Why did Paul Weller play guitar on Oasis track ‘Champagne Supernova’?
It doesn’t matter if you’re into rock, pop, jazz, or classical—’Champagne Supernova’ remains an enduring anthem that defined an era. As the iconic finale to (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, the seven-and-a-half-minute epic cemented Oasis’ legendary status and became a defining milestone in the sonic history of Britpop. But what makes the song even more captivating is a fascinating piece of lore surrounding its production—one that’s sure to send any rock diehard into a tailspin.
‘Champagne Supernova’ is credited to all the usual suspects – Liam and Noel, Bonehead, Guigsy, and Whitey – but there’s another familiar name that crops up on guitar. That would be one Paul Weller, frontman of The Jam and fellow God of Britpop, who is, in fact, responsible for the soaring electric riff that sees the song sailing off into the sunset.
It’s an interesting bit of pub quiz fodder, though not entirely surprising. Weller and Oasis were both at their peak during the mid-1990s, with Noel Gallagher openly admiring the Modfather and even playing guitar on ‘I Walk on Gilded Splinters’ from Weller’s acclaimed Stanley Road album. Weller’s appearance on ‘Champagne Supernova’ can be seen as a mutual gesture of creative camaraderie.
There’s no questioning whether anything off What’s the Story, Morning Glory? would be a hit, but perhaps Weller was the secret sauce in turning ‘Champagne Supernova’ from single to legend. It certainly needed the musicality on its side when turning heads because the actual lyrics are… well, your guess is as good as anyone’s.
It’s not that words aren’t discernible, it’s just that no-one really knows what they mean – and that seemingly includes Noel, who wrote the thing. What the hell actually is a champagne supernova, and how can you be “slowly walking down the hall” while simultaneously “faster than a cannonball”? The elder Gallagher admitted in 2009 that when asked about a potential meaning, he retorted in his usual blasé tone, “I don’t fucking know. But are you telling me, when you’ve got 60,000 people singing it, they don’t know what it means? It means something different to every one of them.”
Fair point. ‘Champagne Supernova’ is a fan-favourite anthem built for epic moments—end-credit scenes, triumphant homecomings, and, of course, massive stadium sing-alongs. If you were lucky enough to survive the great Oasis ticket war of 2024, hearing that soaring finale live, likely closing the night, will be a bucket-list moment for the ages. And who knows? Alongside the much-anticipated Gallagher reunion, Weller himself might just show up for a surprise guest spot on the iconic guitar solo—though that might cause a few heads to explode from sheer joy.
Rock music has, of course, seen its share of iconic collaborations—Lennon and Bowie, Nicks and Petty—but the partnership between Gallagher and Weller remains a lesser-known gem that deserves recognition, especially within the past 30 years. Despite the brothers’ insistence that no new Oasis material is in the pipeline, the idea of the Mancunian legends reuniting for one last Britpop jam session is undeniably tantalising. With the right timing and the stars aligning, who knows? There’s a lot that could happen—and for fans, the hope of one final moment of magic remains irresistible.
