Oasis was one of the most popular and influential British rock bands of the 1990s and early 2000s. The band was formed in Manchester in 1991 and originally consisted of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll. Oasis rose to fame with their debut album Definitely Maybe in 1994 and had major success with subsequent albums like (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Be Here Now. The band was known for songs like “Wonderwall”, “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, “Champagne Supernova” and “Live Forever”. At their peak, Oasis sold out massive stadiums and headlined major music festivals around the world. However, tensions between the Gallagher brothers led to Noel’s departure from the band in 2009, effectively ending Oasis. In the years since, fans have continued to ask – do Oasis still tour?
The Breakup of Oasis
Despite their massive success, Oasis was plagued by conflict, especially between lead singer Liam and lead guitarist/principal songwriter Noel. Their feuding dated back to the band’s early days but intensified over the years. There were numerous incidents of physical violence and verbal arguments that jeopardized tours and performances. Noel finally reached a breaking point in August 2009 when he abruptly quit Oasis prior to a scheduled concert in Paris. He issued a statement saying, “It is with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.” This marked the end of Oasis and the Gallagher brothers have not fully reconciled since.
Attempts at Reunion
There have been periodic speculations about an Oasis reunion over the last decade, often initiated by Liam Gallagher. In 2010, Liam claimed Oasis would reform in 2015 or 2016 when they realized they were “nothing without each other.” Noel quickly shot down the idea. In 2015, Liam suggested Oasis should reform for the 20th anniversary of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, but again Noel declined. Liam has made various social media overtures towards his older brother, but Noel has maintained his stance against reuniting Oasis. The volatility of their relationship makes a reconciliation highly improbable at this point.
Post-Oasis Projects
Despite Oasis ceasing to exist, both Gallagher brothers have remained active musicians in the years since 2009.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Noel Gallagher formed a new band called Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in 2010. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2011 to positive reviews. Noel has served as lead singer-songwriter for the High Flying Birds and they have now produced three studio albums. The band has enjoyed success including several top 10 singles and sold-out arena tours. Noel indicated the High Flying Birds allows him to have full creative freedom without the dysfunctional dynamic of Oasis.
Beady Eye
In 2009, Liam Gallagher quickly formed a new band called Beady Eye with the remaining Oasis members (Arthurs, McGuigan, and Chris Sharrock). They released two studio albums: Different Gear, Still Speeding (2011) and BE (2013) before disbanding in 2014. While Beady Eye achieved modest commercial success, Liam later admitted he underestimated how integral Noel’s songwriting was to Oasis.
Solo Work
After Beady Eye split, Liam embarked on a solo career and released his debut album As You Were in 2017. The album was a major success, debuting at #1 in the UK. He has since released two more solo albums (Why Me? Why Not. in 2019 and C’mon You Know in 2022) and frequently tours arenas as a solo act. Liam’s solo material proves he is still an iconic frontman, even without Noel as chief songwriter.
Meanwhile, Noel has continued recording and touring with the High Flying Birds in between occasional acoustic solo tours.
Do Oasis Still Tour?
So with both Gallagher brothers still actively making music apart from one another, do Oasis still tour?
No Oasis Reunion Tours
Unfortunately for fans, Oasis has not done any reunion tours since their 2009 split. Despite vague suggestions or social media overtures from Liam, Noel has maintained his adamant position against reforming Oasis. He believes too much animosity built up during the band’s heyday for them to work together again. Noel claims he has no desire to go backwards and prefers his current situation focusing on the High Flying Birds.
Year | Notable Events |
---|---|
2009 | Noel quits Oasis before a show in Paris, effectively ending the band |
2010 | Liam predicts Oasis will reunite within 5 years |
2015 | Liam tries to organize Oasis reunion for Morning Glory anniversary, but Noel declines |
2017-2022 | Liam continues making social media overtures towards Noel about reuniting Oasis |
As this timeline shows, there have been no Oasis reunion tours announced or scheduled at any point since the initial split. Based on Noel’s unwavering stance, an Oasis reunion unfortunately appears very unlikely.
Gallagher Solo Tours
While Oasis no longer tours, fans can still see the Gallagher brothers performing Oasis songs live in separate solo tours.
After some initial hiatuses from touring after Oasis’s split, Liam returned to the road in 2017 in support of his solo album As You Were. He has consistently toured Europe, the UK, and the US as a solo artist every year since. Liam’s concerts heavily feature him singing classic Oasis songs like “Wonderwall” and “Supersonic” in addition to his solo material.
Meanwhile, Noel has toured extensively with the High Flying Birds every few years and also began doing semi-regular acoustic solo tours in 2018. His solo shows include rearranged, stripped-down versions of Oasis hits.
So even without official Oasis reunion tours, fans still have opportunities to hear Oasis songs performed live by the feuding Gallagher brothers, albeit on separate solo tours.
Possibility of Future Oasis Reunions
Is there still a chance of Oasis getting back together for a reunion tour at some point down the road? Nothing can be ruled out completely, but it still seems highly unlikely at this juncture. In an April 2022 interview, Noel reiterated that Oasis is “never getting back together” because he doesn’t need the money and still doesn’t get along with Liam.
However, Noel is 10 years older than Liam, so some speculate that Noel may change his stance against an Oasis reunion in another decade’s time. If Noel is less active musically by his late 60s, the massive payday of an Oasis reunion stadium tour may become more appealing. But even if financial motivations shift, the bad blood between the brothers may remain too much.
Liam also continues to make ambiguous comments about “reconciliation” happening sooner rather than later. But based on the past broken reunion promises, it’s best not to read too much into Liam’s social media teases.
In summary, the likelihood of Oasis ever burying the hatchet for a reunion tour feels low, but can’t be completely ruled out sometime in the more distant future. However, fans clamoring for an Oasis reunion in the near future will almost certainly be disappointed.
Conclusion
Oasis sadly does not still tour, given the band’s bitter breakup in 2009. Despite vague suggestions of reunions over the years, Noel remains firmly against getting Oasis back together due to his acrimonious relationship with Liam. However, both Gallagher brothers have stayed active in music as solo artists and with their respective new bands after Oasis. Fans can still see Liam and Noel sing Oasis songs live, just not together on an official reunion tour. An Oasis reunion can’t be completely ruled out many years down the road, but remains unlikely anytime in the foreseeable future. For now, reliving Oasis’ iconic songs depends on catching the Gallaghers on separate solo tours rather than an actual Oasis reunion.