As Oasis fans packed into Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for a long-awaited reunion, all eyes were on Liam and Noel Gallagher.
It marked the first time in nearly 20 years that the Britpop legends shared a stage — kicking off a 14-show tour that’s expected to earn each of them around £50 million.
But one Gallagher was notably absent from the spotlight: their older brother, Paul.
While Liam and Noel dominate headlines and stadiums, Paul Gallagher, now 59, has always chosen to stay behind the scenes.
Despite having a creative streak of his own, he’s lived a far quieter life — and possibly walked away from a small fortune in the process.
The “Invisible” Gallagher Who Gave Noel His First Guitar
Long before Definitely Maybe exploded onto the charts in 1994, Paul was the steady big brother.
In fact, family lore says it was Paul who gave Noel his first guitar — a hand-me-down that may have changed the course of British music forever.
Speaking in Liam’s 2019 documentary As It Was, their mother Peggy remembered Paul as the supportive one.
“He bought the boys trainers and gave them money for cigarettes,” she said, painting a picture of a hardworking older brother who never sought the limelight.
No Desire for Fame, No Slice of the Oasis Fortune
Paul never joined the band or tried to compete with his famous siblings.
Instead, he focused on his own creative path — becoming a DJ, photographer, and even dabbling in music writing.
But according to Paul, there was never any resentment.
“I can sing,” he once admitted on the Michael Anthony Show.
“But when you’ve got two fellas in your family who can sing, what the f*** are you doing singing?” He added with a laugh, “I chose not to sing.”
Still, by choosing a more low-key life, Paul likely walked away from the massive payday that Liam and Noel are now enjoying with their Oasis Live 25 tour — a global juggernaut that could rake in £400 million.
A Mediator Between Warring Brothers
Paul has managed what few others could: staying on good terms with both Liam and Noel during their now-infamous 15-year feud.
While the brothers stopped speaking and even traveled separately on tour, Paul remained close to both — often playing mediator without taking sides.
He’s been spotted frequently with Liam and is even rumoured to be the best man at his upcoming wedding to fiancée Debbie.
Though the couple got engaged in 2019, the ceremony has been delayed multiple times due to the pandemic and tour commitments.
Skipping Knebworth and Laughing at the Fame
Despite his family ties to one of the UK’s biggest bands, Paul never seemed all that impressed by celebrity culture.
He famously skipped Oasis’ massive 1996 Knebworth shows — opting to go on holiday instead of watching his brothers play to 500,000 fans.
“It’s too much hassle,” he once joked. “I couldn’t be doing it.”
Paul also admits being recognized on the street isn’t exactly his favourite part of having famous siblings.
“It’s always some d***head at the bus stop asking for a photo,” he said dryly on the Michael Anthony Show.
“And half the time they want me to take the picture, not be in it.”
From Creation Records to Family Supporter
Paul did briefly work at Creation Records — Oasis’ label — and joined the band on early tours, helping with merchandise and fan engagement.
But fame made it harder to spend time with Liam and Noel, and eventually, he drifted toward his own projects.
Even so, Paul has always been one of the band’s biggest cheerleaders.
“They’re the best rock band to come out of the UK,” he once said — a belief echoed by millions of fans through the 2000s.
Oasis Reunion Tour: Millions in the Bank, Family Still Healing
Now that Liam and Noel are back on stage, many wonder if it also marks a step toward healing their long-standing feud.
Their mum Peggy, ever the optimist, said in As It Was that she dreams of seeing her sons back together, even if only for family harmony.
Sitting next to her, Liam quipped, “Well, I get on with Paul. So, two out of three ain’t bad.”
Quiet Success, Creative Spirit, and a Life Outside the Band
These days, Paul splits his time between DJing, photography, and walking the streets of Manchester — where he still lives among the “lower middle classes,” a life he describes with genuine pride.
He may not be jetting off on private planes or raking in millions, but Paul Gallagher seems perfectly content watching his younger brothers light up the stage, while he snaps photos from the shadows.
Oasis Live 25 Tour: A Historic Comeback
The tour kicked off on July 4 in Cardiff and will hit major cities like Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin.
With thousands packing in each night and fans clamouring for more, the band’s reunion is more than a nostalgia trip — it’s a multi-million-pound empire reborn.
Yet somewhere off-stage, the eldest Gallagher is cheering them on — proof that not every rock ‘n’ roll story has to be written in flashing lights.