Paul McCartney: Oasis’ biggest mistake was saying ‘we’re going to be bigger than The Beatles’


Noel Gallagher with Oasis in New York (Photo: Paul Bachmann for Live4ever Media)

Noel Gallagher with Oasis in New York (Photo: Paul Bachmann for Live4ever Media)




By the summer of 1996 Oasis were well on their way to becoming the biggest thing in the UK since The Beatles.

With a tank full of the fuel which was driving on the party, Noel Gallagher would go one stage further and declare the band was destined to be even bigger than that which changed pop music forever.

It was their biggest mistake, according to Paul McCartney in interview with Q on the publication’s 30th birthday.

“Oasis were young, fresh and writing good tunes,” he said (via NME). “I thought the biggest mistake they made was when they said ‘We’re going to be bigger than The Beatles’. I thought ‘So many people have said that, and it’s the kiss of death’.”

“Be bigger than The Beatles, but don’t say it. The minute you say it, everything you do from then on is going to be looked at in the light of that statement.”

Sir Paul was reflecting on the break-up of The Beatles and his life after the band, in the presence of Noel Gallagher and others, during the latest edition of BBC Radio 4’s Mastertapes last week.

Catch up on Live4ever right here.


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