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“Some of the legends of our time”: The 1987 song that shaped Noel Gallagher into an icon
Noel Gallagher has long championed U2's artistic contributions to rock music, particularly their landmark 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree.' The music video for 'Where The Streets Have No Name'—shot atop a Los Angeles liquor store in March 1987 with thousands of spectators and police interference—demonstrated the band's commitment to pushing creative boundaries, an ethos Gallagher deeply respected and would emulate throughout his own career.
Gallagher's reverence for U2's work extends beyond their initial success to their subsequent artistic reinvention, especially 1991's 'Achtung Baby.' He has acknowledged that Bono's songwriting significantly influenced his own development as a major rock songwriter, and he views U2 as defining artists whose legacy transcends commercial achievement. His consistent public support underscores how profoundly the band's innovation shaped the generation of musicians who followed.
In short
- Noel Gallagher credits U2's 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree' and Bono's songwriting with shaping his own career as a rock musician
- The iconic 'Where The Streets Have No Name' video, filmed on an LA rooftop as a Beatles tribute, exemplified U2's willingness to challenge conventions
- Gallagher's admiration extends to U2's 1991 experimental album 'Achtung Baby,' which he considers crucial to their artistic evolution
Explained simply
Noel Gallagher is a British rock musician who became famous in the 1990s as a songwriter and guitarist with the band Oasis. He has long been vocal about the profound influence that Irish rock band U2 exerted on his artistic development. This influence stems particularly from U2's 1987 album 'The Joshua Tree', which Gallagher has credited as a key moment in shaping his approach to rock music.
'The Joshua Tree' was a hugely successful album that established U2 as global superstars and became one of the defining rock albums of the 1980s. The album featured ambitious music videos and showcased a creative ambition that pushed the boundaries of what rock music could achieve. The band's artistic boldness and willingness to innovate made a lasting impression on musicians of Gallagher's generation.
Gallagher's ongoing appreciation for U2's work—including their later evolution on albums like 'Achtung Baby'—illustrates how major artists influence those who come after them. He has specifically acknowledged how the songwriting of U2's lead vocalist Bono shaped his own development as a rock songwriter. Understanding this artistic lineage helps explain how influential musicians help define and reshape rock music across different eras.