Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds is a Manchester-based English rock group formed as Noel Gallagher's solo project after his departure from Oasis. Active since 2011, it functions as both Gallagher's recording outlet and touring band, with Gallagher as the only listed member. Its sound spans alternative dance, alternative rock, britpop, neo-psychedelia, pop rock and post-britpop.

Formation and early releases

The project begins after Oasis ends in 2009, and Gallagher formally introduces Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in 2011. The band's self-titled debut album is released later that year and reaches number one on the UK Albums Chart, later receiving platinum certification in the UK. It includes the singles “The Death of You and Me”, “If I Had a Gun...”, “AKA... What a Life!”, “Dream On” and “Everybody's on the Run”.

Line-ups, collaborators and live activity

The touring and recording line-up changes over time and includes former Oasis members Gem Archer, Mike Rowe and Chris Sharrock, along with Russell Pritchard of The Zutons. Early live shows feature Mike Rowe on keyboards, Jeremy Stacey on drums, Russell Pritchard on bass and Tim Smith on guitar. Guest contributors to recordings include Johnny Marr, Paul Weller, Amorphous Androgynous and the Crouch End Festival Chorus.

Gallagher also plans a collaboration with Amorphous Androgynous, although it does not appear as a full album. Material from those sessions later appears in “Shoot a Hole into the Sun”, which is released on the 2012 EP Songs from the Great White North.

Albums, EPs and chart success

The second studio album, Chasing Yesterday, appears in 2015 and includes “In the Heat of the Moment”, “Ballad of the Mighty I” and “Riverman”. During the supporting tour, Jeremy Stacey leaves the live band and is replaced by Chris Sharrock, while Stacey continues to contribute to studio recordings.

The third studio album, Who Built the Moon?, is released in 2017, opens at number one in the UK and is nominated for the 2018 Mercury Prize. Around this period, Gem Archer rejoins Gallagher in the live band and Jessica Greenfield joins on backing vocals and keyboards. The album draws on a wider range of styles, including psychedelic rock, glam rock and pop.

Between 2019 and 2020, the group issues the EPs Black Star Dancing, This Is the Place and Blue Moon Rising. In 2021, it releases the compilation Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2011-2021), which includes new songs “We're on Our Way Now” and “Flying on the Ground” and also reaches number one in the UK. Gallagher later releases demo recordings during the COVID-19 pandemic, including “We're Gonna Get There in the End” and “Trying to Find a World That's Been and Gone, Part One”.

The fourth studio album, Council Skies, is released in 2023 and includes the single “Easy Now”. The same year, the group tours North America with Garbage, with Metric as special guest, and releases the concert film Live at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester.

Role in Gallagher's post-Oasis career

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds serves as Gallagher's main project after Oasis, combining studio work, collaborations and a shifting touring line-up. Its catalogue includes four studio albums, a compilation, several EPs and a live film, with repeated UK chart success across its releases.