Great interview.
Thing of it is, if he wasn't so famous, he wouldn't get the stick he does - if he'd have just said all that stuff in a pub as a "normal" fan, everyone would have been in full agreement with all he said........in the same way "big Steve" is put on a pedestal
(and that's no slur on Big Steve)
Musically, and music is subjective, it's easy to criticise him, but the guy hasn't just written songs, he's written a couple of anthems that will transcend time - how many times have you been to a party, or wedding, or whatever and "Wonderwall" or "Don't Look Back In Anger" is played and there are people in their 50's, right down to people in their teens, belting out all the words, whilst hugging each other.
Not many bands achieve that