Barry Keoghan on how Oasis reminds him of his working-class roots: “They are important to me”
Though he’s already played some very memorable characters, Barry Keoghan is about to take the biggest step of his career.
In 2024, it was announced that the Irishman would be playing Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ upcoming biopics of The Beatles. The movies, which will tell the story of the band from all four members’ perspectives, are set to release in 2028, with Beatles fans across the globe currently occupying one of two mindsets about the films: they’re either going to be the greatest thing ever, or a gigantic insult to the greatest musical act of all time.
Long before getting cast as Liverpool’s finest drummer, Keoghan was preparing for the role by listening to a band that ripped off The Beatles wholesale. In an interview with Notion, the star revealed that he’s a massive fan of Oasis, and as a child of the ’90s, it’s no surprise that the Britpop icons played a huge role in his childhood.
“It takes me back to that growing up thing again,” he said, “My uncle always played them in the house. These lads have an Irish background. They remind me of the working-class era where I’m from. They are important to me because they inspired me to be myself, especially Liam Gallagher; he reminded me to always be myself, to always stay true to me.”
Although they are heavily associated with the city of Manchester, Noel and Liam Gallagher are the sons of two Irish immigrants; their parents, Peggy and Tommy, hailed from County Mayo and County Meath, respectively. The three other original members of the group, Tony McCarroll, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, and Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan, also boast Irish roots, and the Gallaghers have spoken fondly about their childhood summers spent in Ireland. As for the band’s working-class background, that has never been in doubt.
When pressed to name his favourite song by the group, he settled on the classic anthem ‘Supersonic’. This isn’t just an important song to Keoghan but vital to the entire Oasis story as the track was the first single taken from their debut album Definitely Maybe, marking the first time many films would have come across the Gallaghers. It was also released in Keoghan’s homeland of Ireland six whole days before it premiered in the UK.
The influence of The Beatles on Oasis is so obvious, it can be seen from space, wherein Liam once claimed to be a reincarnation of John Lennon, despite being born eight years before his murder, and also named one of his kids, ‘Lennon’.
‘Supersonic’ contains a very obvious nod to the band as well, with the lyrics mentioning a “yellow submarine”. The track was supposedly written in just ten minutes, thanks to a little help from a certain white powder. Oasis used drugs? I’m as shocked as you are.
With a healthy appreciation for music inspired by the Fab Four, Keoghan seems to be in a great place to tackle the meaty character of Ringo Starr, even if his son thinks he doesn’t look anything like him.
