The Enemy’s Andy Hopkins can’t wait for Liam Gallagher’s solo album and for the former Oasis frontman to prove to everyone he is one of the "greatest rock ‘n’ roll" singers of all time.
The bassist and his bandmates – frontman Tom Clarke and drummer Liam Watts – supported Liam and his brother Noel Gallagher on tour on numerous occasions and became friends with the now warring-siblings.
Andy was disappointed to see the end of Oasis in 2009 and was also sad to see Liam’s next band Beady Eye dissolve in 2014.
The outspoken hellraiser has now signed a deal with Warner Bros Records UK to release his first solo LP next year and Andy is excited to hear the ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ hitmaker’s songs and show the world he isn’t stuck in Noel’s shadow.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, the musician said: "I’ll be glad to see Liam put his name in lights. Noel may have written the songs in Oasis but Liam was the town crier and in that band he absolutely crushed it. Liam and Noel defined a generation and Liam has one of the best rock ‘n’ roll voices of all time, he’s up there with the greatest. He’s had enough time out and I’m sure he’s worked out who his mates are.
"He has so much to offer, remember that track he did with Death In Vegas a few years back, ‘Scorpio Rising’, that was unbelievable. What I don’t want is Liam to become a pastiche of himself and I’m sure he won’t because he’s too intelligent for that. I want to go out there and get back on stage and show everyone that he is the boss, because he is, Liam is an amazing talent. Noel has done it as a solo artist, don’t tell me Liam can’t. His voice is so good and he should show people how good he is. We got to know him and he’s a top bloke and a real gentleman. Liam is one of the few people who I’ve met in the music business who has a glow, he has a presence. When he walks in a room you know he’s there, he’s proper mate."
The Enemy are calling time on their 10-year spanning career after going on a six-date farewell tour of the UK which starts on Saturday (03.09.16) at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London.
Andy isn’t sure what he’s going to do once the ‘Had Enough’ rockers are done and he may even turn to his hand to building work for a complete change of scene from the music business.
He said: "I don’t know what I want to do next. Part of me would like to go and work on a building site for six months, and do something real again, lay some bricks and have a good crack with the lads. I don’t have to, I could sit back and live off the means that I’ve got. Maybe I’ll do a bit of travelling, or I’ll do something completely different. I’m not focused on making music or starting a new band. I’m just going to enjoy myself."
The Enemy’s ‘Last Orders Tour’ dates:
Thursday 15 September – O2 Ritz, Manchester
Friday 16 September – O2 Forum, Kentish Town
Saturday 17 September – The Empire, Coventry
Saturday 24 September – Newcastle, O2 Academy
Sunday 25 September – Leeds, O2 Academy
Monday 26 September – Glasgow, O2 ABC