Oasis fans have been going wild over new reports that Liam and Noel Gallagher will reunite for a long-awaited comeback, after putting their famous feud behind them.
The Manchester band went their separate ways 15 years ago, after an explosive backstage brawl between the brothers at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris in 2009.
But a 2005 video has emerged of a crazed Oasis crowd breaking through steel barriers at a gig among scenes of ‘absolute carnage’ – which begs the question of how Gen-Z fans would cope among such scenes.
On Sunday, Liam, 51, fuelled speculation he might reunite with Noel, 57, as he dedicated Oasis track Half The World Away to his estranged brother during his headline set at the Reading Festival.
As he closed the set, a clip of a sign in the style of Oasis logo was projected on a large screen above the stage and subsequently shared to Oasis, Noel and Liam’s official Instagram and X accounts.
The white rectangular box with a black block in the centre had the date ‘27.08.24” written in the middle where the band’s name is usually seen, before flickering to change to read ‘8am’.
As a video of crazed 2005 Oasis crowd breaking through barriers and scenes of resurface at ‘menacing’ gigs full of ‘absolute carnage’ – how will band’s Gen-Z fanbase fare at reunion shows?
Fans have been going wild over new reports that Liam and Noel Gallagher (pictured 2010) will reunite for a long-awaited comeback, after putting their famous feud behind them
On Sunday, Liam, 51, fuelled speculation he might reunite with Noel , 57, as he dedicated Oasis track Half The World Away to his estranged brother during his headline set at the Reading Festival (pictured)
It has been speculated that Noel and Liam have buried the hatchet during a late night phone call and will reunite for the Glastonbury headline slot next summer as well as 10 gigs at Wembley in 2025.
And fans haven’t been able to contain their excitement over the reports, taking to social media to voice their eagerness to see the band back on stage and even produce new music.
But amid the fevered anticipation, some have expressed their concern over the ‘horrendous’ and ‘terrifying’ crowds that were common at previous Oasis shows with others wonderful how Gen-Z Taylor Swift fans would fare at the band’s new gigs.
A video of the band’s 2005 show at Manchester Stadium resurfaced, showing an ‘ocean of bodies’ in the crowd surging the steel barricades and breaking them down.
Sharing the clip on social media, one fan predicted: ‘Here’s an Oasis crowd from Manchester in 2005, who literally split the steel barricade at the front of the venue during the band’s first song. They’re gonna need barricades ready for war for this reunion.’
However, several said they hoped there would be changes made if Oasis reunited, with people recalling the ‘absolute carnage’ at past gigs and the ‘worst set of alleged fans I’ve ever come across.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, they shared: ‘All the fuss about Oasis maybe re-forming reminds me of when I saw them live at Old Trafford cricket ground. Worst set of alleged fans I’ve ever come across. Basically smashed out of their heads and throwing pint pots of urine over the crowd. I shan’t be bothering!’
‘Went to 2 Oasis gigs and it was the worst crowd by far for absolute n**heads, rough is putting it lightly. Great for the new generation to see them live but you will get covered in p***.
As he closed the set, Liam suggested an announcement could be made on Tuesday at 8:00am with a clip of a sign in the style of Oasis logo was projected on a large screen above the stage and subsequently shared to Oasis, Noel and Liam’s official Instagram and X accounts
‘It seemed customary at every Oasis gig I went to that the crowd just pushed forward when the band came on. I don’t get the point. You’re 6ft closer to the stage but so crammed in you can’t breathe or move. Mob mentality at it most mindless. F***ing dangerous and scary.
‘I saw Oasis a couple of times, at Wembley and festivals. Profoundly disappointing and crowd rammed full of drunk men. Do not recommend; Add to that the ‘experience’ of being female in those 90s crowds. I’m not tempted to go, think it’ll attract a lot of kids and drunk middle aged men in bucket hats.’
‘I was at this show and the surge was f***ing scary. I was literally picked up off my feet and moved forward 10-15ft; I left a huge gig because fights were breaking out all around me. Never felt so unsafe at a gig!’
‘Same, seen them 4 times I think and most of it was trying to dodge cups of p***; I was there, ruined what should of been an amazing gig, took a girl who was crying hysterically and got away from the main crowd and stood in the seating area on the sides, much safer.
‘wanna see oasis but also that crowd is gonna be absolutely horrendous so luckily will not be too upset when i miss out on tickets; I saw them at Wembley stadium in 2000 , it was absolute carnage. My friend disappeared on some random blokes shoulders and I smelt strongly like eua de p*** on the way home.’
But many predicted that everyone was now 20 years older, they would be ‘all old and civilized now’ to display the same rowdy behaviour, with some even saying they wouldn’t go to the concerts otherwise.
They tweeted: ‘I saw Oasis 3 times in their prime and can’t remember anything other than trying to survive in the crowd. It was always just mayhem. I imagine it’ll be a lot gentler these days with barrier and walkway regulations and everyone standing still so they can film on their phones.
‘As another middle-aged person, I’m all for this, walkway regulations keep me happy. Calm (er) is good; We are old now, I’ll take a chair thank you’.
Sharing the clip on social media, one fan predicted: ‘Here’s an Oasis crowd from Manchester in 2005, who literally split the steel barricade at the front of the venue during the band’s first song. They’re gonna need barricades ready for war for this reunion’
However, several said they hoped there would be changes made if Oasis reunited, with people recalling the ‘absolute carnage’ at past gigs and the ‘worst set of alleged fans I’ve ever come across
‘All those people are now 20 years older so most are in middle age and in the ‘Let’s sit in a chair on the edge of the crowd’ mindset now instead of ‘Let me see if I can shove my way to the front; Relax we’re all old and civilized now’.
‘It’s going to be everyone 35 and and up. People won’t be rushing like that; Last saw Oasis in Sheffield way back when. Atmosphere was menacing as it gets, and lasses peeing in the sinks in the mens. You couldn’t make it up but I guess that was then. Interesting times again coming our way.
‘The good thing is their fans are so old now it will take them at least the length of the gig to fill a pint pot with p*** before they can throw it.’
Meanwhile, the band’s newer Generation Z fanbase could also be counted on to avoid the more raucous crowd displays of past Oasis shows, when looking at their behaviour at recent concerts.
Taylor Swift‘s mammoth Eras Tour has been dominating headlines over the past few months, with the pop superstar playing her final show at Wembley last week.
The gigs became famous for showing a sense of camaraderie amongst attendees – singing together, hugging and swapping friendship bracelets – with Swifties describing the atmosphere as feeling immensely joyful, tolerant and safe.
While the devastating events of the Astroworld music festival in 2021 has led to both venues and concert goers being more wary over issues of crowding.
The tragic event saw 10 people, ranging in age from 9 to 27, left dead from compression asphyxia, during a massive crowd surge at the Houston festival headed by Travis Scott.
But many predicted that everyone was now 20 years older, they would be ‘all old and civilized now’ to display the same rowdy behaviour, with some even saying they wouldn’t go to the concerts otherwise
Meanwhile, the band’s newer Generation Z fanbase could also be counted on to avoid the more raucous crowd displays of past Oasis shows, when looking at their behaviour at recent concerts (fans pictured at Eras Tour last week)
Taylor Swift ‘s mammoth Eras Tour has been dominating headlines over the past few months, with the pop superstar playing her final show at Wembley last week (pictured)
The gigs became famous for showing a sense of camaraderie amongst attendees – singing together, hugging and swapping friendship bracelets – with Swifties describing the atmosphere as feeling immensely joyful, tolerant and safe
While the devastating events of the Astroworld music festival in 2021 has led to both venues and concert goers being more wary over issues of crowding, after 10 people died during a massive crowd surge at the Houston festival headed by Travis Scott (pictured)
The 10 Astroworld fatal victims – (clockwise) Madison Dubiski, 23; John Hilgert, 14; Bharti Shahani, 22; Axel Acosta, 21; Brianna Rodriguez, 16; Mirza Baig, 27; Franco Patino, 21; Jacob Jurinek, 21; Rodolfo Angel Peña, 23; and Ezra Blount, 9
Hundreds were also left injured when the crowd surged, with attendees packed so tightly that many could not breathe or move their arms or legs.
It has been said that Noel and Liam were convinced to return to the stage together after being promised an eye-watering payday.
It is expected to be the most popular tour in British concert history, with industry insiders saying the deal negotiated between the warring brothers will net them £50 million.
A source told The Sun: ‘Noel and Liam are never going to be the best of friends but they want to bring Oasis back for the fans.
‘They aren’t getting any younger and the demand is huge. They decided it was now or never. Noel dug his heels in for a long time but has finally caved and agreed to return.
‘He spoke to Liam on the phone and they are on the same page. They know this reunion will go down in music history.’
Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, chairman of talent agency InterTalent, told The Sun they could make more than £400million from the tour and any residual deals.
He said: ‘With tickets, sponsorship, merchandise and filming, I would predict an income for Noel and Liam of over £50million each. This is a tour that could easily gross over £400million.’
It has been said that Noel and Liam were convinced to return to the stage together after being promised an eye-watering payday, with industry insiders saying the deal negotiated between the warring brothers will net them £50 million (pictured in 1995)
Their fractious relationship came to a head in 2009, after a backstage fight in Paris led to Noel leaving the band. But in recent years, Liam (pictured this month) has been keen to make amends with his brother and reform the iconic Britpop band
Amid them passing public barbs at each other back and forth, Noel repeatedly poured cold water on the idea of a reunion, but is said to have been persuaded of the financial merits (pictured in June)
Their fractious relationship came to a head in 2009, after a backstage fight in Paris led to Noel leaving the band.
But in recent years, Liam has been keen to make amends with his brother and reform the iconic Britpop band.
During his headline slot at Reading, he performed a number of Oasis hits from their debut album Definitely Maybe to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Introducing Half The World Away – a 1994 B-side that also featured as the theme tune to sitcom The Royle Family – he told revellers: ‘I wanna dedicate this song to Noel f**king Gallagher.’
He continued to keep fans guessing by dedicating his rendition of Cigarettes & Alcohol at the Reading Festival to people who hate Oasis.
The track, written by his older brother, was the final single on their 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe.
Amid them passing public barbs at each other back and forth, Noel repeatedly poured cold water on the idea of a reunion.
But after his £20m divorce from ex-wife Sara MacDonald last year, the elder Gallagher is said to have been persuaded of the financial merits of getting the band together for dates at Glastonbury and Wembley Stadium.
While Liam appeared to confirm the Don’t Look Back In Anger singers would next year tour the country, when a fan asked about the planned Oasis shows, and he replied: ‘See you down the front’.
He later told his 3.6m followers on Twitter: ‘I never did like that word FORMER’.
