Noel Gallagher (born May 29, 1967) is the lead songwriter, guitarist and sometime lead-singer with the British rock band Oasis. He is the older brother of Oasis front man Liam Gallagher and the two are often pigeon-holed as squabbling siblings.
In the 1990s, he was centre stage of what the media coined the Britpop movement. Oasis' first album, Definitely Maybe (1994), became the fastest selling British debut ever, and along with the follow-up (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995), enjoyed much critical and commercial success. However, critical success on this scale has largely escaped the band since the release of 1997's Be Here Now.
Gallagher is often criticized for the praise he gives to his own songs. Though many consider this to be intense arrogance, he himself maintains that it is merely self-confidence and points out "If you'd written "Live Forever", you'd be walking to a different tune the next day too".
His outspoken opinions on other bands and modern culture have, more recently, earned him something of an "elder statesman" reputation, leading NME to dub him "The wisest man in rock"
