Guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher and his singer brother Liam, the heart of Oasis, had not performed together since their acrimonious split in 2009.
After a backstage bustup at a concert in France in 2009, they long resisted pressure to reunite, even with the promise of a multimillion-dollar payday.
The announcement of the U.K. tour in August sparked a ticket-buying frenzy, complete with error messages, hourslong online queues, dashed hopes and anger at prices that surged at the last minute.
No plans have been announced for Oasis to record any new music, and the tour is being presented as a one-off.
“(There is) this enduring love for Oasis — and love means money.”
To a crowd thrilled by the band’s 1990s hits, Oasis kicked off a reunion tour in Cardiff, Wales, on Friday, capping a 16-year break with a forceful, punchy journey through one of Britpop’s greatest songbooks.
Was there brotherly love between the Gallagher siblings, who were notoriously at odds with one another?
Fans from all over the world flocked to the Welsh capital for a performance that many believed would never take place. Since their contentious breakup in 2009, guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher and his singer brother Liam, the band’s core, had not performed together.
“The great wait is over,” read one fan banner. “.
With the appropriate “Hello” and its catchphrase, “it’s good to be back,” Oasis made their stage debut to a thunderous cheer following a montage of headlines about the sparring siblings that concluded with the words “the guns have fallen silent.”. “.
Though they briefly held hands, the brothers mostly avoided each other onstage. While Liam, 52, clad in a parka, snarled into the microphone with a swagger that hasn’t wavered in the 31 years since the band’s debut album, “Definitely Maybe,” was released, Noel, 58, concentrated on his guitar. “,”.
At the Principality Stadium, a crowd of over 60,000 people were treated to a well-paced two-hour performance that primarily featured songs from the first album and its 1995 follow-up, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory,” as well as a few later songs and fan favorites.
As loud as ever, songs like “Supersonic,” “Roll With It,” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” inspired widespread sing-alongs.
“Put your arms over each other like you love each other,” Liam, who was holding a tambourine, urged the audience before starting to sing “Cigarettes and Alcohol.”. “.”.
When a picture of Liverpool Football Club player Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident on Thursday, was displayed above the band during “Live Forever,” it was a moving moment.
The show concluded with encores that included some of Oasis’ most enduring songs, such as “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall,” and “Champagne Supernova.” Noel took turns fronting the vocals for a number of songs, including the heartfelt “Half the World Away.”. As they concluded the last song, the brothers gave each other a half-hug.
The primary technical accompaniment to a performance where the songs were the main focus was multicolored, occasionally slightly psychedelic projections. There wasn’t much teasing, but Liam stopped songs to see if the crowd was enjoying themselves.
He once joked, “Was it worth the 40,000 pounds you paid for the ticket?” in reference to the rowdiness for seats that caused some fans to spend hundreds of pounds to attend a performance.
It was from the roar of reaction.
The Cardiff show was the first of a 19-date Live ’25 tour in the United Kingdom. K. . Ireland as well. Following that, there will be stops in Asia, Australia, South America, and North America before arriving in Sao Paulo in November. 21.
The streets surrounding the stadium were crowded with fans prior to the performance, who gathered in groups to sing along to the band’s hits and purchase bucket hats bearing the Oasis logo for thirty-five pounds ($48) each.
Rob Maule, 44, of Edinburgh, Scotland, said, “It’s very, very special — emotional.”. We used to travel across the nation to see Oasis, and I’m here with three of my childhood friends.
It’s a generational issue for us. “It is a phase of our lives,” he remarked. “After that comes the second generation, since people are taking their children. It’s truly exceptional. “.”.
In southwest England, in the town of Dorchester, Vicki Moynehan was born. When she purchased her ticket nearly a year ago, she claimed that her life had completely changed.
“I’m not going to let the fact that I’m seven months pregnant stop me,” she stated.
Having been founded in 1991 on the working-class streets of Manchester, England, Oasis released eight U.S. K. No. Just one album.
Guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher, a fan of the Beatles and glam rock with a talent for catchy melodies, and younger brother Liam’s explosive chemistry drove the band’s sound with sing-along rock choruses.
The brothers have frequently snidely compared themselves onstage, in the studio, and in interviews ever since. At one point, Noel called his brother “the angriest man you’ll ever meet,” while Liam called him a “tofu boy.”. In the world of soup, he is like a man with a fork. “.”.
Despite the possibility of a multimillion-dollar payout, they repeatedly refused to get back together after a backstage altercation at a 2009 concert in France.
Former Oasis members Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, Gem Archer on guitar, Andy Bell on bass, and Joey Waronker on drums will now accompany them on their tour.
The declaration of the U.S. K. . Error messages, long online lines, crushed hopes, and rage over last-minute price increases were all part of the August tour’s ticket-buying frenzy.
Questions were raised about the ticketing issues in U. K. . “Practices that see fans of live events blindsided by price hikes” were criticized by Arts Minister Chris Bryant in Parliament. Since then, Ticketmaster, which sold about 900,000 Oasis tickets, has been threatened with legal action by Britain’s competition regulator.
The tour is being marketed as a one-off, and Oasis has not disclosed any intentions to record any new songs.
It’s a chance for Oasis to “tend the legacy” of the band and remind people of the strength of the Oasis brand, according to music writer John Aizlewood.
“These performances ought to evoke a profound sense of happiness and life affirmation. And I believe that it could be a huge burnishing of their legacy if they can just play it right,” he said. “Oasis has this unwavering love, and love is equated with wealth. “..”.
Supporters were adamant about savoring the moment.
“I know they’ll fall out because I’m the oldest of four brothers,” Stephen Truscott, a resident of Middlesbrough, northeast England, said. However, they will have an absolutely incredible time on the first night. It will be the best. “.”.
