[CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT ★★]
GALLAGHER BROTHERS TO RE-UNITE FOR OASIS DOCUMENTARY
(P1) Noel and Liam Gallagher are BURYING THE HATCHET — for now.
(P2) The brothers, who led the Britpop band Oasis to the TOP OF THE CHARTS in the ’90s, have agreed to take part in a documentary about the band.
(P3) The film is being produced by Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees, who made the Amy Winehouse documentary “Amy.”
(P4) At its height, Oasis was one of the most exciting — and TURBULENT — bands in rock ‘n’ roll. Guitarist Noel, five years older than Liam, wrote most of the songs, including “Live Forever,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Wonderwall” (the group’s biggest U.S. hit); Liam sang them.
(P5) Both brothers lived up to the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of drink, drugs, and ENDLESS parties. Their TEMPESTUOUS relationship that made those of other rock SIBLINGS, such as Ray and Dave Davies or Don and Phil Everly, seem POSITIVELY calm in comparison. Sometimes they BICKERED; sometimes one of them POUTED. A lot happened in public.
(P6) They made excellent copy for the VORACIOUS British TABLOIDS.
(P7) In 2009, Noel finally had enough.
(P8) “It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight,” he said on the band’s website. “People will write and say what they like but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.”
(P9) In recent years, the two have LOBBED insults at one another through the press while leading separate bands: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Liam’s now-DEFUNCT Beady Eye.
(P10) Noel Gallagher defended the siblings’ FEUDING.
(P11) “The one thing about this band is, we do have have arguments and fights, but it’s not BEHIND EACH OTHER’S BACKS,” he said. “We’re all UP FRONT with each other.”
(P12) For a REUNION, however, he’s always had one key condition.
(P13) “If I was ever going to do it,” he said, “it would only be for the money.”
WORDS: 316
SOURCE: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/05/entertainment/oasis-gallagher-brothers-documentary-feat/index.html
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.
- Briefly summarize the content of the article in your own words.
- Could you work on a daily basis with your own siblings?
- What is your favorite pop band?
- Some fans are CYNICAL about entertainment feuds, claiming that these are mainly for PUBLICITY. What do you think?
- Do you like reunions and re-visiting the past, or are you more interested in getting on with the future?
EXPRESSIONS TO PRACTICE:
What do the following expressions mean? Practice using each expression in a sentence; extra points if you can use it in conversation.
- Bury the hatchet
- Top of the charts
- Behind each other’s backs
- Up front
