Liam Gallagher and John Squire will release the first single from their long-rumoured collaborative album in January. Just a Rainbow, the debut single from the former Oasis vocalist and Stone Roses guitarist, will be released on January 5.
Squire says, “To me the most obvious take on Just Another Rainbow is that it's about disappointment, and the sentiment is that you never get what you really want. 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.”
Gallagher and Squire first met when their previous bands were booked to record in studios in Monmouth, Wales: Oasis were beginning work on their debut album Definitely Maybe while The Stone Roses were immersed in making their much-anticipated second record, The Second Coming.
Rumours of a collaboration between Gallagher and Squire circulated in the wake of the guitarist joining Gallagher onstage at Knebworth in 2022, guesting on a cover of Oasis classic Champagne Supernova.
In a subsequent interview with Apple Music, Gallagher touched upon the rumours, saying, “There’s talk about summat. Maybe. But no rush. He’s my man, I love him. So if he’s got any tunes that need singing, I’m the boy, mate… But yeah, I’m definitely going to do summat at some point.”
No date has yet been given for the duo's forthcoming album, recorded in LA with Foo Fighters' producer Greg Kurstin on bass, and Joey Waronker on drums, nor has a titled been revealed, but having been given an advance listen to the record, The Guardian reports that "the energised songs are at the heavy end of Britpop with stomping rhythms, burly riffs and poignant, brightly melodious top lines."
Speaking of his new songwriting partner, Liam Gallagher says, "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."
