Gene Gallagher has admitted that he “didn’t know what he was doing” when his band Villanelle supported his father Liam on the ‘Definitely Maybe’ UK and Ireland tour in 2024. The band opened for the Oasis frontman alongside Cast and The View.
Speaking to Radio X ahead of the release of their debut EP ‘Measly Means’ in May, Gene said he was “more locked in” for later support slots with Miles Kane. “I didn’t even know what a tour was, or how to do it!” he said, adding that he “couldn’t sleep the night before” the first show.
Guitarist Ben Taylor described the experience as “as far as being thrown into the deep end as you could possibly be”. He added that by the time of the Miles Kane tour, the band had “a lot more conviction” and knew what they were as a band.
Liam Gallagher had previously dismissed claims of nepotism, writing on social media: “Is it fuck he’s my son it’s what you do… if you don’t like it FUCKOFF.” He described Villanelle’s music as “in your face, Arctic Monkeys style”.
Gene, who has also performed with his father on Later… with Jools Holland and recorded bongos on Liam’s track ‘One Of Us’, said seeing Oasis’s Live ’25 reunion tour inspired him. “It makes you want to pick up a guitar straight away,” he told NME.
Villanelle have been named in the NME 100 for 2026 and released the single ‘Placebo’ this month. Their debut EP arrives on May 6, with festival slots including The Great Escape, Bonnaroo, and Mad Cool scheduled for summer.
