August 29, 2009 14:59

The Courteeners' Liam Fray: 'Oasis aren't finished' The Courteeners Tickets

Frontman adds that Gallagher split means Courteeners are now Manchester's biggest band

Photo: Dean Chalkley Next Previous

Photo Gallery: The Courteeners
Photo: Dean Chalkley

The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray has given NME.COM his reaction to Noel Gallagher’s decision yesterday (August 28) to quit Oasis, saying he doesn't believe the band is finished.

Fray, who is on site at Reading Festival and due to play on the Main Stage this afternoon (August 29), also pointed out that with the Gallagher brothers seemingly not working with each other, The Courteeners are now Manchester's biggest band.

"I can't see it being the end [of Oasis]," he said. "They've always been ambiguous, haven't they? Will they, won't they? It's strange, though. I'm pretty shocked and I'm upset. But, you know, it just makes us the biggest band in Manchester now, doesn't it?"

Despite his bravado, the frontman said he was saddened by the apparent split, and paid tribute to Oasis by saying they were the reason he started playing music as an adolescent.

"I'm really, really upset, because they were a big part of my life growing up. Noel's the reason why I picked up the guitar when I was 11 years old - trying to learn 'Wonderwall'. And Liam, as he is, is a fantastic singer. [I've] got a lot of respect for them both."

NME.COM will be coming live from both the Reading And Leeds Festivals sites this weekend (August 28-30). Stay tuned to NME.COM/festivals for news reports, blogs, video interviews and photos from the event.

Get next Wednesday's (September 2) issue of NME for the ultimate Reading And Leeds Festivals review.

Plus have your say on this summer - fill in the annual NME Festival survey now to cast your verdict on 2009, and tell festival chiefs who you want to see next year.

Read more

Visit NME Video for the latest music videos and artist interviews

The Courteeners Tickets
Date/Time Venue Town/City Seetickets Viagogo
Jun 16, 2012 14:00 Chester Racecourse Chester

Buy The Courteeners Tickets
from £37

Buy The Courteeners Tickets

Aug 25, 2012 11:00 Bramham Park Leeds

Buy The Courteeners Tickets
from £92

Buy The Courteeners Tickets

You may need to upgrade your Flash Player

You can download the latest flash plugin here.

If you have installed flash but keep getting this message:

1. Try to bypass flash plugin detection here.

2. Ensure you have javascript enabled in your browser.

3. Try using Firefox

Listen to more Free Music at we7.com
Comments

Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page

Featured Videos
Latest Tickets
NME Store & Framed Prints
Most Read News
Popular This Week
Twitter
Inside NME.COM
 
New Issue Out Now
Newsletter

Free weekly music news, videos and MP3s in your inbox

On NME.COM Today