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Oasis reunion: Noel Gallagher smiles in behind-the-scenes photos with brother Liam after mending feud

Pair seen to be on amicable terms in images released ahead of reunion tour

Ellie Muir
Saturday 31 August 2024 10:52 BST
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Oasis announce 2025 reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher 'mend rift'

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Behind-the-scenes images released by Oasis see the Gallagher brothers smiling together as they prepare for their much-anticipated reunion tour.

The newly-released black-and-white image sees Noel laughing as he stands next to his brother Liam, who is looking directly at the camera.

The British rock band announced their long-awaited reunion on Tuesday (27 August), and the pair will play 17 shows across London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin as part of their 2025 comeback tour.

The amicable context of the image is a welcome contrast for fans, who havenā€™t seen the pair together since they disbanded in 2009 following a heated backstage argument.

The relations between Gallaghers had long been turbulent before their split. Their professional relationship was worsening in the build-up to their last concert, with the pair having regular quarrels, physical altercations and disagreements onstage.

Noel and Liam smile as theyā€™re photographed as part of the Oasis reunion
Noel and Liam smile as theyā€™re photographed as part of the Oasis reunion (Simon Emmett)

Much of their animosity had its roots in their teenage years, when the two shared one bedroom in their parentā€™s home. In the Oasis documentary Supersonic, Liam describes a time when he came home drunk and urinated on his brotherā€™s stereo. ā€œI think thatā€™s where the grudge started,ā€ he said.

In 2009, Noel issued a statement explaining his reasons for quitting, citing his brotherā€™s ā€œverbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family and friendsā€¦ of too great a number to listā€. What followed was 15 years of estrangement and the ā€“ temporary ā€“ end of Oasis.

The Gallagher brothers back together again
The Gallagher brothers back together again (Simon Emmett)

ā€œPeople will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer,ā€ he wrote. Later, would claim that an argument over the advertising of Liamā€™s Pretty Green merchandising line had devolved into Liam throwing fruit and swinging a guitar around ā€œlike an axeā€¦ he nearly took my face off with it.ā€ It was at this point that he decided to quit.

The rest of Oasisā€™s lineup, including Liam, continued to perform under the name Beady Eye until 2014.

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Noel continued to condemn his brotherā€™s behaviour during the Oasis years, saying in 2015 that he would ā€œnever forgiveā€ Liamā€™s habit of abandoning gigs at the last minute.

He also accused Liam of being ā€œobsessedā€ with him, and then Liam eventually became vocal on social media and would sometimes send public insults to his brother online.

In 2017, Liam released his first single as a solo artist, and further dismissed the idea of reforming the band. ā€œ[Working with Noel] bores the death out of me,ā€ he said, revealing that the pair had not had any contact in years.

Noel and Liam Gallagher inspect photos during a session ahead of the Oasis reunion tour
Noel and Liam Gallagher inspect photos during a session ahead of the Oasis reunion tour (Simon Emmett)

But the mending of bridges was hinted at across several years ā€“ itā€™s only now that it has actually materialised.

During a set at Reading Festival 2024, Liam dropped a number of hints about a prospective reunion, dedicating the Oasis track ā€œHalf The World Awayā€ to his brother. The gig ended by revealing a date and time, which was also shared by both Gallagher brothers on social media.

At 8am on Tuesday 27 August, both Liam and Noel announced that the band was reforming, stating: ā€œThis is it, this is happening.ā€

In the announcement, the duo confirmed that there had been ā€œno great revelatory momentā€, but rather ā€œthe gradual realisation that the time is rightā€.

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