Looking Back in Anger

When I first heard about the Oasis reunion, I was as excited as any other Gen Z kid: I barely noticed. But then my Instagram Explore page became riddled with British men asking their barbers for a ‘mod’ – a haircut that looks like an old-timey football helmet—and people furiously refreshing TicketMaster for tickets. Recently, they announced that they are coming to North America to tour with Cage the Elephant. 

I’ll admit, I hopped on the bandwagon pretty quickly. I fell into the rabbit hole of watching clips from their live shows, feeling enthralled by their iconic attitude and stage presence. I started researching the relationship between those brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, and how their sibling rivalry often overshadowed the music. The combination of bitter sibling feuds, unpredictable live shows, and the band’s larger-than-life egos has always been part of who they are. Yet, it also seems to guarantee the tour will end in a blaze of fire.

Despite Oasis’ influence on Britpop and rock in the ’90s, the drama has kept them as much as their music in the public eye. The tensions between Liam and Noel have led to several highly publicized blowouts, cancellations, and, eventually, the band’s breakup in 2009. The reunion tour may have hit fans with a big nostalgia grenade, but for those familiar with Oasis’ history, it feels more like a ticking time bomb than a wholesome return.

Their last few performances in the early 2000s were riddled with chaos: walkouts, fights, and no-shows. Noel often clashed with Liam’s unpredictable behavior, from getting in fistfights with fans to being deported. While some are hopeful that age and experience have calmed the brothers, I’m not sure that Liam has been enlightened. 

The current buzz around the reunion is palpable, but I can’t help but think that it’s a matter of when, not if, the tour will implode. The added pressure of social media scrutiny, where every slip-up is magnified, could make their short fuse even shorter. 

So, while Oasis might get back on stage and relive their glory days for a few nights, history suggests it’s unlikely to last. Like their anthem “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” it’s best to enjoy the ride while it lasts but not expect too much. Because when it comes to Oasis, the drama has always been as inevitable as the music.