U2 and Noel Gallagher Surprised Fans with Oasis Cover 7 Years Ago

Seven years ago on the “Joshua Tree” tour, U2 had a memorable moment when Noel Gallagher joined them to cover Oasis’ iconic track “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” This special collaboration took place during U2’s performance at Twickenham Stadium in Twickenham, England, and was a delightful surprise for the audience.

The concert was largely typical in terms of the setlist, although Bono took a moment to serenade his daughter, Eve Hewson, with “Happy Birthday to You.” The show seemed to conclude with “The Little Things That Give You Away,” an unreleased track at the time from their album “Songs of Experience.” However, the evening wasn’t over yet as Gallagher took the stage.

“Thank you for bringing your High Flying Birds with us,” Bono acknowledged Gallagher. “May you take us somewhere else, somewhere that only you can?” Gallagher began the performance by singing the first verse of “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” as Bono watched. The crowd joined in for the chorus, creating a magical, communal experience. The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. complemented the moment by playing softly in the background.

During the song’s solo, The Edge added his own twist to the iconic guitar solo. While it started similarly to the original, his spin gave it a unique flavor. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds were the opening act for several of U2’s “Joshua Tree” tour shows. This wasn’t the first time Gallagher had opened for U2; back in 1997, Oasis had joined U2 on their “PopMart” tour, opening two shows in Oakland, California.

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” is one of Oasis’ most beloved songs, alongside “Wonderwall.” Despite Oasis’ split, Gallagher continues to include it in his setlists during concerts. His relationship with Bono and U2 is clearly close-knit. Inhaler, fronted by Bono’s son Elijah Hewson, even opened a few shows for Gallagher and the High Flying Birds, further cementing their bond.

The 2017 “Joshua Tree” tour, not to be confused with the original 1987 tour, celebrated the album’s thirtieth anniversary. U2 performed the entire album across North America and Europe, delighting fans with nostalgic tracks. The tour was extended into 2019, taking the band to Oceania and Asia for 15 additional shows. Despite some tweaks in the setlist, the constant was always the full performance of “The Joshua Tree,” from “Where the Streets Have No Name” to “Mothers of the Disappeared.”

The 2019 leg was the last tour U2 embarked on before they kicked off a 40-night residency in Las Vegas at the Sphere. These shows commemorated their 1991 album “Achtung Baby,” with U2 performing the album in its entirety each night, along with some of their greatest hits.

Since their debut album “Boy” in 1980, U2 has had an illustrious career. They followed up swiftly with “October” and “War” in 1982 and 1983. “The Unforgettable Fire” came next, followed by their monumental success, “The Joshua Tree.” Over the years, the band has released 10 more studio albums, the latest being “Songs of Surrender.” This collection features 40 re-recorded tracks from their back catalog and ties in with Bono’s memoir, “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.”

_Source: Clutchpoints_