By Billy Sloan

HAS Liam Gallagher turned over a new leaf? There is something very different about the bad boy of Britpop in 2019.

It’s clear, Gallagher has been taking stock of both his life and career.

The singer is in talk-mode to sell his impressive second solo album, Why Me? Why Not? which reached No. 1 on the UK Chart.

We chat on the eve of his 47th birthday. So is Liam Gallagher now older and wiser? To pinch the title of Oasis’ 1994 debut album, the answer appears to be … Definitely Maybe.

“I’ve definitely got older, but I wouldn’t say wiser. Maybe a little bit,” he admits.

“But I’m a good, good person. I make mistakes. We all do. I’m not a robot. You split me open and there’s goodness in there.”

Inevitably our conversation takes in his fractured relationship with brother Noel.

Their acrimonious split, before an Oasis gig in Paris in 2009, was the result of one bitter fight too many. When Liam allegedly threw a plum at his brother - then wielded Noel’s favourite guitar like an axe during the backstage battle - the latter walked away from the most influential UK band of the last 30 years.

Last month, Liam announced his forthcoming marriage Debbie Gwyther, his personal assistant.

He says he will invite Noel to the wedding … but only because his mother, Peggy, told him to.

Noel is literally soaring with his new group, The High Flying Birds who have released three UK No. 1 albums between 2011-2019.

But Liam who admits to still finding his feet as a solo artist, has also enjoyed considerable success. His 2017 debut album, As You Were was a No. 1 record. A renewed appetite for touring has seen him play festivals like Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, Reading & Leeds and TRNSMT.

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He plays Aberdeen Exhibition Centre on November 14 and the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on November 15.

A documentary film, As It Was, showcased his self styled “musical rehabilitation”

Gallagher’s progress, first with Beady Eye – the band formed in the slipstream of the Oasis’ split – and now as a solo artist, is measured by his limitations as a songwriter.

On both albums, he’s co-written tracks with producers Greg Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt, plus Simon Aldred of the band, Cherry Ghost.

“I don’t class myself as a songwriter … I’m a singer first,” he says.

“If I never wrote a song again I wouldn’t jump off a bridge. I’ve got a guitar in my house and I’m always messing about on that. I’ll have a few ideas – a couple of lines here and there – and I say to them: ‘Can you sort this out for me?’

“It’s all very easy going. I’m not one of them tortured artists.”

Gallagher’s controversial personal life has also been pulled sharply into focus.

Debbie is credited as being the person who has “tamed” the volatile pop star, as well as helping to revive his music career.

He’s been married twice previously. In 1997, he wed actress Patsy Kensit. They have a son, Lennon … named after The Beatles’ legend who is his music hero.

He had a second son, Gene, with singer Nicole Appleton in 2001, before they married seven years later.

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Gallagher has two other children – the result of affairs – Molly with singer Lisa Moorish and Gemma with US journalist Liza Ghorbani.

He posed for the cover of a Sunday magazine with Lennon, Molly and Gene. He’s said he “hasn’t got round to meeting Gemma” who was born in 2013, but hopes to rectify that soon.

His new single, Now That I’ve Found You was inspired by Molly coming into his life.

“I’ve started having a relationship with my daughter … which I’ve not had for 20 years,” he reveals.

“I also wrote a song, When I’m In Need, about Debbie. I don’t force it. It just write about what’s coming through the airwaves.

“But I’ve got a lot of love in my life. I’m surrounded by a lot of lovely people. So there’s a lot of meaningful stuff going on.”

If we’re to believe recent reports, he rises daily at 6am, goes for a five mile run and eats a healthy diet.

“I’m NOT obsessed by it. I’m not calorie counting. … I’m not a carrot muncher,” he says.

“When I go for a run, I go for a run. But when I go to the pub, I go to the pub. I still enjoy going to the boozer, believe you me.”

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But has his seemingly chaotic family life has forced Gallagher to become more responsible?

“To a certain extent. You just get older. The hangovers get longer and they hurt more,” he admits.

“That voice inside your head which says: ‘Go to bed’ is a lot louder and clearer than it was when you were 20.

“Back then I’d go: ‘You what? I ain’t going nowhere you d***head’. But now I listen to the voice inside a lot more.”

Gallagher is engaging company. But in any conversation the “will-they, won’t they” Oasis question overshadows all.

Promoters would offer a blank cheque for an Oasis reunion.

Their two gigs at Knebworth in 1996 – where they played to 125,000 fans each night – are the largest outdoor concerts in UK history. More than 2.5 million people applied for tickets.

Noel is adamant it will never happen. But Liam is full of hope.

“Would I like it to happen? Why not? We shouldn’t have split up, man,” he says.

“Obviously I’m doing this, it’s going well and I’m enjoying it. Noel is doing his thing and apparently he’s enjoying it.

“So I guess it ain’t gonna happen now. But I’d drop this tomorrow to get back in that band. Not just to be with Noel … just to be with the band and play them songs to the people.

“You get one crack at life and we’re lucky to be in this position. But I’m not sitting there crying into me Noel bowl. If it happens, it happens. I’m ready to go, mate.”

But what would be the point? Could lightning really strike twice?

“People bang on about how big Oasis were. We weren’t the biggest band in the world. We were big in England and made a bit of a splash in Europe … but there’s a lot more work to do,” he admits.

“This boat might have sailed. I think we could still do it … but it depends on whether we like each other or not.

“The most important thing is me and him getting back to being brothers. And if that ain’t happening … the band ain’t happening.”

A new movie, Creation Stories – written by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh – is currently in production.

It tells how Glaswegian pop fan, Alan McGee launched indie label Creation Records in 1983.

Ewan Bremner plays McGee, who signed acts such as The Jesus And Mary Chain, Primal Scream and Teenage Fanclub.

The movie will also focus on the night in 1993 when McGee went to King Tut’s in Glasgow to see 18 Wheeler play … and stumbled across Oasis who had blagged their way on to the bill.

He was so impressed by their four-song set he offered Noel Gallagher a record deal on the spot.

Liam recently visited the film location to meet the actors and crew, and is looking forward to seeing his story portrayed on the big screen.

But when I interviewed Noel in May, he forcibly told me he had NO interest whatsoever in turning back the clock … musically or personally.

He said:

“I get asked about this on a daily basis. It won’t be happening. The other fella, the singer, tends to be a bit disingenuous when he says his suitcase is packed and he’s waiting for the call.

“He knows it’s not happening. He kind of likes to play to the gallery.”

Liam disagrees. And the old rancour resurfaces.

“That’s bull***. I ain’t playing to no gallery,” he responds.

“If people ask me: ‘If Oasis get back together are you up for it?’ What am I meant to say – ‘No’. I’m not a liar like him.

“I’m up for it. My bags are packed. We shouldn’t have split up. I’m ready to go. He turned round a long time ago and talked about my work ethic … saying I’m not match fit.

“On my As You Were tour I did 140 gigs and didn’t cancel any. So I can do it.”

The war of words between the pair has become increasingly bitter.

Liam allegedly sent threatening messages to Noel via his wife Sarah and daughter Anais.

Now, the singer says it’s time to move on.

“I love our kid. I don’t need no-one to tell me how I feel. I know how I feel,” he tells me.

“I miss our kid. I don’t know what happened. He made me out to be some horrible person … but I’m not. It just ain’t true.

“He says I’m surrounded by f****** idiots. It doesn’t matter what him and his daft camp say … I’m a good person.

“The people he’s surrounded by should hold their heads in shame. They should be encouraging me and him to get back together again as brothers – for my mother. Not for the band. Forget the band.”

LIAM Gallagher plays Aberdeen Exhibition Centre on November 14 and the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on November 15.