Oasis has ignited a global frenzy with their highly anticipated reunion tour, kicking off triumphantly in Cardiff after a 16-year hiatus for brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher. The tour, which includes sold-out shows across the UK, Ireland, and multiple continents, saw an astounding 10 million people from over 100 countries attempting to secure tickets, which vanished in record time. The band's manager, Alec McKinlay, revealed that the news of the comeback was kept under wraps by a limited, trusted group, leading to a phenomenal reaction from fans worldwide who viewed it as a long-awaited positive development.

Key to the live performances are confirmed band members Andy Bell on bass, Gem Archer on guitar, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs also on guitar, and Joey Waronker on drums. Notably, Noel Gallagher publicly credited founding rhythm guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs for the reunion, stating, “if it wasn’t for him, none of this would have happened.” The Gallaghers themselves have remained tight-lipped about the specifics of their reconciliation, letting their anthemic songs do the talking on stage, often appearing hand-in-hand, much to the delight of the 70,000-strong crowds.

Despite the excitement, the tour has been marred by controversy surrounding Ticketmaster’s selling practices. The UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has threatened legal action against Ticketmaster, accusing the company of “misleading” fans during the sale of Oasis tickets last summer. The CMA’s concerns include the sale of ‘platinum’ tickets at significantly inflated prices (up to 2.5 times the standard price) without providing any additional benefits, often for seats in the same stadium area. This practice, the watchdog claims, misled customers into believing these tickets offered a superior experience. Furthermore, Ticketmaster allegedly failed to inform consumers about two different price categories for standing tickets, releasing cheaper ones first before making only more expensive options available, causing frustration and confusion among fans who ended up paying much more than anticipated, some shelling out over £350 for a £150 face value ticket.

Oasis, through a statement shortly after the initial ticket sale, distanced themselves from the dynamic pricing fiasco, clarifying that decisions on ticketing and pricing were entirely left to their promoters and management, and they were