July 4, 2008 - Silver Clef Awards, Park Lane Hilton Hotel, London, England

Various interviews for: Press Association, ITN and BBC (Broadcast on The Music Week, 6 Music on 6th July)


Noel - who controversially said rapper Jay-Z was the "wrong" choice to headline this year's Glastonbury music festival - also explained his comment.

He told BANG Showbiz: "All I did was give my opinion about ticket sales at Glastonbury and that's the end of it. For the record I like Jay-Z - it's just my opinion. If people don't like it, don't ask me any more questions. I should just be like every other s**t-bag pop star and just say, 'Everything is amazing'."


'In my day, status was trying to be somebody… not trying to kill somebody'

Noel Gallagher has joined the debate concerning knife crime amongst young people.

Speaking at the Silver Chef Music Therapy awards, the Oasis songwriter admitted that the topic is inescapable.

"I was up in Liverpool for a week a couple of weeks ago and even on the news there it's every single night," said Gallagher told BBC Newsbeat.

He added: "In my day, status was trying to be somebody, do you know what I mean, not trying to kill somebody."

Asked for his opinion on the reasons behind the rise in knife crime, Gallagher considered the role of video games and drugs in youth culture.

"People say it's through violent video games and I guess that's got something to do with it", he suggested. "If kids are sitting up all night smoking super skunk and they become so desensitised to crime because they're playing these video games, it's really, really scary."

Gallagher added that finding a solution would be tough, saying: "I don't even know what [David] Cameron (opposition leader) or Gordon Brown (Prime Minister) are going to do about it."


The Oasis guitarist also defended his comments about Jay-Z headlining last weekend's Glastonbury Festival.

He said: "The broadsheets get hold of it and have me going down Hyde Park Corner blasting and slamming.

"For the record, I Iike Jay-Z. That's my opinion.

"If it offends people, don't ask me anymore questions.

"I should do these things and answer like every two-bit pop star."

In April, Noel Gallagher said having the rapper at the festival was the reason tickets had not sold out and that it was "wrong" to have a hip-hop headliner.

Jay-Z played the guitarist's comments to the crowd at Glastonbury in a video montage before his set and played an acoustic version of Oasis hit Wonderwall.

Music chain HMV say the performance has helped boost sales of Oasis's album (What's The Story) Morning Glory, as well as the single Wonderwall.

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