Noel Gallagher names the greatest guitar solo Ever

Noel Gallagher, known for his lead playing in Oasis, rarely courts the conversation for the greatest guitarist of all time—and, crucially, he doesn’t aspire to. He’s often remarked that Oasis were never the most technically gifted band, but that was never the point. For recent rock 'n' roll hall of fame inductee Noel Gallagher, music has always been about meaning, about the emotional weight it carries rather than the pyrotechnics of technical ability. Take Live Forever—there’s no fretboard acrobatics, no race to see how many notes he can squeeze in. Instead, Gallagher’s playing is a masterclass in serving the song: every note feels intentional, every phrase crafted to make the crowd feel something deep and lasting. The magic was never in the speed or complexity of the solo, but in its ability to ignite a collective sense of euphoria.

None of this is to diminish Gallagher’s legacy. On the contrary, what he has achieved with his songwriting and guitar work has produced anthems that reverberate in stadiums across the globe. Gallagher is a product of Manchester’s rich musical ecosystem—the same creative current that fueled John Squire and Johnny Marr. Their influence runs like an undercurrent through Oasis’s catalogue, but Gallagher always made those inspirations his own, distilling them into something uniquely anthemic and unmistakably his.

As we know, Noel is never shy to share his opinion, so when asked to weigh in on the greatest guitar solos ever recorded, Noel Gallagher admitted that picking between the contributions of David Gilmour and Jimmy Page is an impossible task. Each, he suggests, brought something incomparable to the landscape of rock music, remarking,

“Comfortably Numb is far and away one of the greatest guitar solos of all time.”

Watch Pink Floyd's Epic Live performance of Comfortably Numb

Followed immediately by

“Saying that, you’ve got to go somewhere to beat Jimmy Page’s riffs. I mean, to come up with the best riff of all time in Whole Lotta Love is something else, and to come up with that guitar solo in Stairway to Heaven is great. But I don’t really get that hung up on guitar solos.”

Noel continues

“There’s some great ones on my record, I would hazard a guess if you pulled out my great ones, it's not me playing them”, Noisey, The British Masters Season 2 - Chapter 1.

Paul wELLER'S cHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA SOLO

Perhaps one of the most recognisable contributions in Oasis’s catalogue is Paul Weller’s iconic solo on Champagne Supernova. The solo itself is a swirling, psychedelic journey—stretching and bending notes with a sense of yearning that perfectly matches the song’s dreamy atmosphere. Weller’s phrasing is both understated and emotive, weaving through the track with a melodic sensibility that’s as much about what isn’t played as what is. There’s a touch of melancholy in his tone, a searching quality that invites the listener to get lost in the haze of the moment.

The choice to bring Weller—a legend in his own right—into the fold for this track speaks volumes about Gallagher’s collaborative spirit. Instead of seizing the spotlight for himself, Gallagher curates a transcendent moment that elevates the song beyond the sum of its parts. The ripple effect of this decision is profound: Champagne Supernova becomes more than just an Oasis song; it’s a shared canvas for musical icons. Over the years, other legendary guitarists have stepped into Weller’s shoes during live shows, each interpreting the solo anew, but it’s Weller’s original contribution that remains etched in the collective memory—a testament to the power of creative synergy.

Noel Gallagher’s approach to guitar solos offers a masterclass in restraint. While the technical brilliance of Gilmour or Page often steals the spotlight, it’s easy to overlook that even Gilmour himself, particularly in Comfortably Numb, knows not to fill every possible space. Instead, Gilmour lingers on notes, allowing the solo to breathe and emotions to swell in the silences—a quality Gallagher has clearly absorbed. Gallagher’s playing is as much about purposeful absence as it is about presence. He draws from the greats the lesson that not every moment needs to be filled; it’s about knowing when the song truly calls for something special. By holding back and choosing his moments, Gallagher transforms anticipation into impact, making every Oasis solo a carefully measured release instead of a routine showcase. In doing so, he demonstrates that the most memorable moments in music aren’t always the flashiest—they’re the ones that serve the song and leave an emotional imprint long after the final note fades.

Watch Noel Gallagher play champagne supernova with an extended outro

Ellis Douglas
Editor, BritRock Heaven