Oasis: A Unique Band – Reunion Hype is Fully Justified

Maybe… definitely? Almost 30 years since the release of Oasis’s debut album, it seems beyond doubt that the news fans have been craving for 15 years is on the horizon. Yesterday, Noel and Liam Gallagher, along with the official Oasis account, tweeted a time and date: 8am, 27/09/2024, in the band’s iconic font.

The idea of an Oasis reunion has been floated so often that it almost felt like wishful thinking. But now, after both brothers have found success as individual artists, the time seems right. Liam has established himself as a solo artist, despite his band Beady Eye not faring as well. Noel, on the other hand, has found success with his High Flying Birds. Both have seen their fair share of life’s milestones: marriages, kids, and divorces. Liam has even traded some harder liquor for apple cider vinegar.

Early reports may have been a bit premature, but a series of live shows next year seems like a strong possibility if a reunion is indeed happening. While a new Oasis album might not be at the top of anyone’s wishlist, millions of fans would give anything for a ticket to see the band play Wembley Stadium in London or Heaton Park in Manchester.

Some suggest that the band may even exceed Taylor Swift’s record of eight shows at Wembley in a single tour. However, her record is for a solo artist. Oasis would need to sell out nine shows to surpass Take That’s 2011 record during their Progress tour, when they reunited with Robbie Williams.

Skeptics might wonder why a band reunion is causing so much excitement, given that many Britpop bands have done the same in recent years. Blur returned to Wembley Stadium in July 2023, and Pulp sold out Finsbury Park the same month as part of their UK tour.

But no other band of that era compares to Oasis when it comes to their dramatic story: humble beginnings, tough childhoods, and a meteoric rise to global fame. Their journey included wild partying, excess, and finally a massive fallout in 2009 when Liam and Noel clashed backstage at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. And now, it seems, reconciliation is on the table.

And then there are the songs. The acoustic intro of “Wonderwall” and the sing-along chorus of “Cigarettes and Alcohol” have a timeless appeal. Although I never saw Oasis live, I did experience a particularly spirited rendition of the latter at the NME Awards in 2018, where Liam was honored with the Godlike Genius award. Despite their infamous persona in the press and on the streets, their music fostered a sense of community.

I was born into the Britpop era. “Definitely Maybe” and “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” were released when I was still a toddler. My older brother gifted me “Don’t Believe the Truth” for my 13th birthday. Despite critics’ views, I remember the exhilaration of hearing the opener “Turn Up the Sun.” Songs like “Lyla” and “The Importance of Being Idle” still resonate deeply.

In the Nineties, even if you weren’t a fan, it felt like Oasis was everywhere. Their music dominated radio stations, and their faces were splashed across newspapers. Each week seemed to bring a new record or a fresh scandal. Critics have noted that their live shows were hit or miss, often depending on Liam’s sobriety.

Sources close to the band have suggested that a reunion has been in the works for a while. Despite his jabs at Noel, Liam has always been open about his desire to reunite. In 2017, he praised Noel’s songwriting and admitted he missed being in a band together, even though he wasn’t fond of interviews.

Fans observing their social media interactions may have noticed fewer swipes and more compliments. One significant clue about their mended relationship came when Noel, in a recent interview, praised Liam’s voice, describing its unique attitude and tone.

“I don’t have the same attitude as him,” Noel admitted, comparing Liam’s voice to “a shot of tequila” while likening his own to “half a Guinness.” He even joked, “Liam’s is 10 shots of tequila on a Friday night.”

“I would prefer to be in a band, and we should never ever have split up,” Liam said in 2017. They needed a “good old chat about what’s what,” and it seems they finally had that conversation.