As we bid a sad farewell to Oasis, the band that has aped the Beatles for the last 18 years, it seems we haven't seen the last of the Gallaghers. Liam, at least, is already carving out a career as an unlikely style icon. The success of his fashion label Pretty Green - traffic to the company's website crashed within seconds of launch as 100,000 fans tried to buy clothes designed by the monobrowed one - implies a more sensitive side to the younger of the Gallagher brothers, and it's not the only clue.
Liam's Twitter page is a mine of foul language and enigmatic statements, but while his traditional stabs at Noel scattering the page reveal his customary macho swagger ("I can't wait to fly to Miami with a big mouth who calls himself a rock star. I've had more fun with a tin of sardines... LG", for example), there are moments of pure fashion excitement. Just under the comment "20 years ago I went to see the mighty Stone Roses, proper stars, how times have changed... LG" - a bit of good, laddish, Mancunian nostalgia - he exclaims: "Glad the knitwear has been well received, more to follow. The jeans are looking mega! "
The screamers and the mention of, well, knitwear are not exactly usual form for the laconic singer, and this enthusiastic turn has clearly not gone unnoticed by Noel. His permanently exasperated older brother - who Liam has nicknamed "Parker", after the Thunderbirds chauffeur to whom he bears a striking resemblance - has been dismissive of the collection from the start. In an interview with the British music magazine NME, Liam said: "I'd love to see our kid wear it. I gave him some bits and bobs, but I'm sure he threw it in the bin." And on leaving the band, Noel hasn't held back, being quoted in The Sun as saying to a friend: "I think all the modelling malarkey has gone to his head. It's a pleasure to give him time and space to work on his autumn/winter collection."
In the blokeish world of Oasis, fashion may not be considered the sort of thing a self-respecting Mancunian geezer ought to be involved with, but it's nothing new to Liam, and nowadays he is even happy to admit to enjoying gardening and interior design. Indeed, he holds a strong claim as the rightful successor to Paul Weller in the role of Modfather, with his long attachment to Parka jackets, fitted Harrington jackets, Kangol hats and long sideburns, and if nothing else he has remained true to his style over the years. Perhaps this fashion thing could be just the thing to bring Liam out of his shell. As he so eloquently put it to NME: "It's nice to be able to do it and get involved with it, you know what I mean, without Parker staring down you and... giving you dirty looks and tutting."
How wonderful to see a man find his true path in life.
