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Oasis Reunion Chaos: Andy Bell Confirms Line-up Amid Ticketmaster Legal Threat

Published 4 days ago3 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Oasis Reunion Chaos: Andy Bell Confirms Line-up Amid Ticketmaster Legal Threat

The highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour is set to bring the iconic band back to stages across the globe, with bassist Andy Bell confirming his involvement. Bell, who previously played with Oasis from 1999 to 2009 and later with Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye, expressed his excitement, telling Austrian newspaper Oe24, “I’m in and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ll see each other on tour. Or rather, you’ll see me. I’ll hardly be able to see you in the audience.” His extensive history with the Gallagher brothers positions him well to navigate the dynamics of their reunion.

The live band for the 2025 tour is also expected to feature Bell's former Beady Eye bandmate Gem Archer, along with Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs on guitar and drummer Joey Waronker. Oasis has scheduled an extensive 41-date tour for 2025, commencing in July with stadium shows across the UK and Ireland, before extending to multiple continents. Notable support acts for various dates include Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music.

Among the most eagerly awaited dates are the sold-out shows at Scotland's Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium on August 8, 9, and 12. The overwhelming demand for tickets saw an astounding 10 million people from over 100 countries attempt to purchase them, leading to a record-breaking sell-out time. This unprecedented demand, however, was overshadowed by significant controversy surrounding the ticketing process.

The UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has launched an investigation and threatened legal action against Ticketmaster over its "misleading" methods during the sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets. The CMA expressed concerns that Ticketmaster may have "breached consumer protection law" by allegedly misleading fans. Key issues included the sale of 'platinum' tickets at up to 2.5 times the price of equivalent standard tickets, without clear explanation that they offered no additional benefits and were often located in the same stadium areas. Furthermore, Ticketmaster reportedly failed to inform consumers about the existence of two different price categories for standing tickets, releasing all cheaper tickets first before the more expensive ones, leaving fans waiting without understanding the pricing structure.

Thousands of fans were infuriated, paying significantly "over the odds" for tickets, with some expenditures exceeding £350 for tickets originally valued at £150. The controversy, initially highlighted by a CMA warning in March about Ticketmaster "breaching the law," escalated into widespread complaints. In response, Oasis issued a statement clarifying their position, asserting that decisions on ticketing and pricing are entirely left to their promoters and management. The band stated they were "not aware" that dynamic pricing would be used, despite prior meetings aiming for a fair fan experience and reduced touting. They attributed the failure to meet expectations to the "unprecedented demand."

Despite the excitement and the ticketing issues, the band's manager, Alec McKinlay, has firmly ruled out the release of any new material and the announcement of additional tour dates. McKinlay, also director of Ignition and Big Brother Recordings, stated, “This is very much the last time around, as Noel’s made clear in the press. It’s a chance for fans who haven’t seen the band to see them, or at least for some of them to.” He unequivocally added, “No, there’s no plan for any new music.” This puts to rest previous rumours, fanned by Liam Gallagher on social media, who had claimed the band had "already finished" a new album and that he was "blown away" by Noel's new material. McKinlay also reflected on the challenge of keeping the comeback tour news under wraps, noting the "phenomenal" public reaction once it was announced.

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