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Noel Gallagher: I'm quitting London for Manchester
By Lucretia Munro, London Lite Last updated at 15:18pm on 04.11.09Noel Gallagher has revealed he is quitting London to head back up north because the capital “has no vibe”.
Heading north: Noel Gallagher and Sara Macdonald
The 42-year-old star announced his plans at the Music Industry Awards held last night.
Gallery: Music Industry Awards
The revelation comes just over two months since Oasis split after a bust-up between the Gallagher brothers before a gig in Paris on 28 August. Noel said he “could not go on working with Liam a day longer”.
Speaking at the awards at the Grosvenor House hotel, Noel said: “I'm leaving London to go back up north, to Manchester. I've been advised to do a Rod Stewart, as in a tax exile, but I don't want to do it. But London has lost its spark.”
The Mancunian songwriter moved to the capital in the wake of the band's smash hit 1994 album Definitely Maybe. The news is the clearest sign yet that Noel is now settling down with girlfriend Sara MacDonald and their two-year-old son Donovan.
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Reader views (11)
The world does NOT revolve around London. I was saddened when the Chief went south in the first place. Get yersel North son and don't look back in anger, or in fact, don't look back at all......................London, the biggest has been city in existence. Used to be "relevant". Not now. Roll with it son...
- The Chief, Not London, UK
Good point Terry C. Loads of celebs in the South Manchester/North Cheshire suburbs. I love the way that footballers move here when they play for Liverpool, Stoke, Blackburn, Wigan etc and loads of them stay and commute, even when they transfer to other clubs further afield. I know one Hull player who commutes.
Famous "Manchester hating" scouser Derek Hatton and Liverpool "loving" scot, Graham Souness both live...err..in Trafford, the home of Manchester United.
- Baumann, Manchester, UK
Get yourself to Didsbury Noel. There's lots of celebs here that have tired of London.
- Terry C, Didsbury, Manchester
Samuel Johnson I think your comments might be from the last century and no one then could predict the future.
- Brian Fast, Sydney Australia
"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
- Samuel Johnson, London
Welcome back home.
- Marc Parkinson, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Manchester is better value in every respect, leave London for the poor tourists Liam.
- Tallulah, Didsbury, Manchester
manchester has great rain!
- Malk, chingford
Has London lost it's spark or, at 42 years old, has he lost his spark?
Perhaps he's finally growing up.
- Amanda, London
bye bye you wont be missed
- Helen, London
London lost its spark 10 years ago that is why I left.
- Brian Fast, Sydney Australia
