It is the reunion that many fans believed would never happen, but the word on the street is that an Oasis tour is definitely, maybe on the cards for 2025. The band is rumored to be playing 10 nights at Wembley Stadium and 10 at Manchester’s Heaton Park. These two venues were the sites of some of the band’s final shows on their Dig Out Your Soul tour, before they split in 2009.
Fueling the Speculation
Some of the biggest hints at a possible reunion have come from Oasis’ former frontman Liam Gallagher, who has been fuelling the speculation on X. In response to the news of a possible reunion tour next year, one fan posted on X that “Heaton Park [is] terrible for concert venues,” to which Liam replied: “See you down the front you big fanny.” This seemingly nonchalant response, coupled with his sharing of numerous articles reporting on the reunion, has fueled the fire of fan excitement.
A Legacy Undimmed
Despite spending 15 years apart, Oasis’ popularity doesn’t appear to have waned, with a generation of younger fans enjoying their music as much as the ageing Britpop kids who attended their gigs the first time around. The band’s legacy is undeniable, and their music continues to resonate with people of all ages. This year, Liam Gallagher performed to sellout crowds on a solo anniversary tour of the band’s first album Definitely Maybe, and this weekend headlined Reading and Leeds festivals. This resurgence in popularity suggests that an Oasis reunion would be a highly anticipated event, drawing in fans from all walks of life.
Lineup Uncertainties
With Oasis’ lineup evolving throughout the years, many fans are starting to speculate about exactly who could be involved in a possible reunion aside from the Gallagher brothers. Original guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs has been a mainstay of Liam Gallagher’s solo outfit for several years, but his successor Gem Archer has served as guitar player in Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds since 2017, alongside latter day Oasis drummer Chris Sharrock. This leaves many questions about the potential lineup of the reunion. Original bass player Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan has been absent from the music industry since he left Oasis in 1999, while his successor, Andy Bell, now plays with Oasis’ former label mates Ride, and looks unlikely to join any potential reunion tour. This makes the lineup of the rumored reunion tour all the more uncertain.
A Shifting Relationship
The Gallagher brothers long had an acrimonious relationship, and reportedly did not speak for years after Noel quit the band following an argument before they were due to go on stage at Rock En Seine festival near Paris in August 2009. However, if the whispers are to be believed, hostilities have softened. Liam hinted at a possible reconciliation as far back as 2017, when he tweeted on Christmas Day: “I wanna say Happy Xmas to team NG it’s been a great year thanks for everything looking forward to seeing you tomorrow AS YOU WERE LG x” This tweet, though seemingly simple, sparked rumors of a potential Oasis reunion, which have never really fully died away.
The Event of the Summer
Whatever the lineup, an Oasis reunion will clearly be the event of the summer. It may have felt less likely with every passing year, but some bands are meant to live for ever. The band’s music has a timeless quality, and their reunion could bring back a wave of nostalgia for fans of all ages. The band’s legacy is built on their iconic music and their ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. With a reunion, they could revive the spirit of Britpop and create a new generation of fans.
A Possible Glastonbury Slot
There is also speculation that the band may headline next year’s Glastonbury festival – their last headline slot in 2004 is regarded as one of the worst gigs in the band’s career. The possibility of seeing Oasis play Glastonbury again would be a major draw for festival-goers, and would likely be a huge success. Glastonbury is one of the world’s largest music festivals, and an Oasis performance would be a major coup for the event.
The Brothers' Uncertain Future
Liam Gallagher, one half of the warring brothers at the centre of one of the UK’s most successful ever bands, appears to have confirmed the spinning rumours of an Oasis reunion next summer. The Times newspaper reports that industry insiders are convinced the band will reform, with today’s reports coming 15 years after they played their last gig at the V Festival in the UK in 2009. Reports are that the Wonderwall and Live Forever hitmakers will play Heaton Park in Manchester and Wembley Stadium in London, with whispers of a Glastonbury headliner slot to boot.
From Britpop Kings to Global Icons
Oasis, including frontman Liam and guitarist-songwriter Noel, formed in 1991, and took the UK charts by storm in the late 1990s, during which they spearheaded the era of “Britpop” when homegrown bands dominated the charts. Their first album Definitely Maybe became the fastest selling ever debut album, and their second album 1995 (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? secured their status as the UK’s biggest rock stars. 30 years later and their popularity remains undimmed with 21million listers on Spotify. The brothers’ always tumultuous relationship came to a head in 2009, when they had a physical fight before a concert in Paris, and Noel quit the band. They have not performed together since, but Liam just finished a tour with his band, during which he performed Definitely Maybe to a rapturous reception. He has always apparently been the keener of the two to reunite on stage, but Noel appears to have belatedly agreed, with speculation that his expensive divorce last year contributing to his thought process. Whatever the reason behind the reunion, if and when the rumours are confirmed, Oasis back together on stage is expected to be the event of the summer. Taylor Swift may have owned 2024, but it will be Britpop take two for 2025.
