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Oasis Reignites: Reunion Tour Looms with Ticket Troubles and Lineup Drama

Published 3 days ago4 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Oasis Reignites: Reunion Tour Looms with Ticket Troubles and Lineup Drama

The highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour, scheduled for 2025, has garnered significant attention, not only for the band's return but also for controversies surrounding ticket sales and frontman Liam Gallagher's on-stage antics. Bassist Andy Bell, a veteran who played with Oasis from 1999 to 2009 and later with Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye, has officially confirmed his involvement, telling Austrian newspaper Oe24, “I’m in and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ll see each other on tour.” Bell's extensive history with both Gallagher brothers is expected to be an asset in navigating their dynamic.

Bell is anticipated to be joined by several other familiar faces for the live performances. His Beady Eye bandmate and frequent collaborator Gem Archer, who also contributed to Bell's recent solo album, is expected to participate. Additionally, original guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and drummer Joey Waronker are rumored to be part of the touring lineup, further exciting long-time fans.

The reunion tour currently boasts 41 dates for 2025, commencing in July with stadium shows across the UK and Ireland before expanding to multiple continents. Esteemed artists such as Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music are slated to provide support. A highlight of the tour includes three sold-out performances at Scotland’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium on August 8, 9, and 12, for which a staggering 10 million people from over 100 countries reportedly attempted to secure tickets, which sold out in record time.

Despite the excitement, Oasis's manager Alec McKinlay, also a director at Ignition and Big Brother Recordings, has tempered expectations regarding new material and additional tour dates. McKinlay explicitly stated that there are “no plan for any new music,” and described the current tour as “very much the last time around.” This directly refutes earlier claims made by Liam Gallagher on social media, where he had teased fans about a new album being “already finished” and expressed being “blown away” by Noel’s supposed new compositions for the record. McKinlay also detailed the meticulous planning and secrecy involved in orchestrating the comeback, noting the “phenomenal” public reaction when the news finally broke.

The tour's ticket sales, however, became a source of significant controversy, prompting the UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to threaten legal action against Ticketmaster. The CMA initiated an investigation following thousands of complaints from fans who felt misled and paid inflated prices for tickets to the Oasis Live '25 sale. Concerns centered on two main practices: Ticketmaster's sale of ‘platinum’ tickets for up to 2.5 times the price of standard tickets without offering any additional benefits and often for seats in the same stadium areas, and the failure to disclose the existence of two different price categories for standing tickets, with cheaper ones selling out first.

Oasis, through a statement, distanced themselves from the dynamic pricing fiasco, clarifying that the band was “not aware” such a system would be implemented. They attributed ticketing and pricing decisions entirely to their promoters and management. While acknowledging prior meetings aimed at a fair ticket sale strategy, including dynamic ticketing to control touting, the band stated that “the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations” due to “unprecedented demand.” Many fans attending the Scottish shows expressed frustration over paying significantly more than anticipated due to these sales tactics.

Adding to the tour's drama, Liam Gallagher has also been making headlines with his on-stage behavior. He confirmed a ban on throwing his signature tambourine and maracas into the crowd during gigs. This restriction was imposed after an incident at a Wembley show where two individuals allegedly mobbed a female fan to steal his maracas. During the Murrayfield Stadium concerts in Scotland, Liam used his platform to vehemently criticize Edinburgh Council Chiefs, whom he accused of branding Oasis fans as “fat, drunk, and rowdy” in leaked documents. He publicly labeled the Council “f****** slags” and mocked the city's Fringe festival. He also provocatively claimed that Oasis would bring “two f*****g billion” into the city, none of which the Council would ultimately see.

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