Oasis "likes" Jay Z

Noel Gallagher clears up Jay Z comments at Silver Clef Awards

04 July 2008 - Oasis received the prestigious Silver Clef award celebrating their contribution to the music industry on 4 July.

Speaking at the awards, Noel sets the Jay Z record straight.

About Jay Z's headline slot at Glastonbury, it was reported that Noel had said that there was, "no place for hip hop," at the festival. 

In response, Jay Z opened his festival set with a video montage of reactions (including Noel's), and by singing the famous Oasis song Wonderwall.

When asked about the whole affair, Noel's response was: "I was asked as you well know about ticket sales at Glastonbury - and that was my opinion, and that’s the end of it.

"Now when the Church of England brigade in the broadsheets get hold of it and have me going down Hyde Park Corner blasting and slamming - that’s bulls**t."

He went on to express his amiable feelings towards the American rapper, saying, "For the record I like Jay Z."

"It was my opinion, if it offends people, don’t ask me any more questions. I should do these things and answer like any two bit popstar and say everything’s amazing."

He proceeded to answer a series of interview questions with the word "amazing".

Receiving the award

The band shot to fame in the 1990s with their anthemic debut album Definitely Maybe. They continue to have an impact today with their seventh album, Dig Out Your Soul, due out on 6 October.

Oasis still hold a record with their 1997 contribution, Be Here Now, selling over a million copies in two weeks – establishing it as the fastest selling album in UK chart history.

Upon receiving the award Noel was asked what the Silver Clef Life Time Achievement Award means to him.

He was not so sure: "I’ve been trying to find out what it means. I’ve been kind of asking this question for about a week so I’m not really too sure but all awards – it’s a good crack isn't it."

Gallagher on Ricky Hatton

Presented to him by the boxer Ricky Hatton, at the luncheon ceremony in London’s Park Lane Hilton hotel, Gallagher spoke with fondness of the sportsman - who uses Oasis' songs as his warm up music before big fights.

"Rick grew up listening to Oasis and for people like us from Manchester to have him, he’s such a superstar now," Gallagher explained, "and when you see him in the dressing room before his fights and he’s listening to Morning Glory – he’s one of the lads, do you know what I mean?"

Gallagher on knife crime

Speaking at the awards, the Oasis man entered into the debate on knife crime, that is prevalent in the news at the moment.

Gallagher commented: "It's horrible.  And it's not just in London.  I was up in Liverpool a couple of weeks ago and even on the news up there - it's every single night.  It's a pity that the scumbags are taking over the streets."

He said he does not know what the politicians David Cameron and Gordon Brown are going to do about the problem and believes that it all goes back to Margaret Thatcher's reign as Prime Minister.

"We're in the third generation of poverty in this country," Gallagher explained.  "Kids' grandparents were put on the dole by Margaret Thatcher and they had kids, and now they've grown up in poverty and they're having kids.  Wait until the next generation, they're gonna be proper scumbags."

He said that he speaks about the issue with his wife and admitted to worrying about what will be in store for their children: "If kids haven't got anything then what are they gonna do.  It's  a real shame and me and the missus talk about it at night - about how our kid's gonna grow up.  It's rough, but I don't know what you can do."

Some perceive that the growing problem of youths carrying knives has come about because they feel it gives them added status, others because it gives them protection.

To this, Gallagher responded: "In my day status was trying to be somebody, not trying to kill someone.  But if kids are sitting up all night smoking super skunk, and becoming so desensitised to crime because they're playing these video games - it's really, really scary."

The Silver Clef 2008 winners

This year's O2 Silver Clef Awards guest list also included The Fratellis, Lily Allen, Paul Weller, Russell Brand, Simon Pegg and Meatloaf.

The event was in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, which supports children and adults throughout the country by means of 30,000 sessions and projects.

The full list of 2008 winners:

Silver Clef Award - Oasis
Icon Award - Squeeze
Classical Award - Nicola Benedetti
Ambassadors of Rock - Bryan Adams
Best British Band - The Fratellis
Download of the Year - Estelle, American Boy
International Award - Meat Loaf
Newcomer Award - Amy Macdonald

Georgie Rogers