Once guitar Tech & confidant to The Stone Roses then later Oasis, Phil Smith has moved on to the world of DJ'n and is readying himself for Noel Gallagher's coming tour to provide the after show sounds. Playing his part in the Oasis story all the way back to when they first started out he's now putting his vast vinyl collection to good use by rocking Camden every week as well as joining one of the most anticipated tours of the year.

Phil kindly dropped by Live4ever to answer our questions.

Hi Phil, You now DJ these days but have a long history of working with The Stone Roses & Oasis as guitar tech haven't you...?

I was Mani's roadie for The Stone Roses from (88-80 & 95) & Guigs & McCarroll's for Oasis in the early days (93-95) and then did a stint for Stuart Fletcher in The Seahorses

The nights you put on look good, Flaxbox, with some really good bands playing,...

I do a regular night called Flashbax at Bar Solo in Camden and yeah it's a good night but only a small place. Talking of the devil we had Chris Helme from The Seahorses in the other night, Proud Mary have been and we've got Maggot from GLC is in this week doing a DJ set.
Doing Friday 28th with some Italian Oasis fans who are over for Noel Gallagher's gigs and then we're doing an aftershow on Monday 31st after Noel's Roundhouse gig.

Am I right in saying you were the Oasis tour DJ too and now Noel's Tour DJ, Noel's tour looks like its going to be a real success so I assume your looking forward to these dates yeah...?

I started DJ'n at their gigs on the "Be Here Now" tour and went right up to the end in 2009 playing all the music at the gig up until the band came on stage to "Fucking In The Bushes",
and yeah I'm doing the Noel Gallagher tour which will be great, Starting in Dublin and the UK then we do quick visits to the US, Europe and Japan before Christmas just to say hello and then I presume we'll be doing everything in depth in the new year.

So what do you play Phil....do you enjoy the after show gigs, are they fun...?

I don't do many after shows really, I prefer having a drink with the lads in the dressing-room after the gig. Like I said I play all the tunes at the gig from the doors opening until the support is on and then the 30 min build-up to Oasis/Noel Gallagher sets.
I play all sorts, mainly 60s going up to the 90s though with Oasis it all got a bit punk rock before they came on. Kinda suited the mood.

Have you always DJ'd then Phil or was it some thing you started doing after being a Guitar Tech...?

Nah, I fell into both, I was a friend of the Stone Roses back in the day and they took their friends on tour when it started to get big in 88. Most of us were working the gigs at the International Clubs in Manchester before, that's where they rehearsed so we were kind of handy for the band. I met Noel Gallagher because he was roadying for the Inspiral Carpets at the time and I started doing the same with them in 93. The Be Here Now tour was the 1st time I'd DJ'ed ,I was at a loose end with a big vinyl collection so decided to do that.

I remember seeing you on the Definitely Maybe 10yr anniversary documentary, you must have loads of stories, have you ever thought of putting a book out...?

Lots of people say I should but I'd only write it if it was going to be one of the funniest Rock'n'Roll books of all time, until I work out how to do that it stays unwritten. Everybody knows the Oasis story but there's comedy gold in there but I doubt it'll ever happen though. Does anybody buy books anyway nowadays?



Despite the recent situation between Noel & Laim do you still DJ for both Beady & Noel tours, and do you find you're getting asked intrusive questions about it all at the moment, like me...?

The Be Here Now gigs didn't have a DJ on tour. Been to a few gigs though and they have been Fucking top.
I always get asked things and sometimes it's a pain but you got to take the rough with the smooth, If no-one was bothering me it would mean I'd never been out on tour in the 1st place. When you weigh it all up it's not much of a cross to bear and after all they weren't exactly shit bands were they, its better than having to discuss Simply Red.

Whats your take on Noel's new material...?

If you like what he's put out so far you'll love the album, I've not heard the Amorphous stuff yet though I'm looking forward to that with a big fucking bong.

Finally,whats the best thing about DJ'n, do you miss your old work...?

DJ'n the clubs is ok but I prefer to do it on tour as I can play pretty much what I want and it's always good to get back in the bubble. Home sweet home.
I Don't miss roadying because I can't play an instrument but the crew bus was always a lively place to be, The Oasis crew were a bunch of fucking pirates.

(Carl Stanley)


Flashbax:

BAR SOLO
INVERNESS ST
CAMDEN

(1 MINUTE FROM CAMDEN TUBE)

Also visit Noel Gallagher's after party Facebook page



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