Oasis reunion: Will Noel and Liam Gallagher ever reconcile?
Here's what's happened over the years...
With many fans clamouring for an Oasis reunion, it's mainly in the hands of the brothers Gallagher - Liam and Noel. But while the barbs thrown between the brothers have, on occasion, been side-splittingly funny, they’ve also at times been quite nasty. With hints at a reunion even dripping in this year, we've recapped all the signs so far.
Yet for all that, the Gallagher brothers have continued to delight, amuse and entertain long after Oasis bit the dust. After Liam accused Noel of allegedly "blocking" the use of Oasis songs in his film Knebworth 22, let’s have a look at the edited highlights of one of the 21st century’s more intriguing spectator sports...
When did Oasis split up?
There were quite a few different moments throughout the years where the band were on the rocks, but Oasis officially split in August 2009 after Noel quit before going on stage in Paris. Since then, fans have been desperate for an Oasis reunion.
Why Did Oasis split up?
Now that's a good question. There are many reasons for the Oasis split, but it all boils down to the fact that brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher had a very fractious relationship in the band. Read on for details of what happened...
Where did Liam and Noel Gallagher's disagreements begin?
Back in 2005, Noel Gallagher gave an interview to Spin magazine where he said of Liam: "I can make him make decisions that he thinks are his, but really they’re mine. Our relationship’s the same, but we’re getting older. Instead of it all ending up in insults and fist fighting, it’s more veiled psychological warfare through the press, which I excel at, thank you very much.”
At a press conference with Absolute Radio in 2011, Noel said: "I never had enough of Oasis, I had enough of him. Our own relationship was never as bad as people made out. It kind of all started to unravel, if I’m being honest, when he started his clothing label, and he demanded that he be allowed to advertise it in the Oasis tour programme, which I was against because I didn’t think that it was right for him to be flogging his gear to our fans.
"There was a massive row about that and it kind of went back and forward for a bit as I remember it, and in the end I said, 'Alright, if you want to advertise in the programme, how much?' and he couldn't get his head around that.
"I was like, 'Well, you know if Electrolux want to advertise kettles in the tour programme, they pay us money right? So how much are you gonna pay me', and he hit the roof and it slowly went downhill from there."
How did Oasis split?
Things came to head when Noel Gallagher quit Oasis just five minutes before going on stage at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. A press statement from Noel reads: “I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.”
Noel released a more detailed statement on his blog a day later: 'Dearly beloved, it is with a heavy heart and a sad face that I say this to you this morning. As of last Friday, August 28, I have been forced to leave the Manchester rock ‘n’ roll pop group Oasis.
'The details are not important and of too great a number to list. But I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. And the lack of support and understanding from my management and bandmates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.
'I would like firstly to offer my apologies to them kids in Paris who’d paid money and waited all day to see us only to be let down AGAIN by the band. Apologies are probably not enough, I know, but I’m afraid it’s all I’ve got. While I’m on the subject, I’d like to say sorry to the good people of V Festival that experienced the same thing.
'Again, I can only apologise – although I don’t know why, it was nothing to do with me. I was match-fit and ready to be brilliant. Alas, other people in the group weren’t up to it. In closing I would like to thank all the Oasis fans, all over the world. The last 18 years have been truly, truly amazing (and I hate that word, but today is the one time I’ll deem it appropriate).
'A dream come true. I take with me glorious memories. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a family and a football team to indulge. I’ll see you somewhere down the road. It’s been a f--kin’ pleasure.'
Oasis' 2010 BRIT Award win
Accepting the BRIT Award honouring ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ as the Best Album Of The Last 30 Years, Liam thanks all of Oasis except, somewhat predictably, his brother Noel.
"Listen kids, I wanna thank Bonehead, Guigs bassist Paul McGuigan, Alan White and the best f--king fans in the world," he said, before chucking both the microphone and award into the audience and strutting off the stage.
Liam Gallagher speaks out
In 2011, Liam told The Quietus: “It had been brewing for a bit. There was a lot of s--t going down and a lot of s--t being written about my band and s--t in the press and all that, and Noel being so f---ing close to the press.
"He was having a word with some of his friends in higher places and if it was me, I’d be f--king pulling knobheads up and saying to journalists, 'Wind your f--king neck in a bit.' But you know, his mates are more important than his brother or his f--king band, so f--k him.”
It was then in 2024 that Liam told former Oasis bassist Andy Bell not to get people’s 'hopes up' over a potential reunion - after the Ride singer/guitarist said they "probably will" reunite at some point, albeit not any time soon.
Shortly after the comments, Liam took to Twitter to write: 'Andy bell from ride the shoe gazing phenomenon should really not be getting people’s hopes up it’s not big and and it’s not clever LG x'. (sic)
Noel Gallagher's reasons for Oasis split
Noel spoke about the split at a press conference in 2011 for his new band, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, explaining how things had come to a head in Paris.
“Liam was quite violent,” he recalls. “At that point there hadn’t been any physical violence, but it was a bit like WWF wrestling, and he was like the Macho Man Randy Savage - he was like, ‘Ooh yeah’ and all that going on - and it’s like, ‘F--king hell!’ Liam does the ‘F--k you and f--k you and f--k you’ and he kind of storms out of the dressing room.
“Then he kind of leaves, he goes out the dressing room. For whatever reason he went to his own dressing room and he came back with a guitar and he started wielding it like an axe.
"I’m not f--king kidding. And I’m making light of it because it’s kind of what I do, but it’s a real unnecessary violent act, and he’s swinging this guitar around, and he nearly took my face off with it.
“It ended up on the floor and I put it out of its misery. There were people who were in the band, not saying anything, kind of looking the other way. It wasn’t even a big dressing room. And I was like, ‘You know what? I’m f--king out of here.” And at that point the tour manager came in and said, 'Five minutes!'
“I kind of got in the car and I sat there for five minutes, and I just said “F--k it, I can’t do it anymore. And I regret it really because we only had two gigs left - if I had my time again I’d have gone back and done the gigs.
"We may never have split up, we may just have taken a hiatus and we could have all gone and done our other things, but Liam always said he would bring down Armageddon in the end, that’s the way he kind of likes things to be, but there you go.
"But at the end of the day, he obviously doesn’t like me, but he doesn’t like me in a violent way. I don’t get on with him, but he takes it to a level which for me... There's no point in being in a band with people you fight with, what’s the point? Just go on and do bigger tours and make more money and just always be arguing? It’s just nonsense, so I kind of did everybody a favour and I left."
Liam wasn't happy with Noel’s version of events, especially when the older Gallagher claims that his younger brother bailed out of a scheduled V Festival performance because “…he had a hangover. He claimed he had laryngitis, but whatever.” Noel later apologised when Liam threatened to sue him for libel.
You can watch the interview here.
WATCH: Noel Gallagher talks Oasis split reasons
Beady Eye's performance of Wonderwall at the London Olympics 2012
Liam’s post-Oasis band Beady Eye were scheduled to play the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, but Noel only granted permission for the organisers to use the new version of ‘Wonderwall’ shortly before the performance.
Oasis reunion rumours: Everything that's been said so far
2013: Have Liam and Noel Gallagher made-up?
There have been some nice words said over the years. In 2013, Liam told NME, "I like Noel outside the band. Human Noel - that's my brother - I f--king adore him and I'd do anything for him."
2014: Noel expressed his sadness about the split of Beady Eye
He told Q Magazine, "I'm very f--king sad about Beady Eye, because I know they really wanted to make it work." He offered support and assured fans, "Liam won't stay out of the limelight for long. I think Liam should make a solo record – put his balls on the line, put his name up in lights and go for it."
2015: Liam goes to watch Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Liam Gallagher even went to see Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in concert tweeting a backstage pass and the words 'Keeping it in the family...LG x'
2016: Oasis reunion rumours swirl
Wait! Could an Oasis reunion be on the cards? Hopes are lifted when The Daily Star quotes Noel saying he'll do it if the money's right. And how much would that be? "For twenty million quid, one gig – that is good money, isn't it?" Let's not get too excited, though, as Noel then adds: "But I have never had that offer from anyone yet."
Noel does concede that it could still happen, but it's best if no one holds their breath, "There might come a day one day where it might seem like a good idea, but I have so much I want to do. I have so much to do on my own that I don't really see it to be honest."
2017: Noel Gallagher collaborates with Blur's Damon Albarn
Proving that nothing is impossible, a decades-old feud is finally laid to rest when Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher collaborate on the Gorillaz single, 'We've Got The Power', which also singer Jehnny Beth of post-punk outfit Savages.
Speaking of working with Noel, Damon Albarn said, "I thought it might be cute, the idea of us singing about the power to love each other. Of course, no one's asked Liam what he thinks about the song yet. No doubt he'd have a fantastic one-liner about what a bunch of f--king k---heads we are."
testWatch the video on YouTube.
2017: One Love Manchester
With his solo career taking off, Liam Gallagher is a surprise guest at the One Love Manchester benefit gig, which raised money for the victims and families by those caught up in a terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in the city.
Despite rumours of an Oasis reunion, Noel Gallagher doesn't play, although Liam buries the hatchet with testColdplay's Chris Martin. Having previously called the Coldplay frontman a "geography teacher", a "vicar" and a "plant pot" among other memorable insults, the pair play an emotional rendition of 'Live Forever'.
2017: Noel headlines We Are Manchester
Although absent from One Love Manchester, Noel Gallagher headlined the 'We Are Manchester' charity show at the Manchester Arena. Noel became visibly overwhelmed during his performance of 'Don't Look Back In Anger' – which became an anthem in Manchester following the tragic event.
2017: An olive branch at Christmas
What with Christmas coming and it being the season of goodwill, Liam offers a fraternal greeting to his brother via Twitter.
2017: Noel Gallagher's performance on Jools Holland
An appearance by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds on 'Later With Jools Holland' becomes a huge talking point when band member Charlotte Marionneau snips a pair of scissors into a microphone during 'She Taught Me How To Fly'.
Liam joked after, "I'm looking for somebody to peel some spuds live on stage tnight at this gig in Bethnal Green," he writes on – where else? - Twitter. "Must have own peeler." sic] However his request is actually fulfilled... [testWatch the moment on YouTube.
Speaking to Absolute Radio's Frank Skinner, Noel Gallagher claims that he knew that the scissors would wind his brother up. Explaining how it came about, Noel then said, "I leaned into my bass player and said, 'Do you hear that sound?' and he went, 'What the scissors?' and I went, 'No, that's the sound of Liam glassing himself when he sees this!' "In Manchester, the night it aired, I was in the front seat of a car and when it stopped at the traffic lights, the car got surrounded by a load of geezers just going, 'Sciiiiiissooooors!'" testWatch him explain right here.
2018: Liam Gallagher is nominated for Best British Solo Artist at the BRIT Awards
After releasing his debut album 'As You Were' in October 2017, Liam was delighted to receive a nomination for Best British Solo Artist at the BRIT Awards 2018. Although he missed out to Stormzy, Liam did step in to perform 'Live Forever' as a tribute to the Manchester Arena victims, after Ariana Grande was forced to pull out due to illness.
2018: Liam reaches out to Noel and calls for an Oasis reunion
In July, he tweeted, 'Earth to noel listen up rkid I hear your doing gigs where people can't drink alcohol now that's the BeZarist thing you've done yet. I forgive you now let's get the BIG O back together and stop f--king about the drinks are on me LG.'
2019: Noel says Liam's tweets are 'a nail in the coffin' for Oasis reunion
In an interview with The Big Issue, testNoel addressed Liam's somewhat regular tweeting on the subject of an Oasis reunion. "It's strange behaviour for someone who is gagging for me to pick up the phone and say let's do it," Noel explained. "He'd put his whole life on hold to get Oasis back together but every tweet he sends out, it's another nail in the coffin of that idea."
Speaking to Liam directly, Noel added, "If you think for one minute, I am going to share a stage with you after what you've said you are more of a moron than you look." Liam, of course, wrote about the interview on Twitter.
2020: Liam says he plans to retire as solo artist after Noel 'begs' for Oasis reunion
In a less-than-shocking move, Liam wrote on Twitter in January that testNoel had 'begged' him for an Oasis reunion. However, testNoel shot down Liam's claims, saying, "RE: 'The Reunion', sadly I think the other fella must have been on the leftover Christmas Babycham. For the record, until anyone hears it from ME, it's not happening."
In February, Liam took to Twitter yet again, writing, 'We've been offered 100 million pounds for a tour still not enough for the greedy soul oh well stay young LG.'
2020: Noel takes the bait
Taking the bait, Noel issued his own tweet a day later, 'To whoever might be arsed: I am not aware of any offer from anybody for any amount of money to reform the legendary Mancunian Rock'n'Roll group Oasis. I am fully aware though that someone has a single to promote so that's maybe where the confusion lies.'
2020: Liam says an Oasis reunion is 'inevitable'
Despite everything that has gone before, Liam is staunchly optimistic about an Oasis reunion, telling NME in March, "The geezer's ego's out of control. Let me tell you this, the money has been offered and he knows about it. He's obviously gonna say no, because he'd like to be the person to break the news to people because he's the oracle, and obviously I'm his little brother who's doing well and I'm here to spoil the f--king party.
"It's gonna happen believe you me. It's gonna happen very f--king soon because he's greedy and he loves money and he knows that it's got to happen soon or it won't happen."
2020: Liam calls on Noel for an Oasis reunion to support NHS workers
testLiam Gallagher has urged Noel to reunite Oasis, in order to support the NHS. Since the start of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic lockdown measures in the UK, Liam has sent several tweets aimed at Noel Gallagher, testpleading to reunite the 90s legends. He later stated that the gig will happen 'with or without Noel'.
However, Noel has apparently stated that he thinks testmobile phones would taint a reunion, according to photographer Kevin Cummins who spoke to The Quietus. He's also discovered a testpreviously-unreleased song called 'Don't Stop', which was thought to be lost, and was recorded around 2005 at a sound check in Hong Kong.
2020: Liam claims Noel turned £100 million for an Oasis reunion
Appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday 28th November, Liam alleged that testNoel had been offered £100 million to reunite Oasis, "I know for a fact there's nothing left on the table. We did have a good crack. We did everything. We didn't leave anything on the table. Like, nothing.
"When someone offers you 100 million pounds to do a few gigs and that man, you're going to go, 'Alright then yeah…' there was a lot of money knocking about. It was 100 million pounds to do a tour and that and I'm thinking, 'I'm not a d---head, know what I mean? I'll have a bit of that.' He's not into it is he? He's after a knighthood isn't he?
"You can ask him (about an Oasis reunion) next time. For (a) hundred million quid I'd do that..." he added, before cheekily saying, "Never say never."
2021: Liam once again takes to Twitter to confirm the band will get back together.
He's still banging the reunion drum. After a fan tweeted him to say: 'HEY LIAM,i need you to give me hope that oasis will come back please i'm 19 years old i want to live that concert, i HATE not being born earlier,' he replied with a definitive, 'It's gonna happen.'
2022: Blur's Graham Coxon wants to mediate
Former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon offered to help mediate an Oasis reunion in October 2022, which should raise a smile for fans of the Gallagher brothers as the bands were well known to be each others' nemesis back in the day. However, Graham was genuine in his offer, saying: "Knock those brothers' heads together."
2022: Liam accuses Noel of blocking Oasis songs in Knebworth film
Liam said in October that there would be no Oasis songs in his upcoming documentary film Knebworth 22 as Noel had allegedly blocked them. Asked by a fan if the Oasis tracks will feature, Liam replied: 'No oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them he also blocked the oasis I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute he's a horrible little man.'
2023: AI generates "lost Oasis songs"
AISIS created an eight-track album called 'The Lost Tapes Vol.1' using the latest AI technology in response to fans' ongoing wait for an Oasis reunion. Hastings band Breezer wrote the music/lyrics and recorded for the album, however AI was used to replace the singer's voice with Liam Gallagher's trademark rock n' roll drawl.
Unsurprisingly, Liam was asked about AISIS' 'The Lost Tapes Vol.1' and he was highly complimentary about it. When asked 'What about AISIS, Liam?', the singer responded: "Mad as f---, I sound mega!" Another fan asked if he'd heard the whole record, and he replied: "Not the album heard a tune it's better than all the other snizzle out there."
2024: Liam responds to Andy Bell's reunion comments
In April 2024, Liam took to Twitter to respond to comments made by former Oasis bassist Andy Bell, who played with the band for a decade. Asked about the possibility of a reunion in an interview, Andy said: "Yeah, they probably will. I think yeah, they probably will do it. I don't think it looks likely right now, but life is long, isn't it?" He then commented on how the Stone roses reunited despite there seemingly being 'bad blood' between members.
Liam, however, took to Twitter to respond to Andy, telling him he should 'really not be getting people's hopes up'.
So there you have it... We'll just have to see!
WATCH: Noel Gallagher - New Music, Wayne Rooney and Bono
You can hear hits from Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher and Oasis on the Absolute Radio playlist.
Read more:
Noel Gallagher: Everything you need to know about the Oasis legend
Liam Gallagher: From Oasis to Beady Eye to solo megastar