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Britpop icons Oasis are reportedly on the brink of revealing a highly anticipated reunion. This is monumental news for fans of the indie-rock band, as it marks the end of a 15-year period where the founding members — brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher — frequently made headlines for their sharp remarks and jabs at each other in the media.
Now, it seems the duo has decided to put their differences behind them, much to the delight of fans worldwide. But what originally drove the brothers to abandon their global success with Oasis just to avoid each other?
In honor of their renewed connection, let’s revisit the origins of their infamous feud.
(Photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns)
The Liam And Noel Gallagher Feud Explained
Before delving into the details, let’s start at the beginning. Oasis was formed in 1991 when singer Liam Gallagher assembled a band featuring guitarist Paul Arthurs, bassist Paul McGuigan, and drummer Tony McCarroll. Liam then invited his elder brother Noel to join. Noel accepted and became the lead guitarist and vocalist, significantly contributing to the songwriting and sound that Oasis is renowned for today.
Two years later, the band secured a record deal and in August 1994, they released their groundbreaking debut album Definitely, Maybe. It quickly became one of the UK’s fastest-selling debut albums. However, after a year of touring and intense partying, tensions began to surface.
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In September 1994, the band experienced their first public altercation. During a performance at the Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles, they delivered a notably poor set that culminated with Liam hitting Noel with a tambourine before leaving the stage. Consequently, Noel left the tour… only to return after cooling down.
This incident marked just the beginning of a sibling rivalry that would eventually threaten to break the band apart.
(Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)
By 1996, Oasis had achieved massive success. They released what would become their most famous album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? and reached global acclaim with hits like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger.”
They embarked on a world tour, but when Liam opted out of one leg due to severe laryngitis, the press had a field day. Especially when, during an MTV Unplugged performance, Liam chose to heckle his brother while smoking and drinking from the venue’s balcony.
The brothers managed to keep things together until tensions peaked in 2000, when Noel left the band for a second time.
During their world tour, a confrontation arose between the siblings when Liam allegedly questioned the paternity of Noel’s daughter Anaïs. According to an article in The Guardian at the time, it was a full-blown altercation. Noel exited the tour, and the band continued without him until they reconciled a year later — but the damage was irreversible.
“I’ve never forgiven him because he’s never apologized,” Liam confessed to Q Magazine in 2005, as reported by The Guardian.
“He’s my brother. I hope he reads this and understands that. He’s my brother but he remains at a distance until he apologizes for his actions.”
(Photo by JMEnternational/Getty Images)
The band continued to perform and release music, but underlying tensions were evident. This period saw their disagreements escalate into public and petty disputes.
In 2005, Noel revealed to a reporter that rather than arguing directly with Liam, he resorted to psychological tactics.
“I’ve learned that instead of engaging in arguments that lead to fights, I work on his psychology, and he’s completely unnerved by me now,” he explained to Spin, via NME.
“He’s actually scared to death of me. I can read him and manipulate him like an old arcade game. I can influence him to make decisions he believes are his own, but really they’re mine. It’s an art I’ve mastered.”
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After nearly a decade of infighting and passive-aggressive behavior, Noel finally called it quits with the band — just minutes before a scheduled gig in France.
“With a mix of sadness and relief, I announce my departure from Oasis tonight,” Noel stated on the band’s website in August 2009.
“People will write and speculate, but I simply couldn’t continue working with Liam any longer.”
In 2011, Liam even took legal action against Noel for alleging that Oasis once canceled a gig due to Liam’s hangover.
“I’m accustomed to being called various things by Noel, and I’ve said things about him too, but what Noel claimed this time crossed the line of rock-and-roll banter and questioned my professionalism,” he stated, as reported by Rolling Stone.
(Photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns)
Liam, along with the remaining band members, continued to perform as Beady Eye until they disbanded in 2014, after which both brothers pursued solo careers.
While it might have been expected that the feud would dissipate once the brothers were no longer collaborating, that wasn’t the case. Once Liam took to social media, the rivalry found a new platform. Here are some memorable tweets on X — formerly Twitter — that have become legendary.
Since the band’s breakup, fans have been pleading with Noel and Liam to reconcile and reunite Oasis. In 2021, Noel mentioned to Radio X,
“If anyone offers me £100 million ($194,688,048 AUD) now, I’ll say it here, I’ll do it. I’d do it for £100 million,” he noted, adding that such a sum likely didn’t exist within the entire music industry.
In response, Liam said he’d be willing to reunite for free. However, in 2023, Noel claimed he was just waiting for Liam to make contact.
Now, with both brothers and the band’s X accounts sharing cryptic messages in Oasis’s signature font alluding to a specific date (TOMORROW!!!), it appears Liam has finally reached out to Noel to arrange a reunion.
But until tomorrow, when everything becomes clear, let’s consider this potential reunion as definitely, maybe.
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