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Oasis Reunion Ignites Fan Frenzy: New Lineup, Album & Ticketmaster Scrutiny

Published 3 weeks ago5 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Oasis Reunion Ignites Fan Frenzy: New Lineup, Album & Ticketmaster Scrutiny

The highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour is set to kick off, with bassist Andy Bell confirming his return to the iconic band. Bell, who played with Oasis from 1999 to 2009 and later in Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye, is joined by longtime collaborator Gem Archer, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs on guitar, and drummer Joey Waronker. The band has 41 dates booked for 2025, starting with sold-out stadium shows across the UK and Ireland in July, before heading to multiple continents. This includes three massive performances at Scotland's Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium on August 8, 9, and 12. Support acts for the tour include Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music.

Despite earlier teases from Liam Gallagher on social media about a new Oasis album, band manager Alec McKinlay has definitively ruled out new material and additional tour dates. McKinlay, also director of Ignition and Big Brother Recordings, explained that the decision to keep the comeback under wraps was due to a limited and trusted group of individuals, and the reaction to the announcement was "phenomenal," described as "good news after all the nonsense that’s been going on in the world." Noel Gallagher has also made it clear this reunion is "very much the last time around," offering a chance for fans who haven't seen the band before to experience their live performances.

The tour's ticket sales have not been without controversy, as the UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has threatened legal action against Ticketmaster for "misleading" selling methods. The CMA's investigation, launched after the Oasis Live '25 ticket sale last summer, highlighted concerns that Ticketmaster breached consumer protection law. Specifically, "platinum" tickets were sold at up to 2.5 times the price of standard tickets without offering additional benefits and often being in the same stadium area, misleading customers into believing they were superior. Furthermore, Ticketmaster allegedly failed to inform consumers about two categories of standing tickets at different prices, selling cheaper ones first before releasing more expensive options, causing confusion and frustration among fans.

Oasis, through a statement, placed the blame for the dynamic pricing fiasco on their management, promoters, and Ticketmaster, asserting that the band was "not aware" dynamic pricing would be used. They stated that while prior meetings aimed for a fair fan experience and to reduce touting, "the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations" due to "unprecedented demand." This issue has led to complaints from fans, particularly those attending the Scottish shows, who paid significantly more than anticipated for their tickets.

The Oasis reunion has also had a ripple effect across the music industry. Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno revealed that witnessing Oasis's first reunion show in Cardiff inspired him to fast-track Kasabian's next album, set to drop next year. Pizzorno, whose band has achieved seven successive No1 albums, described the Oasis performance as "surreal and beautiful" and "sonically incredible," providing a poignant and inspiring moment that has directly influenced Kasabian's new material. Additionally, Kasabian's Happenings album track "G.O.A.T" will become the new title track for the 2025/26 Premier League season after Sky Sports' announcement, with a new version featuring Cristale. Pizzorno also touched upon the emotional departure of Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy from the club, acknowledging his immense impact as one of the Premier League's best strikers.

In other entertainment news, rumors are circulating about Kylie Jenner's relationship with Timothee Chalamet following a social media post featuring breakup songs. Musically, Tom Grennan is set to release his new album "Everywhere I Went, Led Me To Where I Didn’t Want To Be," aiming for a third No1, facing competition from Alison Goldfrapp, Conan Gray, and Maroon 5. New singles include Cat Burns' "All This Love," Bambie Thug's "Redrum," Moio's "Figure It Out," and Ashnikko's "Trinkets" from her upcoming album "Smoochies." Noughties fans can look forward to Supergrass's 20th anniversary edition of "Road To Rouen" on October 3, including an unreleased track. A new British band, Velour Fog, blending rock, hip-hop, and grunge, has released "The Zone" after working with producer Nick Tauber.

Away from music releases, comedian Chabuddy G has been named the official PR for England’s Red Roses, the women’s rugby squad, ahead of their Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign, filming a humorous video with the players. Charli XCX married The 1975’s George Daniel after watching a horror film about a serial killer the night before. A biopic about the late Sinead O’Connor, directed by Josephine Decker, is in the works, focusing on her talent and efforts to expose crimes committed by the Catholic church and Irish state. Metallica’s Robert Trujillo shared a touching account of Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral, noting what he perceived as Ozzy's playful presence through changing weather and an incident with Kelly Osbourne's lyrics. Backstage at the Oasis reunion gigs, Noel Gallagher's retro rider included Wagon Wheels. Lastly, Perrie Edwards announced her new single, "If He Wanted To He Would," set to drop soon, while Susan Boyle expressed her delight on social media after Liam Gallagher gave her a shout-out at Oasis's final Murrayfield Stadium show, dedicating "Stand By Me" to her.

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