Gem Archer, right, and Liam Gallagher, center, join Noel Gallagher of Oasis at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. Andy Bell, sick with a cold, was absent from the photo session but performed at the concert.

For Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, it’s either one way or the other.
It can be ``fabulous,’’_ what he describes himself and his playing _ or, in reference to a specific musician, he may take a more critical tone.

As for his first stay in Seoul, his comments were positive.

Gallagher arrived not expecting to see much of the place.

``But last night out _ it was nice,’’the Brit told at an intimate meeting with the local press yesterday hours before Oasis’ first-ever show here.

``It’s great. It’s really great to be in a country you’ve never been before,’’ he added.

British rock group Oasis is paying local fans a long overdue visit, their stop over in the peninsula made to stage the Seoul leg of their world tour.

Oasis played a set of 18 songs including ``Lyla,’’ ``Let There Be Love’’and more off the group’s most recent album ``Don’t Believe the Truth.’’before a sell-out crowd at the Olympic Hall yesterday evening.

How anxious were Koreans fans to see him?

With the best seats in the house gone within a week of the opening of box offices and left over sold out clean by early February leaving concert promoters no choice but to put up an additional 100 seats for sale on Feb. 15.

Gallagher said he doesn’t like to get involved in anything other than writing songs, which is why it took so long for his band to make its way to South Korea.

Oasis was formed in 1992 when Noel joined a group started up by brother Liam with his fellow schoolmates Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCaroll on the condition he be the leader and sole song writer.

Their first full-fledged recording, 1994’s ``Definitely Maybe,’’ shot straight up to number one in the U.K. chart upon entering. It also went down in British pop history as the fastest-selling debut ever.

The success of the band’s next recording effort ``(What's the Story) Morning Glory?'' in the American pop scene propelled the band into the international spotlight.

However, their own reputation is not all that’s come out of their success. Oasis is credited to have kicked off the 1990s British Invasion, having paved the way for other U.K. rock acts like Radiohead and Blur into the international music scene,

When asked of his take on newer groups from the U.K. like Coldplay, he flat out denied feeling threatened in any way.

``Oasis is not Coldplay as is Coldplay not Oasis. The music we make are completely different,’’ said Gallagher but didn’t hesitate to add that Coldplay is one of the most successful bands to come out of the U.K.

``Chris (of Coldplay) is actually a good friend,’’ he said.

While the band’s popularity and public’s demand for the group rose, so did tension between group members. The current line-up _ Noel, Liam, Andy Bell and Gem Archer _ is different from its original, with the exception of the two Gallaghers even though that the brothers are known to have frequent run-ins with each other.

And this may explain why Noel sat alone yesterday at the press conference while Liam met with local cable networks.

``Liam doesn’t particularly like talking,’’ he said.

Oasis made a strong come back with ``Don’t Believe the Truth’’ in June, 2005. The album sold over 40 million copies worldwide and proved that Oasis was still together.

Oasis leaves today to make two more stops in Asia before going on to the Americas to wrap up their world tour in Mexico City on March 31.

``As of the 32nd (of May), we’ll be on a very long holiday,’’ he said.

Reporter: Han Eun-jung

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