It's official: Oasis is back. For the first time in 16 years, the legendary Britpop band, led by the ever-volatile Gallagher brothers, will be reuniting for a massive 14-date tour in 2025. With the news sparking a whirlwind of excitement, questions surrounding their motivations, the financial potential of this tour, and the band’s enduring legacy have begun to emerge. This is the story of one of the most anticipated comebacks in music history—and the potential £400 million payday at stake.
The Return of Oasis: Why Now?
The sudden announcement of Oasis’ reunion took the music world by storm. The timing, however, is not as spontaneous as it might appear. Noel Gallagher, the band's lead songwriter and eldest brother, has recently completed solo commitments with his band, High Flying Birds. Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher has been basking in the success of his solo career, notably selling out two nights at Knebworth in 2022—an echo of Oasis' historic 1996 performances at the same venue.
The brothers' rivalry has long been a hallmark of their dynamic, yet recent comments from Noel have shown a softer side, publicly praising Liam’s unique vocal abilities. Reflecting on the band’s sound, Noel told journalist John Robb: "It’s difficult to explain - when I would sing a song it would sound good, when [Liam] would sing it, it would sound great."
These small gestures of goodwill have paved the way for what many thought would never happen: the reconciliation of the Gallaghers. But, as always with Oasis, there’s more than just family ties at play.
£400 Million: The Financial Incentive
A reunion of this magnitude was always bound to come with a hefty price tag. Estimates for the tour’s financial impact have been staggering, with projections reaching as high as £400 million in ticket sales and associated merchandise. Initial reports from Birmingham City University suggest that the Gallagher brothers stand to earn around £50 million each, just from the initial 14 dates announced.
As Jonathan Dean of The Sunday Times remarked, “A deal would've been struck early by promoters, and I’ve heard numbers bandied around of the Gallagher brothers earning £50m each.” These figures are subject to change depending on the scale of the tour, as there is significant potential for expansion into other continents later in 2025.
Comparatively, other major reunion tours have seen huge success. Take That’s Progress Live tour in 2011 earned an estimated £140 million, while the Spice Girls’ 2019 tour, without Victoria Beckham, earned around £60 million. For Oasis, the financial ceiling is much higher, especially when considering their extensive global fanbase.
Still, there are risks involved, and the band must tread carefully to ensure their reunion remains more than just a cash grab.
The Risks of a Reunion
Reunions can be a double-edged sword. While they present an opportunity for bands to reignite their legacy and bring joy to old and new fans alike, they can also backfire spectacularly if not handled well. For every triumphant comeback like Blur’s, there’s a cautionary tale—such as The Stone Roses, whose 2011 reunion started strong but fizzled out amid underwhelming new material.
Oasis, however, seems to be avoiding the pitfalls of over-promising. As it stands, there are no plans for the band to release new music, which means fans won’t have to worry about any potential disappointment from a lackluster album. The focus is solely on the live performances, which should help maintain the purity of the experience. According to The Independent's music editor, Roisin O'Connor, "There’s no indication that they plan on releasing any new music, meaning there isn’t that risk of fans feeling let down if the material didn't match those earlier albums."
That said, the tour itself is not without challenges. Ticket pricing has become a hot-button issue, with some fans expressing concerns over accessibility and the potential dilution of Oasis’s working-class credentials.
Dynamic Pricing and the Ticket Controversy
The issue of ticket prices has been a particularly contentious one, especially given the band’s roots in working-class Manchester. The standing tickets for the 2025 tour are priced at around £150, but premium packages soar to as much as £506. Even more shocking are unofficial resale prices, with some tickets reportedly going for as much as £6,000. This has prompted backlash from fans, and the band has warned that unofficial resales could be cancelled.
The controversy surrounding "dynamic pricing" has only added fuel to the fire. As demand for tickets surged, prices on Ticketmaster’s platform rose dramatically, with some tickets jumping from £135 to £355 plus fees. Dynamic pricing, which adjusts ticket costs based on real-time demand, has been criticized for making live music inaccessible to ordinary fans. In response to the outcry, the UK government has announced plans to investigate the use of dynamic pricing in ticket sales, with Oasis being a key case study.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her concern, saying, "After the incredible news of Oasis’ return, it’s depressing to see vastly inflated prices excluding ordinary fans from having a chance of enjoying their favorite band live."
Neither Noel nor Liam Gallagher have publicly commented on the ticket pricing issue, but it remains a challenge the band will need to address as they move forward with the tour.
The Legacy of Oasis: A New Generation of Fans
Despite having been absent from the music scene for over a decade, Oasis has maintained a powerful cultural presence. Streaming platforms like Spotify have helped introduce their music to younger audiences, with the band's monthly listener count currently standing at over 21 million. This enduring popularity, particularly among Gen Z listeners, has bolstered the band’s legacy, proving that their music has a timeless appeal.
Carl Smith, editor at the Official Charts Company, highlights the band's cross-generational impact: “The timelessness of Oasis’s material transcends generations and holds up so well in the streaming era.” This is echoed by Jonathan Dean, who notes that “what Oasis do is simple, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. It's songs of escapism... but done in a simple, slightly raucous, singalong way."
Liam Gallagher, in particular, has been instrumental in keeping the Oasis flame alive. His solo career has seen a resurgence of interest in the band's early work, and his performance at Reading Festival this year was met with rapturous applause from a young audience, many of whom were not even born when Oasis first split.
A Final Chapter or a New Beginning?
As Oasis prepares to take the stage in 2025, the question on everyone’s mind is whether this reunion marks a final chapter for the band or the beginning of a new era. For fans, the prospect of seeing the Gallaghers perform together again is a dream come true. But with no new music on the horizon and no guarantee of future tours, some are treating these shows as a “last chance” to see the band live.
Roisin O'Connor from The Independent puts it best: "This will be viewed as the latest - possibly final - chapter in the Oasis story. A moment of catharsis for fans who wanted that closure or a chance to see the band for a final time, and hopefully a mending of fences for Noel and Liam after all these years."
While it's impossible to predict what will come next for Oasis, one thing is certain: their return will dominate the summer of 2025, both in the UK and beyond. For now, all eyes are on the band as they prepare to relive their glory days, reignite the spirit of Britpop, and hopefully—just maybe—put an end to one of the greatest sibling rivalries in rock history.
Oasis Reunion 2025: UK and Ireland Tour Dates
July 4, 5: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
July 11, 12, 19, 20: Heaton Park, Manchester
July 25, 26, August 2, 3: Wembley Stadium, London
August 8, 9: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
August 16, 17: Croke Park, Dublin
Tickets go on sale August 31, 2024.
While it's impossible to predict what will come next for Oasis, one thing is certain: their return will dominate the summer of 2025, both in the UK and beyond.