After 15 years of will-they, won't-they, they-definitely-won't, Oasis are reforming for a slate of gigs across the UK and Ireland after tickets went on sale to a worldwide frenzy
The festive period is a time for peace and goodwill to all men – but sometimes, just sometimes, we get a miracle in the summer too.
After years of bitter insults, and integrity questioned, the impossible became possible... Oasis kissed and made up. On August 25, almost 15 years to the day since they split, Noel and Liam Gallagher announced a truce with plans to reunite for a series of huge Oasis 25 comeback gigs.
The UK went mad for it, ten million people trying to buy precious tickets which crashed websites and sparked outrage as vendors charged more and more as demand went up.
The Gallaghers had barely spoken since that fateful break-up day in Paris on August 28, 2009, which has been the subject of many rumours.
Noel insists a guitar swing to the head was the final straw – but Liam remembers the incident differently.
He recalled: "He broke my guitar first and I stormed off on to the stage and it was getting tuned up and I went, ‘Is that the f***ing red guitar? Give it here’.
"And then I f***ing smashed f**k out of it and got off. He stood on mine first, so there you go. He shouldn’t have f***ing broke mine and I wouldn’t have gone near his guitar. He f***ing started it!"
In truth, tensions had been more than simmering for years, but at least the split seemed to get their creative juices pumping at first. Liam and the remainder of the final Oasis line-up – guitarist Gem Arc-her , bassist Andy Bell and drummer Chris Shamrock – formed a new band called Beady Eye.
Meanwhile, Noel was working on his own project, the High Flying Birds. Their album went to No1.
When a second Beady Eye LP BE suffered an even worse chart fate in 2013, Noel’s solo career continued to soar.
Liam retired to social media, opting to become an amusing commentator, while also trolling his brother with sometimes vicious barbs.
The turning point came in 2017 when Liam put his "b****cks on the line" and stepped back into the ring, this time on his own with As You Were.
The result was a huge success and, unlike Noel, Liam was happy to celebrate past Oasis classics making him one the biggest live draws again.
However, the tension between the brothers had never been more intense as Liam compared his brother Noel, and then wife Sara MacDonald, to the serial killers Fred and Rosemary West in an extraordinary Twitter rant.
Liam blamed MacDonald for breaking up Oasis, writing: "She’s the reason Oasis is no longer have to put it out there she’s dark."
The animosity reached new heights in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing when Ariana Grande organised the One Love Manchester benefit show and expectations were high the brothers might put their differences aside for their city.
Liam jetted over from a festival in Germany, producing one of the night’s most poignant moments when he and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin duetted on Oasis’ Live Forever, dedicated to the victims. Noel didn’t show, but donated all royalties from his track to the victims.
But Liam was far from impressed by Noel’s efforts and logged on to Twitter to post: "Manchester id like to apologise for my brother’s absence…get on a f***ing plane and play your tunes for kids you sad f**k."
Noel eventually headlined the We Are Manchester show and hit back: "He needs to see a psychiatrist. I don’t say that as a joke. He needs to see somebody."
Relations were at an all-time low, but now Liam’s career was gaining pace with three more No1 solo albums and he even added Oasis member Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs to his band which gathered a whole new generation of fans.
When Liam played two solo nights at Knebworth – the site of Oasis’ greatest achievement in the 1990s – it was clear Liam was back on top.
Noel began offering a few crumbs of hope, conceding that he liked Liam’s voice and reflecting fondly on past acheievemnets
But what was the thawing of the frostiest feud in music and how did we get to this unfathomable reunion?
Well Noel announced he and second wife Sara were splitting in 2023 – and many believed nothing inspires a lucrative reunion quite like a costly divorce?
But even so, Noel still doesn’t need the money.
Some suggested the reunion was to appease their mum Peggy – but what is more likely is that Oasis want to be part of the conversation again.
The initial announcement boosted their streaming numbers no end, especially around the rest of the world where their presence is not so high.
And 2025 promises to even bigger year for their song catalogue. This comeback is about reminding people who they are, what they do and to perhaps feel vital again.
Another Definitely Maybe style mugging of zeitgeist is probably beyond them. And, as the gigs go, it’s best to lower your expectations accordingly because, after all, they are just two blokes in coats standing on stage.
But it’ll be emotional no doubt, and perhaps a little aggro along the way, and lot’s of fun.
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