Noel Gallagher has teamed up with the supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos on their upcoming track, ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’. The band is made up of Shaun Ryder and Bez of the Happy Mondays, Zak Starkey, and Andy Bell. Starkey and Bell both worked with Gallagher in their stints with Oasis.
Unlike their two previous singles, ‘Gorilla Guerilla’ and ‘X (Wot You Sayin’)’, Domino Bones will not be released digitally. Instead, it will be available exclusively on vinyl and sold only at Liverpool’s iconic Cavern Club. This limited release coincides with the band’s two shows at the venue on January 19.
Mutual admiration seems to have laid the groundwork for the surprise collaboration. Mantra of the Cosmos have posted photos of Gallagher on their Instagram, captioned “Noel of the Cosmos.” Gallagher previously praised the band’s artistry, likening them to “Dylan, Dalí, and Ginsberg on a rocketship to the moon to have it with the Clangers.”
Zak Starkey, the group’s leader, shared his excitement at the collaboration: “It’s not every day that the greatest songwriter of my generation – not to mention Shaun, the greatest beat poet of our times – sends a tune to me.” Gallagher heaped even more praise on Ryder, “Noel texted me saying, ‘Do you know what you’ve got? The British Bob Dylan.’”
The song’s creative process suggests the partnership will be a one-off collaboration. Gallagher sent his recorded vocals for the chorus to Starkey, who then built the track around them. With Gallagher’s commitments to upcoming Oasis dates, any long-term involvement with Mantra of the Cosmos seems unlikely.
The Cavern Club holds personal significance for Starkey, who wasn’t shy about his family’s connection to the venue: “There’s a great deal of family heritage at the Cavern aside from the Beatles. My parents courted there. Who knows, I may have even been conceived there!”
This marks Starkey’s first performance at the Cavern Club, a venue that will always be synonymous with his father, Ringo Starr. In fact, Ringo was the first of the four Beatles to play at the Cavern, doing so in July 1957. The original venue was demolished in the 1970s to make way for Merseyrail infrastructure, but rebuilt in the 1980s, preserving much of its original footprint.
Mantra of the Cosmos has split opinions. While one X user described their music as “like walking into a northern pub at 4am which smells horrible with several men half asleep lying on the sticky floor singing madchester tracks but totally out of tune,” Gallagher included ‘Gorilla Guerilla’ in his ‘Summer 2023 Playlist’ on Spotify.
mantra of the cosmos songs are like walking into a northern pub at 4am which smells horrible with several men half asleep lying on the sticky floor singing madchester tracks but totally out of tune
— carol (@magicalspring) January 8, 2025
The choice to release ‘Domino Bones’ exclusively on vinyl aligns with buying habits in the UK. Vinyl sales in 2024 hit almost £200 million, making it the most premium format despite being outsold by CDs in volume. Fans are happier to buy quality over quantity, especially when it comes to exclusive releases. Limiting sales to the Cavern ensures the track reaches die-hard fans.
Whether ‘Domino Bones’ signals the end of the band’s erratic journey or the start of a prolific year remains to be seen. For now, fans can look forward to seeing the group—and Gallagher’s contribution—in the intimate, historic setting of the Cavern Club. Tickets for the event have sold out, however fans can join the waiting list here.
