The wait is finally over. After 16 long years, iconic British band oasis has ignited the global music scene, kicking off their highly anticipated reunion tour, “Oasis Live ’25,” at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Friday night marked the moment fans had counted down to for 5,795 days, heralding the return of one of rock and roll’s most influential acts.
Anticipation reached fever pitch throughout the week in Cardiff. Passersby near the stadium caught tantalizing snippets of classic tracks like ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’, ‘Wonderwall’, and ‘Champagne Supernova’ echoing from rehearsals. Adding to the buzz, a striking drone display featuring the band’s famous logo lit up the night sky above the venue. Guitarist Noel gallagher himself confirmed the excitement, telling talkSPORT radio the band was “sounding huge.” He added definitively, “This is it, there’s no going back now.” While some fans debated if rehearsal audio played through the stadium speakers was a live soundcheck, singer Liam Gallagher clarified that the clips were indeed recordings from practice sessions.
Record-Breaking Ticket Chaos
The tour announcement last summer triggered unprecedented demand. Described as the biggest concert launch in UK and Ireland history, over 10 million hopeful fans from 158 countries attempted to secure tickets. Around 900,000 tickets were ultimately sold, showcasing the band’s enduring global appeal.
However, the ticket sale process was marred by significant controversy. Many fans expressed outrage when standard standing tickets, initially advertised around £135 plus fees, appeared on Ticketmaster re-labelled “in demand” and priced up to £355 plus fees. Crucially, these higher-priced tickets offered no additional benefits beyond standard entry.
The debacle prompted an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The watchdog concluded that Ticketmaster may have violated consumer protection law by selling “platinum” tickets at nearly 2.5 times the face value without transparently explaining the lack of added perks. The CMA has since ordered Ticketmaster to revise its future ticket labelling and price disclosure methods to fans. Ticketmaster publicly welcomed this guidance.
Despite the ticketing challenges, excitement remained incredibly high in Cardiff. Fans travelled from astonishing distances, including Spain, Peru, Japan, America, Kenya, and Holland, solely for the opening night. Jeff Gachihi, a fan from Kenya making his first UK trip for the show, articulated the band’s impact: “For me, Oasis represents an overwhelming optimism about being young and loving music.” He added, “To write simple music that relays the simple truth of life is very difficult. For me, they do that better than anyone.” The city embraced the return, even unveiling a mural of Liam and Noel made entirely from bucket hats.
The Band Returns
The lineup for the “Oasis Live ’25” tour brings together familiar faces alongside new additions. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher lead the charge, joined by long-time band members Gem Archer, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, and Andy Bell. Rounding out the live ensemble is drummer Joey Waronker, known for his work with acts like Beck and REM, and backing singer Jess Greenfield, who also performs with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. A brass section will further enhance the band’s powerful sound on stage.
Speculation about the exact setlist has been rife all week. Based on soundchecks and rumoured running orders circulating online, fans anticipate hearing numerous hits. Potential tracks include ‘Hello’, ‘Acquiesce’, ‘Roll With It’, ‘Live Forever’, ‘Supersonic’, and the iconic ‘Champagne Supernova’, which is rumoured to close the show. Noel Gallagher is expected to step into the spotlight for lead vocals on a couple of songs during the performance, potentially including fan favourites such as ‘Half The World Away’ and ‘The Masterplan’.
From Working Class Roots to Knebworth Glory
Oasis dominated the British music scene between 1994 and 1997. Their first three albums—Definitely Maybe, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, and Be Here Now—sold tens of millions globally. (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? alone has surpassed 22 million copies worldwide, cementing its status as one of the best-selling records ever. Liam’s distinctive sneering vocals and Noel’s wall of distorted guitars injected raw rock and roll energy back into the charts, revitalizing UK guitar music in the wake of the grunge era.
Born and raised in Manchester, the Gallagher brothers and original members formed the band largely as a way to escape the limited opportunities of their working-class environment. Noel Gallagher once candidly remarked on their origins: “In Manchester you either became a musician, a footballer, a drugs dealer or work in a factory. And there aren’t a lot of factories left, you know?” He emphasized that they weren’t a group of friends brought together by shared musical tastes but rather a band formed out of necessity. “We started the group… because we were all on the dole and we were unemployed and we rehearsed and we thought we were pretty good.”
Originally Liam’s band, Noel famously joined on the condition that he take creative control as the primary songwriter. This pivotal decision propelled them to global fame, culminating in their legendary Knebworth House gigs in the summer of 1996. These open-air shows were a cultural phenomenon. Nearly five per cent of the entire UK population applied for tickets, with a then-record 125,000 people attending each of the two nights to see Oasis headline a massive lineup.
The Split and the Path Back Together
Despite their immense success, the relationship between the Gallagher brothers remained notoriously volatile. Festering tension frequently erupted into public arguments and physical altercations. Notable incidents included a backstage bust-up in Barcelona in 2000 after Liam questioned Noel’s daughter’s legitimacy, leading Noel to temporarily leave the tour. The final straw came on August 28, 2009, minutes before they were due to play the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. A final explosive argument led to the band’s immediate dissolution.
Noel Gallagher later issued a statement explaining his departure, saying he “simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.” He described the final confrontation, recalling Liam allegedly wielding a guitar “like an axe” and nearly injuring him.
Following the split, both brothers embarked on successful solo careers. Noel formed Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, while Liam pursued projects like Beady Eye before launching his own solo career. Yet, questions about an Oasis reunion persisted incessantly. Liam had previously stated a reunion was “inevitable,” even suggesting they reform for NHS workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. He claimed Noel had rejected a lucrative £100 million offer for a reunion tour at that time, humorously suggesting Noel was more interested in a knighthood.
The exact catalyst for the current reconciliation after another five years remains subject to speculation, as neither brother has publicly given interviews about it. Tabloid reports suggested Noel’s 2022 divorce from Sara McDonald might have thawed relations. Others proposed a mutual desire to provide the Oasis story with a more fitting conclusion than the acrimonious Paris bust-up. Tim Abbott, former managing director of Creation Records, Oasis’s label, offered an optimistic view: “I’ve heard everything is honky dory and they’re getting on great.” He added, confidently stating they wouldn’t resort to separate travel or stage entrances seen with other estranged bands.
A Global Tour, Significant Impact
Whatever the precise reasons for the reunion, the resulting tour is poised to be a financial juggernaut. Analysis by Birmingham City University estimates the “Oasis Live ’25” tour could generate a massive £400 million from ticket sales and merchandise alone.
The sold-out tour is extensive, featuring 41 shows scheduled between July and November 2025. It will span the UK & Ireland before heading across North America, Oceania, and South America. Alec McKinlay, Oasis’s co-manager, expressed surprise at the scale of international demand. “Honestly, we knew it would be big here,” he told Music Week, “But looking outside the UK… we were just bowled over by how huge it was.” The UK and Ireland legs feature support from acclaimed artists Richard Ashcroft and Cast.
Beyond the stadium gates, the tour is having ripple effects. Nearby cities are also benefiting; Bristol, located across the Severn Estuary from Cardiff, has seen a significant boost to its hospitality sector as many concert-goers opt to stay there. Hotels in Bristol reported an “uptick in bookings,” conveniently filling rooms made available by other event cancellations. To manage the influx of fans travelling between cities, Great Western Railway (GWR) is running extra trains over the gig dates. Promotional activities have also sprung up, from a Manchester Aldi being renamed “Aldeh” to Lidl releasing an Oasis-inspired jacket and collaborations with Adidas and Bohemian FC. The band has also advised fans to book slots for tour merchandise pop-ups to handle anticipated queues. In a lighthearted moment, Noel Gallagher was spotted arriving for the Cardiff show by train, eschewing traditional rockstar transport.
Despite the extensive global trek and immense success of the reunion, Alec McKinlay indicated there are currently no plans for new Oasis music. He described the current run of shows as potentially their “last time around,” suggesting this highly anticipated tour might serve as a final, triumphant chapter for the legendary band.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main issues with ticket sales for the Oasis reunion tour?
The launch faced controversy primarily concerning Ticketmaster’s pricing strategy. Standard standing tickets initially listed around £135 plus fees were reportedly re-labelled as “in demand” and sold for significantly higher prices, reaching up to £355 plus fees, without offering any additional benefits. This prompted an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which found Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law regarding transparency and pricing methods.
Where is Oasis playing on their reunion tour and for how long?
The “Oasis Live ’25” reunion tour is a global undertaking comprising 41 shows from July to November 2025. It began in Cardiff, UK, and includes extensive dates across the UK & Ireland (including multiple nights in Manchester and seven shows at Wembley Stadium). The tour then expands internationally with legs planned throughout North America, Oceania (Australia/New Zealand), and South America, concluding in São Paulo, Brazil, on November 23rd.
Why did Oasis originally break up and how did the reunion happen?
Oasis’s original split in 2009 stemmed from years of intense, well-documented feuding and conflict between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. The band dissolved just minutes before a festival appearance in Paris following a final explosive argument. Noel stated at the time that he could no longer work with Liam. After pursuing successful solo careers and facing constant reunion questions, the precise reasons for their reconciliation remain speculative. Theories include Noel’s divorce potentially thawing relations and a mutual desire to end the band’s story on a more positive note than their 2009 bust-up. Reports indicate the brothers are currently getting along better.
