Noel Gallagher reveals why he considered classic 70s band Electric Light Orchestra "bad"

Noel Gallagher, known for his frankness and blunt opinions, has never hidden what he thinks about contemporary music and artists. During Oasis' golden years in the 1990s, the British composer often expressed his criticisms bluntly, which made him a controversial and widely talked about figure in the music media. Among his targets, many bands and musicians received scathing comments, but few opinions were as surprising as his assessment of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the renowned 1970s classic rock band led by Jeff Lynne. Gallagher has always been transparent about his musical influences, and one of the biggest inspirations for him and Oasis was the Beatles. Admiration for the Liverpool quartet was evident not only in the band's compositions, but also in the look and attitude they adopted. With this basis, many could imagine that ELO, which positioned itself as a continuation of the Beatles' legacy, especially in its more experimental phase, would be equally valued by Noel. However, in an interview in the 90s, he surprisingly disregarded Jeff Lynne's band. When asked what would be the next influence after the Beatles, Noel stated that, after "stopping copying the Beatles", Oasis could be inspired by the Rolling Stones and The Who. But, when talking about ELO, his answer was direct and blunt: "I don't like ELO. ELO was really bad, wasn't it?" This blunt statement reflected his critical vision and, perhaps, the aesthetic distance between the more raw and rebellious rock of Oasis and the more elaborate and orchestrated sound of the Electric Light Orchestra. This rejection of ELO was no exception to Gallagher's behavior, who was always known for sparing no criticism, even if it caused controversy. ELO's sonic ambition, with its grandiose arrangements and experiments, clashed with Oasis' more direct and visceral style, which may explain the lack of immediate connection between them. However, over time, Noel's relationship with Jeff Lynne's music seems to have softened. Analyzing Noel Gallagher's solo work with High Flying Birds, it is possible to identify influences that refer to ELO's style, as in the song "Easy Now", which brings a sound closer to Lynne's universe. This suggests that, despite initial criticism, Gallagher ended up incorporating elements of the Electric Light Orchestra's legacy into his own music, albeit in a more subtle and mature way. Noel Gallagher's opinion of ELO, therefore, reveals not only his honesty and strong personality, but also the complexity of the musical influences that shaped his career. Although he considered the band "bad" at first, their trajectory shows that admiration and recognition for Jeff Lynne's work may have grown over time, reflecting a natural evolution in the artistic perception of one of the biggest names in British rock.