Noel Gallagher: ‘I don’t agree with U2 on free music, I’d happily put an extra pound on new album’

Gallagher argues that he would rather have 750 committed fans that millions of passive listeners

Noel Gallagher has said that he and Bono disagree with each other on the release of the band’s 2014 album, with Gallagher firm in his belief that music should never be given away for free.

Gallagher speaks about the value of music and ways of getting it to fans with Q. In the interview, he argues that he would prefer to have a small amount of people love his album than millions given it for free.

‘Songs of Innocence’ by the Irish band was automatically downloaded onto all Apple subscribers’ iTunes accounts when it was released last September.

Advertisement

“No one has actually said the U2 album is a shit record or a great record,” Gallagher argues. “All they’ve talked about is the delivery. I think it’s one of their better albums, and ‘Every Breaking Wave’ – what a tune. But the way it was delivered is not something I’d ever do. For me, albums are all about the anticipation. I don’t want to live in a world where, ‘Bang. There it is. Done.’ Me and Bono have talked about this endlessly and agreed to disagree.”

He continues: “I don’t agree with free music. I’d be quite happy to put an extra pound on my new album. U2 can turn around now and say that 750m people, or whatever it is, have their new album on their phone. But I would rather 750 people had my album in their hearts. To me, that’s fundamentally more important.”

It was recently reported that Gallagher had revealed that his collaboration album with psychedelic producers Amorphous Androgynous will “never see the light of day” because “the mixes weren’t right” and he just “couldn’t be arsed” to put out another record.

Noel Gallagher: Everything we know about his new album ‘Chasing Yesterday’

Ed Sheeran, meanwhile, has responded to Noel’s remarks that he couldn’t live in a world where Ed Sheeran headlines Wembley, stating: “I can live in it, it’s really enjoyable.”

ON NME.COM TODAY: 18 of the most farcical onstage tantrums

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories