Watch Noel Gallagher Accept the Rolling Stone Award for ‘Best Rock Interview’
When we learned that Noel Gallagher was going to be in the building earlier this week, we knew we couldn’t let the occasion pass without doing something special. Beyond the fact that he’s a brilliant songwriter and performer, he’s an absolutely sensational interview subject. In our most recent talk with the High Flying Birds frontman, he bashed nearly everyone involved with Tidal, made hysterical points about Zayn Malik’s decision to leave One Direction and slammed opponents of gay marriage.
The interview generated headlines all over the world, and proved to us once again that Gallagher is the single greatest interview in rock. He never hesitates to name names, talk shit and say whatever comes into his mind. He’s insanely funny, extremely well-read and fearless in every respect.
Gallagher knows that nearly every interviewer he comes into contact with will ask about a possible Oasis reunion, and like a great jazz musician that never plays two notes the same way twice, he always explains why it won’t happen in a completely different way. The only difficult part about talking to him is that sometimes we’re laughing too hard to ask the next question.
With all that in mind, we created a Best Rock Interview trophy, got some flowers and glitter and presented this to him in an impromptu ceremony captured in the video above. He refused to wear the paper crown we constructed, but was otherwise a good sport about the whole thing.
“This is unbelievable,” he said. “As you can clearly see, I’m overwhelmed by this. I’d like to thank my mum for giving me a belligerent attitude. I’d also like to thank my dad for giving me probably the rudest tongue in all of rock interview. I’d also like to thank my wife and children for putting up with this nonsense when I’m off camera and Rolling Stone for this award, which is quite exceptional. Long may it continue.”
Amen to that. Noel, whenever you feel like chatting, we’re right here to listen.