He changed my life. I can only say that about a select few people. I distinctly remember the moment I heard, ‘Live Forever’ for the first time. My next move was to order every Oasis cd that was on the Sony BMG music club website I was a member of at the time.

Where it gets eerie is how many people tell me that I’m the reason they have an Oasis playlist on their computer, and an Oasis station on their Pandora account, I was only spreading the good news? Jesus must be happy.

But in all honesty, Noel Gallagher is the direct reason I taught myself guitar. ‘Live Forever’, and ‘Wonderwall’ were the first two songs I learned in their entirety, and the joy was all mine. I could probably name one hundred artists I love, but none would have a shot at topping Noel for that top spot.

I can also remember the time my dad came down to my room and heard, ‘Wonderwall’ and was like who the hell is that? It’s Oasis dad, ‘start it over’ he said, we sat there and listened to that magical tune and so then I had to burn an Oasis mix for him.

Like I said I learned guitar on Oasis songs, created a band with my best friends where we covered several of these songs, and it was the most electric point in my life. Oasis songs are mostly, very easy guitar wise, so the fun we had bouncing around or singing and playing them after the bar was, ‘Breaking Into Heaven’ as The Stone Roses said.

Meeting Noel Gallagher sealed it for me. I had always loved his snide, cocky attitude in interviews, but I saw him twice on the NGHFB tour, and the second time got an autograph. He’s a  total class act, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a crowd cheer the performer to a minute long  pause, due to the noise, they killed it in Detroit.

He recently received the NME’s ‘Godlike Genius’ award, and he is as deserving a candidate as any.