Gene Gallagher has reflected on supporting his father Liam with Villanelle, admitting that he “didn’t know what he was doing”.
- READ MORE: Gene Gallagher’s Villanelle are ready to launch with “a genuine passion to bring back rock music”
The band opened for Liam on his solo ‘Definitely Maybe’ UK and Ireland tour in 2024, alongside Cast and The View.
Villanelle recently spoke to Radio X, ahead of releasing their debut EP ‘Measly Means’ in May. Host Dan O’Connell asked them whether touring with the Oasis frontman had felt like a “baptism of fire”, compared to their later support slots with Miles Kane.
“I was more locked in for Miles than ‘Definitely Maybe’,” Gene responded. “‘Definitely Maybe’, like, I didn’t even know what I was doing. I didn’t even know what a tour was, or how to do it!”
Guitarist Ben Taylor added: “I mean, ‘Definitely Maybe’ was as far as being thrown into the deep end as you could possibly be. I’d say even now we wouldn’t be ready for a tour that big.”
Gene agreed: “I don’t think anyone ever really is.”
Taylor continued: “Yeah, but it was one of those where we were as ready as we could have ever been. But in terms of the Miles tour, we went in with, I think, a lot more conviction.
“Because the EP is done, we know what we are as a band far more than we ever did on the ‘Definitely Maybe’ tour. As amazing as that was, I think we had a lot more purpose on this [latest] tour.”
Gene went on to admit that he “couldn’t sleep the night before” Villanelle’s first set on Liam’s trek. “It was so unknown to me. I put on a brave face.”
Ahead of his ‘Definitely Maybe’ tour kicking off, LG denied claims of nepotism and shared footage of Villanelle playing live. “Is it fuck he’s my son it’s what you do,” he wrote at the time.
“I’ve given many opportunities to many young bands over the years it’s what you do if you can now it’s VILLANELLES turn if you don’t like it FUCKOFF [sic].”
Liam had previously described Gene’s music as “in your face, Arctic Monkeys style”, compared to his brother Lennon, whose music was more “spaced out, like early Verve, pretty chilled”.
Gene has also performed with his dad in on Later… with Jools Holland, and recorded some bongos on the track ‘One Of Us’ from Liam’s second solo album ‘Why Me? Why Not.’.
Speaking to NME last autumn, Gene discussed the influence of seeing the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour. His cousin – Noel‘s daughter Anaïs – had said earlier that she’d attended 12 Oasis gigs in a row.
“I’ve been to the most out of all the kids! I’ve been to well over 12,” Gene told us. “I’ve done like, Toronto, Chicago, both New Yorks.”
When asked whether his father and uncle’s massive performances had inspired him in terms of what was possible with Villanelle, he replied: “Definitely. It makes you want to pick up a guitar straight away. It lights the fire.”
The band told NME that they had a “genuine passion and drive to bring back rock music again”, describing their sound as “this mix of grunge, shoegaze, punk and alternative rock”.
Villanelle have since featured in the NME 100, which spotlights all the essential emerging artists for 2026. They shared the single ‘Placebo’ earlier this month, following on from the songs ‘Hinge’ and ‘Measly Means’. Their debut EP arrives on May 6.
The group have numerous live shows scheduled for this summer, including slots at The Great Escape, Neighbourhood Weekender, Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo, Mad Cool, and Boardmasters. Visit here for tickets.
In other news, Liam Gallagher has confirmed that he won’t be attending the BRIT Awards ceremony this weekend. Noel will collect the Songwriter Of The Year prize at the event.
