Ex-Oasis man Noel Gallagher would have joined Kasabian

Noel Gallagher's band will go on tour this autumn after his solo record is out

Noel Gallagher has said he would have joined Kasabian "in a heartbeat" had he been invited to join the band.

But the guitarist told Shortlist magazine that following the split of Oasis in 2009 the Leicester rockers "never asked".

Noel Gallagher has been a long-time fan of the group. They joined Oasis on their final UK stadium tour in 2009.

In August of that year Noel left Oasis saying he could no longer work with his brother Liam.

'Career'

With the 44-year-old set to beat Matt Cardle to the top of the UK albums chart this weekend, he admitted heading out on his own wasn't ever his plan.

"Seriously, I don't see it as a career. I've never wanted to be a solo artist. I'd still rather be in a band," he said.

"You can't start another band after you've been in Oasis. What's the point?

"I never really got calls off anyone," he added. "I never had Bono phoning me, saying, 'I've always thought The Edge could do with some back-up.'"

Noel Gallagher says he would have joined Kasabian if asked

In the interview Noel Gallagher also admitted that he'd recently made up with his great Brit pop rival Damon Albarn.

In 1995 Oasis and Blur famously went head-to-head in the UK's singles chart with Blur beating the Manchester band to number one with their track Country House.

"When I was out last night I bumped into him," said Noel Gallagher.

He recalled how the pair went for a beer together.

"So, we're sitting there, having a beer, just going, 'What was that all about 15 years ago? That was mental.' Then he said, 'It was a great time though', and I was like, 'Yeah it was a good laugh.' It was cool, man."

Noel Gallagher has just released his debut solo album Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.