Featured photo: John Robb by Michael McGlinchey.
Article by Dave Bradley
John Robb’s recent interview with Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame is the latest chapter in a 40-year career in and around the music scene.
Inspired by punk rock to form his own band he has gone on to be a music writerauthor, presenter and pundit, festival organiser and spoken word artist. His website Louder Than War is among the most popular in the UK.
I caught up with Blackpool native John after his most recent sold-out spoken word show in the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) in Letterkenny and I asked him if his recent interview with Noel Gallagher led to Oasis reforming.
“I don’t think it made them reform, but it definitely must have couched a change in the space,” said John.
The interview which now has more than 875k views, went out three days before Oasis announced their long-awaited reunion but was actually filmed in June, three months earlier.
“There had been discussions in the background from February onwards, but there is every year. About two years ago they booked Knebworth, but they had to get the band to agree to do it but that’s the bit they always get stuck on.”
Noel approached John to do the only interview he was giving on the 30th anniversary of the band’s first album and the first two versions that were never released.
About Noel he said, “He is one of the smartest people I have ever met in a band and his music taste is far wider and smarter than people think.”
“I said to him and his management team it would be really nice if we had an interview where it’s not just loads of making funny remarks about Liam even though he’s funny and the banter is really good it would be nice to do something different.”
He went on to say, “In their interviews normally they come over very spikey, but as people they are not really like that all the time.”
After the interview with Noel John said, “He did surprise me by going, Liam’s a really great singer and a really great rock star.”
This was the something different that John was looking for.
So was he at least in part responsible for the Oasis reunion? Definitely Maybe.
Do You Believe In The Power Of Rock & Roll? An Evening Of Spoken Word With John Robb at the Regional Cultural Centre on 18th September 2024.
Photo by Michael McGlinchey