The highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour is set to kick off, with bassist Andy Bell confirming his involvement, much to the excitement of fans. The veteran band, led by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, has booked an extensive 41-date tour for 2025, starting in the UK and Ireland in July before spanning multiple continents. The demand for tickets has been extraordinary, with 10 million people attempting to purchase seats from over 100 countries, resulting in sold-out shows in record time, including three dates at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in August.

Andy Bell, who previously played with Oasis from 1999 to 2009 and also participated in Liam Gallagher's post-Oasis project Beady Eye, brings a wealth of experience, making him ideally suited to the dynamic of the Gallagher brothers. In an interview with Austrian newspaper Oe24, Bell explicitly stated, “I’m in and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ll see each other on tour.” He is expected to be joined by fellow Beady Eye bandmate Gem Archer, along with Paul ‘Bonebone’ Arthurs on guitar and drummer Joey Waronker, forming the live band. The tour will also feature a stellar lineup of support acts, including Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music.

Despite the excitement, Oasis's manager Alec McKinlay has clarified several key points regarding the reunion. McKinlay confirmed that there are no plans for new music from the band, directly addressing earlier rumors fueled by Liam Gallagher's social media posts claiming a new album was “finished.” McKinlay firmly stated, “This is very much the last time around, as Noel’s made clear in the press,” and added, “No, there’s no plan for any new music.” He also put to rest speculation about additional tour dates. McKinlay described the challenge of keeping the comeback tour news under wraps, noting that a “very limited” group knew in advance, and expressed astonishment at the “phenomenal” fan reaction, calling it “good news after all the nonsense that’s been going on in the world.”

However, the lead-up to the tour has not been without controversy, specifically concerning ticket sales. The UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has threatened legal action against Ticketmaster, accusing the company of “misleading” sales methods for the Oasis reunion tour tickets. The CMA had previously warned in March that Ticketmaster had “breached the law” and “misled fans” during the initial sale last summer, which saw thousands paying significantly over the odds.

The watchdog's concerns primarily revolve around two issues. Firstly, Ticketmaster allegedly mislabeled certain seated tickets as ‘platinum,’ selling them for up to 2.5 times the price of equivalent standard tickets without adequately explaining that they offered no additional benefits and were often located in the same stadium area. This practice, the CMA claims, misled customers into believing these tickets were superior. Secondly, Ticketmaster is accused of failing to inform consumers that there were two distinct categories of standing tickets at different prices. The cheaper tickets were reportedly sold first, followed by the more expensive ones, leaving fans waiting without understanding the impending price increase.

Oasis, in turn, has distanced itself from the dynamic pricing controversy. A statement from the band clarified that they were “not aware” the system would be used and that decisions on ticketing and pricing are entirely left to their promoters and management. While initial meetings aimed for a “fair experience for fans, including dynamic ticketing to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting,” the band admitted that “the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations.” They attributed the difficulties to “unprecedented demand,” which made delivering the best possible fan experience impossible. Many Scottish fans, in particular, voiced complaints about paying far more than anticipated for their tickets to the Edinburgh shows due to these sales tactics.

The Oasis reunion, therefore, represents a bittersweet moment for fans: intense excitement for the return of the iconic band, coupled with significant frustration over the ticketing process. While the band is set to embark on a massive global tour, the controversy surrounding ticket sales and the definitive confirmation of no new material or additional dates shape the narrative around this highly anticipated comeback.