Oasis, the veteran pop combo led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, is set for a highly anticipated reunion tour in 2025, with bassist Andy Bell confirming his involvement. Bell, who played with Oasis from 1999 to 2009 and later with Liam Gallagher's post-Oasis project Beady Eye, expressed his excitement for the tour in an interview with Austrian newspaper Oe24, stating, “I’m in and I’m really looking forward to it.” His extensive history with the Gallaghers positions him well to navigate the dynamics of their reunion.

Bell is expected to be joined by other long-time collaborators, including his Beady Eye bandmate 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 tour comprises 41 dates booked for 2025, commencing at stadiums across the UK and Ireland in July before extending to multiple continents. Notable support acts confirmed for the tour include Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage The Elephant, and Ball Park Music.

The demand for tickets was astronomical, with 10 million people from over 100 countries attempting to purchase them, leading to a record-time sell-out. The band is scheduled to play three sold-out shows at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on August 8, 9, and 12.

Despite the excitement, Oasis manager Alec McKinlay has definitively ruled out the possibility of new material from the band and additional tour dates. McKinlay, also a director at Ignition and Big Brother Recordings, clarified that this reunion is “very much the last time around, as Noel’s made clear in the press.” He explained that the limited group of trusted individuals involved in planning the comeback tour managed to keep the news under wraps, leading to a phenomenal reaction when it was finally announced. This statement puts to rest earlier speculation fueled by Liam Gallagher on social media, where he had teased fans about a new album, claiming he was “blown away” by Noel’s new material.

The successful ticket sales were, however, overshadowed by controversy surrounding Ticketmaster’s selling methods. The UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has threatened legal action against Ticketmaster, citing “misleading” practices during the sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets. The CMA had previously warned in March that Ticketmaster had “breached the law” and “misled fans.”

The watchdog’s concerns primarily revolve around two issues. Firstly, Ticketmaster labeled certain seated tickets as ‘platinum,’ selling them for up to 2.5 times the price of equivalent standard tickets, without clearly explaining that these offered no additional benefits and were often located in the same stadium areas. This practice allegedly misled customers into believing platinum tickets provided a superior experience. Secondly, Ticketmaster failed to inform consumers about the existence of two categories of standing tickets at different prices, selling all the cheaper tickets first before releasing the more expensive ones, leaving fans confused and frustrated by unexpected price surges.

Many fans were infuriated, with some paying over £350 for tickets that initially had a face value of £150. Oasis issued a statement shortly after the sale, disclaiming responsibility for the dynamic pricing fiasco. The band clarified that decisions on ticketing and pricing were left entirely to their promoters and management, and they were at no time aware that dynamic pricing would be implemented. While acknowledging that prior meetings aimed for a fair ticket sale strategy, including dynamic ticketing to manage prices and reduce touting, the band admitted that “the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations” due to unprecedented demand. The CMA’s investigation continues, and fans heading to the Scottish dates have also voiced complaints about paying significantly more than planned due to these sales tactics.