by Ian Gualtiere ’27 on September 18, 2025
Arts & Entertainment
The world was introduced to the Gallagher brothers in April 1994. Their band, Oasis, had just released “Supersonic,” a single that would define British music for the next decade. A string of hit singles, EPs, and albums would propel the Manchester band into the stratosphere. Helmed by creative lyricist and deadpan older brother, Noel, and brought to life by the nasal voice and erratic behavior of younger brother Liam, Oasis would take to the top of global charts thanks to the anthemic songs of “Live Forever,” “Rock N’ Roll Star,” “Slide Away,” “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” and “Champagne Supernova.” Several years of tabloid headline news, apparent legendary stories, and notable fights between the brothers would continuously follow the band after every tour, rowdy night out, and family get-together. Yet the two would make up and continue playing in the band.
By the turn of the century, Oasis had cemented themselves as one of the most popular bands in the world with over 49 million copies sold with only three albums: Definitely Maybe (1994), (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? (1996), and Be Here Now (1997). For the next seven years and four albums, sales would begin to dwindle, and audience and critical reception would start to turn. The band would see various lineup changes, and the brothers would continue to take their frustration out on each other, despite being in high demand for concerts and festivals. The end of Oasis occurred in the summer of 2009, after Liam contracted laryngitis and canceled a show in Chelmsford, England. Several days later, on Aug. 28, another canceled appearance in Paris would prompt Noel to release a statement on the band’s website declaring that he was leaving Oasis, stating that he “simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.” The next 15 years would see bitter tensions between the brothers, public call-outs on television and social media, and proposed reunions for a hefty cost. For the time being, Oasis had remained a pleasant memory for those who experienced their popularity, and an incredible jewel to newcomers who discovered past performances on streaming, television, and documentaries. These sentiments would culminate in a new generation of Oasis fans, calls for a reunion, and overall popularity starting to surge by the early 2020s. Almost 15 years to the very day of the breakup, a new generation was able to witness the announcement of the band reforming and going on tour. All of the band’s social media accounts posted a message with a new image of the brothers on Aug. 27, 2024, stating, “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”
The Gallagher brothers’ travel itinerary started in Wales on July 4, and then headed across the border to play shows in London and their hometown of Manchester. The brothers went north to Scotland and then across the Irish Sea to finish the Europe leg of their tour in Dublin, on Aug. 17. The much-anticipated reunion touched down in Toronto for two shows just a week after Dublin and the tour rolled through the American border towards Chicago for a single concert on Aug. 28. The final three locations for Oasis would be held in East Rutherford, NJ; Pasadena, CA; and Mexico City to finally close the curtain on the North American leg of the tour on Sept. 13. Liam, Noel, and company will eventually travel back to London to play two shows in their home country that were added to the tour due to such high demand. The debaucheries, however, do not end in the Western Hemisphere as the band ships off to South Korea, Japan, and Australia for shows in Oct. and Nov. The tour finally ends in South America as the brothers look to play shows in Argentina, Chile, and eventually Brazil.
Up until this point, nearly 1,917,000 avid fans have lined up for security clearances, bought pints of their favorite beverages, and held their closest friends and relatives to sing along to the reunited Gallagher brothers. I was in attendance for their Dublin show on Aug. 17 in Croke Park. The city was tense, like a family about to host highly esteemed guests for a dinner. Painted murals of Noel and Liam sporting their famous Adidas tracksuits and bucket hats were strewn on nearly every street corner; pubs descended into intoxicated sing-alongs, filled with people trying to belt their hearts out to decades-old songs; and lines of people arrived early to Croke Park, dressed in heavy parkas and John Lennon-esque glasses, in the hopes that they can stand closer to the rock stars than everyone else. My brother and I bought tickets nearly a year ago to stand in the pit of hundreds of avid supporters—drawing deep breaths and personal space were ideas of the past that simply did not matter to us. As the brothers walked out onto the stage, holding hands of reconciliation, utter chaos and jubilation erupted from the nearly 80,000 fans. Many threw their beverages into the air with fervor and started to jump on beat with the music being played. These concerts are not what some critics have called “a money grab from two bitter middle-aged men;” they are the release and relief of a tense world. They have been a refuge for communal love, excitement, and pure rock. As messages of enjoying life, reflecting on the love of music, and defiant individuality (and perhaps a few pints in the middle) were highlighted throughout the Gallaghers’ songs, everyone in the crowd knew that there is a beauty in the experience of life. These concerts are a celebration of life and the promise of living forever. As Noel and Liam flew out of Mexico City this past weekend, fans chanted “¡Viva por siempre!” and “¡Viva Oasis!”