Today sees Liam Gallagher release his highly anticipated ‘Knebworth 22’ live album. Both a celebration and a souvenir of the two biggest solo shows of his career to date, the album is released alongside a live video of the closing song ‘Champagne Supernova’.
Read our review here
‘Knebworth 22’ unfolds with an electrifying intensity, its setlist taking in Liam’s biggest solo songs, a selection of iconic Oasis anthems and a few deep cuts for good measure. Whether Liam and his band are firing on full throttle (see the early one-two of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ and ‘Wall Of Glass’) or delivering phones-in-the-air slowburners (particularly ‘Once’ and ‘More Power’), their performance more than matches the phenomenal scale of the occasion. And the atmosphere is on fire too, from the first roar of excitement as Liam steps on-stage, to the 80,000 voices that join him for a climactic ‘Champagne Supernova’.
In a recent conversation with Jo Whiley on Radio 2, Liam compared his two triumphant solo Knebworth shows to those famous Oasis gigs at the same location back in 1996. He commented, “It’s like a boxer when he wins his first title, it’s amazing but then when you lose it, and when you go back and win it 26 years later, I think the one that means the most is the one 26 years later.”
The new live video of ‘Champagne Supernova’ provides a rush of nostalgia for the not-so-distant past and captures memories that will last a lifetime: from the introduction of special guest John Squire of the Stone Roses to a sea of ecstatic faces in the crowd, many of whom weren’t even born when the song was first released, and then the final dazzling firework display. Naturally Liam’s timeless vocal class and charismatic swagger makes him the star of the show, but by the end even he looks overawed by how big an occasion it was – just read his lips as he turns to step off stage.
In addition to its digital/streaming formats, ‘Knebworth 22’ is also available HERE on CD and three differently coloured double-vinyl editions. The gatefold vinyl opens to reveal an aerial photo of the show, which demonstrates just how big an event it was. Other items to remember the occasion with include a festival flag, a live print, an art print, a souvenir ticket, a wristband, two t-shirt designs and a bottle opener.
Liam launched ‘Knebworth 22’ – a document of his biggest ever shows – by playing one of his smallest ever gigs at KOKO earlier this week. Fans provided a rapturous welcome to the return of guitarist and Oasis legend Bonehead following his battle with cancer, and the show concluded with their take on the Jimi Hendrix classic ‘Are You Experienced?’.
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