The highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour is set to kick off, with bassist Andy Bell confirming his involvement. Bell, who played with Oasis from 1999 to 2009 and later with Liam Gallagher’s Beady Eye, is seen as ideally suited to manage the dynamics between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. In an interview with Austrian newspaper Oe24, Bell stated, “I’m in and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ll see each other on tour.”

Bell is expected to be joined by fellow Beady Eye bandmate and longtime collaborator Gem Archer, who also featured on Bell’s recent solo album, Pinball Wanderer. Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs on guitar and drummer Joey Waronker are also rumored to be part of the live band. The reunion tour is extensive, with 41 dates booked for 2025, commencing in stadiums across the UK and Ireland in July before expanding to multiple continents. Notable support acts include Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music.

Among the highlighted venues are three sold-out shows at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on August 8, 9, and 12. The demand for tickets was immense, with 10 million people from over 100 countries attempting to purchase them, resulting in record-breaking sell-out times.

Despite the excitement, Oasis manager Alec McKinlay has dampened expectations for new material or additional tour dates. McKinlay, also a director at Ignition and Big Brother Recordings, explicitly stated that this is “very much the last time around, as Noel’s made clear in the press.” He added, “No, there’s no plan for any new music.” This contradicts earlier social media claims by Liam Gallagher, who had hinted at a new album and praised Noel’s songwriting for it. McKinlay also elaborated on the strict secrecy surrounding the comeback tour’s planning, noting that a very limited and trusted group of people were involved, leading to a phenomenal public reaction upon the announcement.

However, the tour’s launch has not been without controversy, particularly concerning ticket sales. The UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has threatened legal action against Ticketmaster for what it describes as “misleading” methods used during the initial sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets. The CMA had previously warned Ticketmaster in March that it had “breached the law” and “misled fans.”

Key concerns raised by the watchdog include the sale of ‘platinum’ tickets, which were priced up to 2.5 times higher than equivalent standard tickets but offered no additional benefits and were often located in the same stadium areas. This practice allegedly misled customers into believing these tickets were superior. Additionally, Ticketmaster is accused of breaking the law by not disclosing that there were two categories of standing tickets at different price points. It’s reported that all cheaper standing tickets were sold first before the more expensive ones were released, leaving fans waiting without understanding the pricing structure.

Many fans were left infuriated, paying over £350 for tickets with an initial face value of £150 due to dynamic pricing, where costs surged with demand. Oasis responded to the complaints, stating that they were “not aware” that dynamic pricing would be used and that decisions on ticketing and pricing are entirely left to their promoters and management. While an initial strategy aimed for a fair experience and to reduce touting, including dynamic ticketing, the band acknowledged that “the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations” due to unprecedented demand. Fans heading to the Scottish shows were among those who complained about paying significantly more than anticipated due to these sales tactics. The CMA’s investigation continues to scrutinize Ticketmaster’s practices, particularly regarding the transparency of ticket pricing and categories.