Andy Bell of Ride & Oasis: "It would be a shame if we never got to play those songs one more time"


Some excerpts of the interview:

DiS: What are you up to at present and how are the new songs shaping up?

Andy Bell: We're still at the writing stage and then recording a few demos from what we have. We've been making demos for pretty much the whole of this year. It's always good to have far too much music before going into the studio and beginning the actual recording process.

DiS: Are you heavily involved in the writing process with Beady Eye?

Andy Bell: Me, Liam (Gallagher) and Gem (Archer) are all equal partners when we're writing, which means we all get to make sure none of us has a song that sounds too much like "me" - in the collective sense of the word. It's a good way of working because it means none of us have our individual stamp on anything we do. It's all about what's best for Beady Eye.

DiS: You've recently started incorporating Oasis songs into your live set with Beady Eye. Is this something you intend to do on a regular basis for the foreseeable future?

Andy Bell: I'd say it's something we'll definitely do again, yes. The reason we didn't play Oasis material from the outset was because we wanted Beady Eye to create its own identity. So when we started touring around the world we wanted to get everyone that came to our shows used to the idea that we are a new band, and not just a continuation of the old one, even though when you come and see Beady Eye we look pretty much like Oasis on stage. Except Noel's (Gallagher) not there.

DiS: Are you pleased with how everything's turned out for Beady Eye so far?

Andy Bell: Yeah, it's been cool.

DiS: How did working with Noel and Liam compare with what you'd been used to in the past? Did it seem strange going from being the main songwriter and focal point with both Ride and Hurricane #1 to being the bass player in what was essentially their band?

Andy Bell: Working with the Gallaghers was brilliant. They're both very different yet in some ways quite similar, and also very appreciative for what I was bringing to their band. I wasn't bringing much other than playing bass on their songs to start with, but they knew and liked what I'd done before.

DiS: Your arrival seemed to coincide with the band releasing possibly their best two records since Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory in Heathen Chemistry and Don't Believe The Truth.

Andy Bell: I'm a big fan of Don't Believe The Truth. It was definitely the best record Oasis made during the time I was with them.

DiS: Do you ever see Noel and Liam burying their differences, reforming Oasis and working together again?

Andy Bell: I'd love it to happen. I think that life's too short for it not to happen. But, in reality, do I see it happening? At this point, no I don't. The matter rests entirely with the two brothers. It probably should happen at some point but if they can't make it happen, no one should force them to.


Complete interview here:

drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4145511-andy-bell-of-ride-amp-oasis--it-would-be-a-shame-if-we-never-got-to-play-those-songs-one-more-time