Andy Bell has officially confirmed his plans to rejoin Oasis for their highly anticipated reunion tour in 2025, which is set to include a series of dates in Scotland. Bell, who served as Oasis's bassist from 1999 to 2009 and continued his collaboration with Liam Gallagher in Beady Eye, is considered uniquely suited to navigate the potentially challenging dynamics between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher during extended periods on the road. His extensive musical background also includes being a member of the acclaimed Creation Records band Ride and Mantra of the Cosmos. Bell confirmed his involvement in a recent interview with Austrian newspaper Oe24, stating, “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.”

Beyond Bell, the live band for the reunion tour is expected to feature other long-standing collaborators. Gem Archer, who was a bandmate in Beady Eye and also contributed to Bell's recent solo album, “Pinball Wanderer,” is anticipated to join. Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs is rumored to be on guitar, alongside drummer Joey Waronker, completing a line-up that brings together familiar faces from the band's history.

The Oasis reunion tour comprises 41 dates booked for 2025, kicking off with stadium shows across the UK and Ireland in July before expanding to multiple continents. The tour will feature several prominent support acts, including Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music. Among the most eagerly awaited performances are the sold-out shows at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, scheduled for August 8, 9, and 12. The demand for tickets was immense, with reports indicating that 10 million people from over 100 countries attempted to purchase tickets, which sold out in record time.

Despite the immense excitement surrounding the reunion, Oasis's manager, Alec McKinlay, has provided definitive statements regarding future plans. McKinlay, who also holds director positions at Ignition and Big Brother Recordings, has firmly stated that there are no intentions for the band to release any new music. He explicitly declared, “No, there’s no plan for any new music.” Furthermore, McKinlay put an end to speculation about additional tour dates, clarifying, “This is very much the last time around, as Noel’s made clear in the press.” He reflected on the strict confidentiality maintained during the planning phase of the comeback, noting that only a very limited and trusted group was aware, and described the public reaction upon the announcement as “phenomenal,” perceiving it as “Finally, some good news after all the nonsense that’s been going on in the world.”

However, the launch of the Oasis reunion tour has been overshadowed by significant controversy surrounding its ticket sales. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has taken a strong stance, issuing a threat of legal action against Ticketmaster for its “misleading” sales methods employed during the ticket sales last summer. The watchdog had previously warned in March that Ticketmaster had “breached the law” and “misled fans,” which initiated an investigation following widespread complaints. Thousands of fans reported paying exorbitant prices, with some spending over £350 for tickets that originally had a face value of £150, largely due to demand-driven price surges without clear warnings.

The CMA's investigation highlighted two primary areas where Ticketmaster is alleged to have breached consumer protection law. Firstly, the sale of certain seated tickets labeled as ‘platinum’ for prices up to “near 2.5 times the price of equivalent standard tickets” was deemed problematic. The CMA contends that Ticketmaster failed to adequately explain that these 'platinum' tickets offered no additional benefits and were often located in the same stadium areas as standard tickets, thereby misleading purchasers into believing they were securing a superior experience. Secondly, Ticketmaster is accused of breaking the law by not informing consumers that there were two distinct categories of standing tickets available at different price points. It was alleged that all cheaper tickets were sold first before the more expensive options were released, leading to prolonged waits for customers who were unaware they would ultimately have to pay more.

In response to the “dynamic pricing fiasco,” Oasis released a statement asserting that the band was “not aware” that such a system would be utilized for their ticket sales. They clarified that decisions regarding ticketing and pricing are left to their promoters and management. The statement explained that while initial meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster, and the band's management aimed for a “positive ticket sale strategy, which would be a fair experience for fans, including dynamic ticketing to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting,” the “execution of the plan failed to meet expectations.” Oasis maintained that “All parties involved did their utmost to deliver the best possible fan experience, but due to the unprecedented demand this became impossible to achieve.” This situation caused considerable frustration for many fans, particularly those planning to attend the Scottish shows, who found themselves paying significantly more than anticipated for their reunion concert tickets.