Noel Gallagher, famed musician and former Oasis guitarist, has asserted that the band “wouldn’t have worked if they had a West Country accent.” As one of the most influential British bands over the past three decades, Oasis’s Mancunian identity has been a defining element of their success.
The band thrilled fans with their first live performances in 16 years last year and recently announced a major world tour slated for 2027. This reunion coincides with the documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, which chronicles their remarkable comeback tour after a 15-year hiatus filled with disputes.
In the documentary, Noel Gallagher emphasised the significance of their Manchester background, commenting, “Imagine if I had a West Country accent saying ‘we are going to be the biggest band in the world’. It’s not gonna work.”
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While Noel highlights the importance of their Mancunian accents in shaping their persona, there is an intriguing connection to the West Country. A long-standing rumour suggests the band’s name was inspired by Swindon’s Oasis Leisure Centre, a venue that hosted a gig for Inspiral Carpets, where Noel worked as a guitar technician in the 1990s-prior to joining Oasis.
Despite Noel’s claim, many notable figures from the West Country have thrived without letting their regional accents impede their careers. Actor Simon Pegg, born and raised in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, and Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams from Bristol, are prime examples. Similarly, comedian and actor Ricky Gervais, born in Bristol, has achieved international fame.
Musically, the West Country has produced significant talents as well; Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones hailed from Cheltenham, while the band Massive Attack was formed in Bristol.
Perhaps no group has embraced their West Country accent more openly than The Wurzels. Founded in 1966 by Adge Cutler and manager John Miles as Adge Cutler & The Wurzels, they adopted the name The Wurzels in 1974 following Cutler’s tragic death in a car accident. They pioneered the Scrumpy and Western genre and are best known for their UK Number One hit “The Combine Harvester,” with another popular song, “I Am a Cider Drinker,” reaching number three on the charts.
Pete Budd, The Wurzels' frontman, responded to Noel Gallagher’s remarks in an interview with the BBC: “I think if we’d done [our music] in a Mancunian accent it wouldn’t have worked for us! We’re proud of our West Country accent and I’m sure that Noel Gallagher is proud of his Mancunian accent. Noel Gallagher is probably right in what he says-Oasis are Oasis and are one of the biggest bands in the world.”
He continued, “He knows what he’s talking about but I would think it’s a little bit tongue in cheek as well. If people like a particular song, I don’t think it’s the accent, it’s the music and the way you do it.”