“Clothes and music are my passion. I'm not here to rip anyone off and I'm not doing it for the money either. I'm doing it cuz there's a lack of stuff out there of the things I would wear.”
This is how Liam Gallagher explained the inspiration for Pretty Green, his clothing label named after a song by the UK band The Jam. It wasn't the smoothest of transitions from stage to stitches for the youngest of the Gallagher brothers.
On June 4th, the same day Liam, his brother Noel, and the rest of Oasis were playing the first of three gigs at Heaton Park in their hometown of Manchester, 100,000 visitors jammed the clothing line's web site, www.prettygreen.com, causing it to crash within seconds of its morning launch. The technical glitches even carried through to that evening at Heaton Park when a generator blew out during "Rock 'n' Roll Star", the band's first song of the night.
Oasis would experience sound problems again during their second song, "Lyla", and end up promising full refunds to the 70,000 fans in attendance. But they still finished their set, and the reviews of the three Manchester performances were glowing. And the buzz about Pretty Green, with its now fully functional website, has been equally favourable.
Rock 'n' Roll Beginning
It's been 15 years since the release of Oasis' debut album, the critically and commercially successful Definitely Maybe. And 14 years have passed since the follow-up, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, broke the UK band in North America.
The band has since released five studio albums, including the most recent Dig Out Your Soul, and sold millions of records. They have played to sold-out arenas and stadiums around the world and solidified themselves as one of the most successful bands in music history. So for Liam, Pretty Green really isn't about the money at all.
"The reason I'm doing it is I like clothes. We're going to do clothes I like. If people like it, cool. If they don't, they don't."
Liam Sports Pretty Green on Tour
"I'm not gonna be putting anything out unless I'd wear it..."
Liam has been wearing fashions from the Pretty Green line on stage since the UK stadium tour began, the most notable being a green parka he unveiled during the Manchester performances. All of the items -- hats, t-shirts, scarves, polos, jackets -- are designed by Liam and subject to his final approval.
Upon first glance the prices of the merchandise from what the website describes as "an up-front, straight talking, classic clothing range" may appear a little high but they are simply a reflection of the quality of materials used in their production (the t-shirts, for example, are made with 100% super fine Egyptian cotton). Plus, each and every item is limited edition. Pretty Green is currently only available online, but as the line expands it is expected to hit stores, likely in the UK to start.
While Oasis continues their ambitious summer tour that will see them visit nine countries between now and the end of August, Liam keeps a cool sense of humour about Pretty Green.
"I'm gonna make clothes that I like...Hopefully they'll like it. If they don't, at least I'll get a new wardrobe out of it."
* all quotes by Liam Gallagher from prettygreen.com
Justin Harrington - I make my living as the editor of two major community newspapers in west end Toronto and further feed my appetite for writing through ...
