In a surprise union that brings together two of Manchester’s most famed artists of the 20th Century, Liam Gallagher, the unbridled force behind Oasis, and John Squire, The Stone Roses’ guitar maestro, have unleashed their first joint single, ‘Just Another Rainbow’.
It’s now available for streaming and on 7” vinyl (buy the vinyl here and check out the streaming link below) and kicks off with Squire’s signature psychedelia-infused guitar work, seamlessly melding into Gallagher’s vocals. The result is a potent mix of melody and intensity, reminiscent of iconic tracks like ‘I Am The Resurrection’ and ‘Love Spreads’.
John Squire describes ‘Just Another Rainbow’ as a song about disappointment and the often unfulfilled nature of desires. “But I don’t like to explain songs, I think that’s the privilege of the listener, it’s whatever you want it to be. To me, it’s also one of the most uplifting tracks we’ve made together, which is weird,” he says.
Gallagher adds his perspective, praising Squire’s songwriting skills. “I think John’s a top songwriter. Everyone always bangs on about him as a guitarist, but he’s a top songwriter too, man, no two ways about it as far as I’m concerned. There’s not enough of his music out there, whether it’s with the Roses or himself. It’s good to see him back writing songs and fucking good ones. The melodies are mega and then the guitars are a given. But I think even when you take all the fucking guitars off, you can play the songs all on acoustic and they’ll all still blow your mind.”
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This collaboration has been a long time in the making, with its roots tracing back to 1989 when a 16-year-old Gallagher attended a Stone Roses gig, describing the experience as “life-changing.” Their paths crossed again during recording sessions in Wales, where Oasis was beginning work on Definitely Maybe while The Stone Roses were deep into The Second Coming. Gallagher recalls being struck by the opening bars of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ when he first heard Definitely Maybe.
The duo’s friendship evolved over the years, leading to a collaboration on ‘Love Me and Leave Me’ for Squire’s band, The Seahorses, who also toured with Oasis. The turning point came when Squire joined Gallagher on stage at Knebworth Park, paving the way for a more substantial partnership.
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Fuelled by their mutual enthusiasm and a shared vision, they began working remotely, drawing inspiration from music legends like Hendrix, The Sex Pistols, and The Bee Gees. Gallagher’s commitment to the project was evident when he recorded vocals for two demos daily at Squire’s studio in Macclesfield. The project then moved to Los Angeles for sessions with producer Greg Kurstin, featuring Joey Waronker on drums, solidifying their collaboration into a cohesive, natural-sounding band.
While ‘Just Another Rainbow’ marks the beginning of this high-profile partnership, the duo promises more new music and potential live shows. This collaboration not only meets but exceeds the lofty expectations of fans eagerly awaiting this amalgamation of rock royalty.
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