Both Liam and Noel have enjoyed success in their solo ventures (Image: Getty)
Music’s biggest reunion in decades is officially happening – bringing to an end 15 years of bitter and often hilarious insults between the Gallagher brothers. Long before Oasis split in 2009 after 15 years of megastardom, Liam and his older brother Noel were as famous for their fallouts as for their classic anthems Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger and Live Forever.
But to the delight of their millions of fans worldwide, the pair have finally made up. And the divorce between Noel and his marketing executive wife Sara MacDonald is believed to be a pivotal factor in why he and Liam are talking again.
Noel and Sara separated in 2023 after 22 years together – and their relationship sadly helped ensure the brothers’ animosity continued long after their band broke up, with Liam accusing Sara of selling stories about Oasis to the press and slating her publicly.
While other causes are behind Oasis reuniting, it’s seemingly no coincidence the brothers were back on speaking terms only after Noel and Sara’s break-up. Some critics have speculated the Oasis reunion tour is being confirmed today because Noel needs to pay a hefty divorce bill.
Others have hinted the Gallaghers’ feud was largely fictitious and that they were only waiting for the right financial offer. But that’s been consistently denied by everyone close to both brothers.
Their refusal to speak to each other was real, with Noel bitterly hurt that Liam was so vitriolic about his wife. Although the brothers will, of course, make a fortune from their concerts – an estimated £50m payday believed to at Wembley Stadium and homecoming shows at Manchester’s Heaton Park, with tickets going on sale on Friday – there was no way Oasis could get back together unless the pair had settled their genuine differences.
From the moment Oasis first charted in 1994, their rows were legendary. One fierce argument caught on tape by music journalist Simon Williams, about the merits or otherwise of wild behaviour by rock stars, even made the singles chart when it was released under the name of Wibbling Rivalry in 1995.
Their contrasting similarities were perhaps best described by Noel, when, quoting from an obscure 1998 song by rockers Caesars, he said in 2009 of Liam’s anger issues: “He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.” Their complex relationship spilled over into point scoring over their success as solo musicians.
Having written the vast majority of Oasis’ songs, Noel initially enjoyed the greater glory. His new band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds had hits including AKA What A Life and The Death Of You And Me. Their first three albums topped the chart, but Noel has enjoyed being experimental with his music, rather than copying Oasis’ rock’n’roll style.
Ironically, it was Liam who started being more experimental straight after Oasis’ split. His adventurous new band Beady Eye – with several later Oasis worked with hip producers – but were largely rejected by the public.
Liam and Noel previously hadn’t spoken since 2009 (Image: Getty)
The break-up of Beady Eye after two albums led to what’s believed to be the only attempt at a bonding between the two brothers since their final fight backstage before a show in Paris in 2009 caused their split.
Noel is said to have invited a downcast Liam to meet – only for Liam to behave childishly, with Noel saying he still wanted nothing to do with his kid brother. Since then, Liam has sorted both his personal and professional life.
Reverting to Oasis’ rock ‘n’ roll power, starting with his debut solo release As You Were in 2017, all three of Liam’s albums have topped the chart. So has this year’s joint album with John Squire, the former guitarist with The Stone Roses – the favourite band of both Gallaghers when they were growing up in Manchester.
Even more significant is Liam’s newfound maturity since meeting his wife and manager, Debbie Gwyther, in 2013. She’s helped Liam become far more chilled. He no longer drinks on tour and has spoken of enjoying a fitness regime of running and yoga. Although he jokes about his wildman status on Twitter, only the only relic of Liam’s bad boy behaviour is his continual insults of Noel.
The brothers’ edge was always at the heart of Oasis’ music. Noel needed Liam to embody the spirit of his escapist songs. Liam needed Noel to write about how the brothers had to be rock and roll stars and live out life’s biggest dreams. I twas a fractious combination built for massive success.
Electrifying gigs saw Liam’s magnetism in action straight away. He simply stood behind the microphone stand, occasionally shaking a tambourine. He didn’t need to do anything else, because he looked magnificent doing just that.
Oasis were formed in 1991 and went on to be globally successful (Image: Getty)
Coupled with songs that chimed with their fans’ dreams including Supersonic and Rock ‘N’ Roll Star, Oasis’ debut Definitely Maybe became the fastest-selling debut album in history on its release 30 years ago this week. Within two years, Oasis played two monumental shows at Knebworth.
In the days before online ticket sales, it was estimated four per cent of Britain – over 2.5 million people – applied for Knebworth’s 250,000 tickets by phone, mail and queued up over night outside ticket agencies. The following year, Oasis’ third album Be Here Now broke even more records.
It was the fastest-selling album ever in Britain, shifting over 650,000 copies in its first week. But, artistically, the 1997 album was seen as over-indulgent. In 2004, Noel admitted: “It’s the sound of a bunch of guys on coke in the studio, not giving a f***.”
Despite Be Here Now’s commercial success, the band needed to change. Cancelled shows were becoming more frequent. Alongside the Gallaghers, three mates from Manchester completed their first line-up: rhythm guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, bassist Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan and drummer Tony McCarroll. By second album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory, McCarroll had been fired.
By fourth album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants in 2000, Guigsy and Bonehead had left too, both quitting the year before. They were replaced by guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell, with Alan White then Zak Starkey taking over on drums, all of whom had more established backgrounds than the original line-up.
Archer and Bell helped Noel – and eventually Liam – write the band’s songs. Yet, despite their remaining albums all reaching the top and Oasis continuing to pack out stadiums before their split, the artistic magic had faded. Only occasional gems such as Lyla, Songbird and The Importance Of Being Idle had the glory of their early singles.
Perhaps Oasis needed their early mates’ chemistry after all. Indeed, hardcore Oasis fans have speculated what the rest of the band’s line-up will be for their reunion shows. Bonehead remains firm friends with Liam, regularly playing in his solo band. Meanwhile, McCarroll has kept a low-key presence, sometimes DJing and speaking at fan events.
Guigsy and White have retreated from public view entirely. B ell has returned to playing guitar in Ride, the psychedelic rockers who were one of Noel’s favourite bands when Oasis were starting out, while Archer continues to play in Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey is a successful session drummer who plays with reggae musicians.
There have even been rumours that the remaining line-up will simply consist of the High Flying Birds, with Liam instead of Noel as frontman. That would seem unlikely, given Liam’s close relationship with Bonehead and fans’ desires to see at least some of the original band back onstage.
Whatever happens, fans will hope for the raw power of those early shows and the grandeur of Oasis’ later concerts. With Liam more relaxed and Noel having settled into his elder (and still hilarious) statesman, the odds look good for the Gallaghers to keep the peace for their epic reunion shows.
Music has missed them – their solid younger fanbase show they’re still relevant today, never mind ageing Britpop devotees. One thing the brothers have always had in common is wanting to do right by their audiences, so they wouldn’t have agreed to the shows unless they believe they’re past any brutal tensions.