On Friday in Cardiff, British rock band Oasis came together again as the Gallagher brothers set aside over 16 years of conflict to perform a set filled with hits that transported thousands of fans back to the hopeful spirit and confidence of the 1990s.
The band from Manchester was instrumental in shaping the “Britpop” revival of guitar music until tensions between Noel Gallagher, the primary songwriter, and his younger brother, lead vocalist Liam, ultimately led to their breakup.
As they took the stage at the Principality Stadium, which can hold 74,500 people, they opened with “Hello,” sounding as tight and polished as during their peak popularity.
During the two-hour show, there was minimal interaction with the audience, and the brothers exchanged no words until a brief hug at the conclusion.
The audience, mostly comprised of middle-aged fans revisiting their adolescence, enthusiastically sang along to classics like “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Supersonic,” and “Roll With It.” At the end of “Live Forever,” a tribute image of Liverpool and Portugal footballer Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident on Thursday, was displayed on the screens behind the band.
Oasis concluded their performance with “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall,” and “Champagne Supernova,” all from their second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”, which remains the top-selling album in Britain from the 1990s.
“Thank you for bearing with us all these years,” Liam expressed to the crowd.
Adam Williams, 42, from Wrexham, North Wales, remarked that this was his first time seeing the band since 2008, stating, “They were probably even better than they were back then.” Oasis had announced their shows nearly a year prior, which triggered a frenzy for tickets.
Music journalist Mark Sutherland told Reuters, “What makes the Oasis reunion so special is that it fulfills the criteria of a reunion: it’s something that people genuinely desire and something they thought would never happen. Oasis checks both those boxes.”
Fans began flocking to the stadium early, where official Adidas-Oasis football shirts were sold for £85 ($116).
“They’re more than just a band; they represent a movement,” stated 48-year-old Matt Hobman. “It’s part of what it means to be British.”
The Gallaghers were joined on stage by original member Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, as well as Gem Archer, Andy Bell, and Joey Waronker.
Many fans spent hours in online queues last year trying to secure tickets, only to discover that prices had soared by the time they were able to make a purchase.
Britain’s competition regulator initiated an inquiry into Ticketmaster concerning the ticket sales, scrutinizing the practice of “dynamic pricing” that raised costs for fans at the last minute.
“Are you enjoying yourselves?” Liam inquired of the audience. “Was it worth the £40,000 you paid for your ticket?”
Oasis has one more show in Cardiff before the tour heads to their hometown of Manchester.
The tour will then continue across Britain and Ireland, followed by performances in North and South America, Asia, and Australia.
