You’re still the biggest band in the country after 10 years. What keeps you going?
Liam: It’s knowing that everyone’s crap really. It does, it changes. There’s no plan, you know what I mean, you’re just into it. I think we’re into it more than other people on and off stage, you know what I mean? There’s a lot of these people in bands today that are doing alright but they’re just after careers. Having a career is all fine and that but you need a bit of soul. We’ve got talent and soul and that’s where it, that’s where it comes from. And I think people recognise that and that’s why we’re still here.
Noel: Being into Oasis and being in Oasis is like a religion, you either believe it or you don’t. We believe in it. So, as long as we keep believing it we’ll keep doing it and there’s really nothing more to be said about that. We’ve never really been bothered about our career or about how many records we sell.

Do you see yourselves as rock stars or more like jobbing musicians?
Noel: I’m a jobbing musician, he’s a rock star (points at Liam).
Liam: I’m not a rock star cos people don’t know what rock stars are these days. Apparently Robbie Williams is a rock star, know what I mean?

What’s the biggest myth that surrounds Oasis that you actually enjoy living up to?
Liam: I’m straight.
Noel: Um, the biggest myth? I can’t confirm or deny anything because it would spoil it really. I think that everything you read is, well make your own minds up. All the funny stories are true and all the unfunny stories are, unfortunately, true as well.

Back about '96 things were quite mad for you. Do you ever regret the fact that all the stuff in the press kind of overshadowed your technical skills as a band?
Liam: Well that’s the press for you innit. We kept the press at an arm’s length and never spoke to them. I mean we don’t have friends who are journalists and we don’t hang out in bars where they hang out. So, when there was a rumour or a story they would ask. We don’t even have a relationship with our press officer, let alone the press themselves. So, the press would generally ask what had gone on. They’d ask themselves the question and then answer it for you. I’ve never spoken to anyone in the Sun, the Mirror, News of the World or any papers in my entire life but they always seem to have an exclusive by me.
Noel: You can’t, control that. Once it gets as big as we got, that’s it. I mean everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, some student in the NME will think 'oh in 1996 it turned into a soap opera'. Well, that’s because people allowed it to, do you know what I mean? For the Sun or the News of the World us going to the shops was front line is front page news for some reason. We can’t control that, all we can do is try to stay young and beautiful you know, that’s hard enough as it is.

I’m sure you’ve been asked this question a hundred times but what is it about the Beatles and John Lennon that you actually.....
Liam: His voice. I’m not bothered about what he stands for. He’s a Scouser for a start, and then he was into peace and love. He’s not my cup of tea but it’s his voice and his music and his pain in his voice...and that’s it.