As brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher announce their return to the stage next year, we take a look at Oasis’ curious and strange relationship with cars.
This week we have heard the news of the return of the band Oasis, after 15 years away from the stage. An announcement that has surprised by its unexpectedness and has delighted hundreds of thousands of fans around the world. But, beyond their songs and discussions, There is a curious and strange relationship between Oasis and cars that is worth telling.
We’re not talking about music here, but about everything related to the world of cars. But music and cars have often gone hand in hand.
The list of music stars who have used their fortune to indulge their passion for cars is endless. However, the brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher are not listed on it. In fact, as far as we know, neither of them has a driving licence.
But this ‘small’ obstacle did not prevent, for example, the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts from amassing a huge collection of classics. Nor has it prevented Noel or Liam from indulging in the occasional car-related indulgence.
And as you’d expect from a duo whose favorite insult is “potato,” their car choices have been a little… odd.
Noel Gallagher and his 1967 Jaguar Mark II: “I forgot I bought it”
Against all odds, the band are getting back together for a UK and Ireland tour next year. But it’s not their music that brings us to the subject of the British band, but rather the strange and curious relationship between Oasis and cars.
Let’s start with the eldest brother, Noel. Taking advantage of the huge success of the group’s first three albums, he decided to buy a car, despite not having a driving license.
That car was none other than a 1967 Jaguar Mark IIchosen because it was manufactured in its year of birth, with a conversion to a convertible carried out by the British company Vicarage.
As well as the conversion, Noel added a few mechanical upgrades, in what could be considered a preview of the restomods we see today. In total, he spent over £100,000, but quickly forgot about it.
As he told in 2019 to Radio Xwhen it was delivered to him, forgot that he had bought it“I was in the kitchen one day and a low loader truck pulled up outside the house with this car on the back. I was putting the kettle on and I thought, what a nice car. I’m going to buy one of those someday. And the guy knocked on the door and said, Mr. Gallagher? Your car! I’d forgotten that I’d bought the car.”
The Jaguar remained in his possession for over 20 years, barely moved, because, we repeat once again, Noel does not know how to drive. However, his wife took it out from time to time. In 2022, he finally sold it for £125,000, and now he is usually chauffeured in a Range Rover.
Liam Gallagher’s Bristol 603
Although it seems that the brothers from Manchester are always trying to outdo each other, even when it comes to buying British luxury cars, despite not knowing how to drive.
At some point, Liam owned a Bristol 603a four-seat coupe built by the former aircraft manufacturer and equipped with a powerful Chrysler V8 engine.
What happened to that car, where it is, why Liam bought it instead of choosing a more conventional one, and what he did with it… remains a mystery. Because, again, he doesn’t have a driver’s license.
The Rolls-Royce submerged in a pool
However, the car that everyone associates with Oasis is the white Rolls-Royce that appears submerged in a swimming pool on the album cover. Be Here Nowfrom 1997.
Exactly, it was a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow de 1973 And, as the magazine reported, GQ in 2022, it had no engine. Photographer Michael Spencer Jones explained to Car&Vintage that “the white Rolls-Royce arrived at Stocks the day before the session, although without an engine.”
Although the car was destined for scrap, the team bought it for £1,000, almost €1,200. The car was found half-sunken in a pool at a Hertfordshire villaLondon, and that cover became a rock icon, a symbol of a generation that challenged all conventions, but with style.
The fate of the Rolls-Royce after the photo was taken is unknown, although the British publication suggests that it probably ended up in a scrapyard.
So much for the curious and strange relationship between Oasis and cars. Now we’ll see what they have in store for us after the announcement of their return to the stage. Maybe they’ll surprise us again with some new story related to a car.
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