Noel Gallagher has never been afraid to speak his mind. Whether people love him or hate him, one thing is for sure — he always says exactly what he thinks. From his days in Oasis to his solo career, Noel has built a reputation for brutally honest comments about other musicians. Sometimes his insults are so sharp that people find them more entertaining than his songs.
Noel doesn’t target just one genre, either. Pop, rock, metal — nobody is safe. Even though Oasis broke up more than a decade ago, Noel still hasn’t found any artist he thinks can match what they did. And if there’s something he hates, he will absolutely say it out loud.
Here are 10 artists Noel Gallagher seems to dislike the most — and why.
10. Sam Smith
Noel thinks the music charts today are a “sorry state.” While talking about pop stars, he said most of them are “idiots,” and he brought up Sam Smith as an example. He even misgendered them, which caused a lot of controversy. Noel also complained that pop music has taken over the charts, leaving very little room for real rock bands.
9. Maroon 5
Noel once met the bass player from Maroon 5 at a party and immediately told him their band was “fing s.” Later, he accidentally walked into the same bassist’s house during another party — making things even more awkward. Noel believes Maroon 5 is too far from the type of music that inspired Oasis.
8. Kaiser Chiefs
While the Kaiser Chiefs had hits like Ruby, Noel thought they were boring and unoriginal. He called them “wankers” and said they only “play dress-up.” Though the band became successful in the late 2000s, Noel never respected their music.
7. Harry Styles
Even though Harry Styles’ solo music draws heavily from classic rock, Noel isn’t impressed. He joked that “his cat could’ve written ‘Sign of the Times.’” He also mocked the songwriters who work with Styles, calling them middle-aged men who have “let themselves go.”
6. Radiohead
Radiohead’s style has never clicked with Noel. He disliked how the band seemed unhappy and serious in their documentary Meeting People is Easy. According to Noel, if you don’t enjoy being in a band, you should “retire” instead of complaining. He also prefers upbeat, positive music, so Radiohead’s dark tone doesn’t appeal to him.
5. Blur
The Oasis vs. Blur feud is legendary. Noel said very harsh things about Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon in the ’90s, even crossing lines he later apologized for. Surprisingly, Noel and Albarn have since worked together. Still, their rivalry remains one of the most memorable in Britpop history.
4. The Beach Boys
Even though The Beach Boys inspired many legendary musicians, Noel thinks they’re “overrated.” He once said the only reason they’re famous is because their name comes right before “The Beatles” alphabetically. He also dismissed their harmonies as “barbershop music.”
3. Phil Collins
Noel once joked he wanted Phil Collins’ “severed head in his fridge.” He blamed artists like Collins and Sting for creating what he calls “McDonald’s music.” Their feud continued for years, with Collins eventually wanting nothing to do with Oasis.
2. All Heavy Metal Bands
Noel has no love for heavy metal. He thinks the genre is depressing and the fans are annoying. The funny part? Many metal musicians, including Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, love Oasis. Noel, however, says he has “no time” for metal at all.
1. Liam Gallagher
No surprise here — Liam tops the list. The Gallagher brothers’ relationship has always been chaotic. They fought constantly during Oasis, even releasing a recording of one of their arguments (Wibbling Rivalry) that somehow charted. Today, Liam wants an Oasis reunion, but Noel insists it’s not happening. To him, Liam is “a man with a fork in a world of soup.”
Final Thoughts
Noel Gallagher might be harsh, rude, or brutally honest — depending on how you look at it. But his comments have become part of his legend. Whether he’s right or wrong, people always want to hear what he’ll say next. And in a world full of careful PR speeches, maybe that’s why he still stands out.