happy to be doing it, and we’re happy to be there, we really want to communicate as best as we can to the people who are listening. So the gigs are gonna be great. And I think when the new line-up gets into the studio to make a new album, I think you’ll notice the there’s a good atmosphere there too. But we’ll have to wait and see when that happens.
P: Being an accomplished musician yourself, how do you feel about joining Oasis?
AB: Well, I have to use all my musical skills to help do these bass parts. It’s not a simple option playing bass. I need to uses everything I’ve got and it’s good to be stretched and I’m happy to be stretched and it’s good to keep on being stretched.
P: Can you say the new album is conscious effort of Oasis to come off as more mature or is it just a natural progression as musicians?
AB: I think it’s the latter, a natural progression.
P: So it’s not just the effect of Oasis laying off the drugs and booze, it’s their natural progression as artists?
AB: Yes, I think so. Actually it’s hard to say…especially when you haven’t been there when it was being made. I just think they’ve done three albums which kinda blast through in the same kind of rock and roll sound. Obviously after the three, you want to shift it a little bit. I guess that’s why it’s become a bit spaced… spacey arrangements and (there are) moments in the album where not much…it’s not prolonged all the time, it’s all spaced out, which I kinda like.
P: You can still see a lot of Beatles influence in there like Liam’s song “Little James.” What do you think we can expect of the next Oasis album? What musical direction is the band going?
AB: It’s very hard to say…
P: You have any idea who Noel was referring to in “Sunday Morning Call”?
AB: Uh…I don’t know.
P: If Liam accepted Robbie’s challenge for a boxing match, where would you have placed your money?
AB: On Liam, definitely.
Andy,
What the hell are you so crawler… Stop shunting Liam around and remenber what you used to be with Ride… a real band¡¡¡
Remenber it