Liam Gallagher: As It Was, directed by Charlie Lightening and Gavin Fitzgerald, and produced by Steven Lappin, charts the singer's return to the public eye, a journey begun with 2017's As You Were album, and which continues now with the prep for his next album, Why Me? Why Not. next week. And while for some of us the singer never stopped being charismatic and exciting, the documentary approaches this return to the spotlight as if the mission of the film is to redefine Liam's greatness. Gallagher, personable and vulnerable here, is still more likable than Noel. It's really that simple. And while there's lots to like about the songwriting Gallagher, Liam Gallagher: As It Was returns to us the magnetic front-man who snarled through "Live Forever" and now, with an earned sense of maturity, croons confidently through "Bold" and other recent solo numbers. Liam's still the rock-star, but he is, as the documentary reminds, an evolving one, and one who has, if not mellowed with age, grown his persona into one that's less of the lout from 1995 that many remember.
For those looking for the story of Oasis, this is not the film (despite a few interview segments with Bonehead). And for all the importance Liam Gallagher: As It Was places on Liam's role as "the last, great rock-and-roll star", as someone calls him, the documentary features precious little input from his current band of hired guns, and nothing from the guys who shared the stage with him in Beady Eye. Still, for all that, Liam Gallagher: As It Was does a fairly good job at presenting Liam as a singer working his way through new material, with new band-mates. Perhaps overly dramatic in presentation, the sequences of Liam and crew heading out on the road in 2017 to support his first solo record convey a sense of the risks involved here for the artist. And while the doc plays up things a bit, it was undoubtedly a fairly bold move for Liam to go it alone, and release a record as a solo artist, and not as part of a band with more established players.
It's here in these sequences, as demos are recorded for 2017's As You Were, and the musicians hit the stage at Glastonbury in 2017, that Liam Gallagher: As It Was has a certain earned pathos about it. Gallagher, now a good deal older and less of a hooligan than he was 25 years ago, seems genuinely humble at the turns his career his taken, and more human a performer than Noel seems capable of being. Whereas Noel writes a fine tune, there is little else to latch onto, with a listener nodding along and little compelled to learn the story behind the song and singer. Liam, even as a solo artist, has a whole lot of personality, and personality equals attitude. And you can't have rock-n-roll without attitude.
What Liam Gallagher: As It Was does so well is illustrate how Liam's grown as a musician, and how likable he still is, even if the cocky nature has been diminished a bit, and the personality mellowed. He remains a supremely charismatic performer, and one who can sing virtually anything and make it sound interesting. Liam Gallagher: As It Was presents a fairly compelling portrait for fans, especially those who were caught off-guard by how strong the solo songs on As You Were were.
Liam Gallagher: As It Was is out in U.S. cinemas today.
More details on Liam Gallagher: As It Was via the UK website for the film.
[Photos: Screen Media Films]