16 years ago, Oasis performed in the US for the last time. Those who were lucky enough to attend their show in December of 2008 were unaware that it would be their last chance to see them live. Or would it?
A long, public feud between the Gallagher brothers came to a fiery finish when just minutes before one of their last shows in their 2009 run, a fight broke out that would prove to be Noel’s last straw. The show, and the rest of the Dig Out Your Soul tour, was canceled, and a few hours later, Noel took to their website announcing, “It’s with some sadness and a great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight…”
Although the two would go solo with their music, it seemed like that was the last we’d ever hear from Oasis, until they announced in late August of 2024 that they would be doing one final road trip the following year. The tour announcement shocked not only the music world, but their supporters, all rushing to secure tickets to what could be the last time they’d ever see the two on stage.
So what time did the show really start? Was it at 8:45 when they stepped on stage? Was it hours prior when the queue to the entrance of Soldier Field became a mad house? How about when the clothing and merchandise pop-ups opened mere miles away just a day prior? To many, the show started as soon as they purchased tickets.
Tickets were extremely hard to come by, the Chicago show selling out within an hour. The exclusivity of the event brought a certain excitement like no other. I was one of the fortunate few who secured tickets. Others, like Paul, 34, said after getting lucky in the Ticketmaster line that he’d had something to look forward to for just about a year. “It kept me going during low moments,” he shared.
But, the show for many others, including myself, started years ago, when they were first introduced to Oasis. My dad showed me classics from (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Definitely Maybe, playing them on the way to school when I was younger. I went on to discover the rest of their discography, and these memories went on to shape my music taste later in life. When my family and I saw the tour announcement, in Chicago, the city I was born, it seemed like fate to attend.
Similarly, John, 58, said he’d flown in with his family from Oregon to see the band, saying he missed out on the opportunity to attend a show when they last toured the US. He brought his wife and 3 kids, all of whom he raised on music like Oasis. “I feel like I had a shot at redemption,” he laughed, “it felt obligatory to come.” This story was beginning to seem common amongst those who attended the show.
For some, the show started when they arrived in Chicago. It certainly wasn’t hard to feel the energy as soon as they landed. Fans from all over the world swarmed into O’Hare, all wearing Oasis gear collected from decades of support. You’d see fans at The Bean, Navy Pier, Wrigley; trains, buses, taxis; everywhere you went was an Oasis takeover.
Everywhere you’d turn, people were wearing Oasis merch, courtesy of an official Oasis pop-up shop, unofficial vendors on sidewalks, or stands just outside of Soldier Field. I’d never seen such long lines before; there were queue times that even die-hard supporters had trouble sitting through. Fans waited anywhere from one to three hours to get exclusive pieces, like the Adidas collab, which sold out of the official popup store before it opened for the second day of business.
But the lines were not only for merch. The day of the show, lines for both Soldier Field and the merch tents scattered, almost uncontrollably, around the entrance. Fans in the general admission line had started queueing that morning. Even hours before security had been set up, the line was spilling past the underpass of Lake Shore Drive.
When it was finally time for the doors to open, a mad rush of impatient fans practically ran for the doors, starting what can only be described as a sea of people. The security system in place wasn’t enough, and people pushed through towards the doors. It was clear that the US leg of the tour was not fully prepared for this type of support.
Finally, people made their way through onto what usually is the playing field, and the first thing people did was a full 360 degree turn, trying to soak it all in. People were snapping photos with loved ones, trying to savour the moment. There was a buzz before the show, in and out of the stadium that you could feel, let alone see and hear. Fans were anxious to see what they had been coming for, even though Cage the Elephant had a solid performance.
After what was hours, days, months, years for some, an Oasis branded decibel meter displayed brightly on the huge screens either side of the stage, and was fittingly met with a loud crowd pop. A video littered with old news clippings, tweets, and social media posts played over continuous applause with the band walking out to “Fuckin’ in the Bushes.” The entire song played out, the brothers taking in all the applause with the sense of arrogance we’ve grown accustomed to.
They quickly moved into “Hello”, seemingly the only song that could’ve fit that scenario. “It’s good to be back / it’s good to be back” was sung extra loud by Liam, met equally with cheers from the crowd. “Acquiesce” rounded off the message they were trying to convey about the tour. The chorus line: “Because we need each other” sums it up best. Their energy fed off of each other for the entire night, showing Oasis wasn’t complete without the both of them. It really felt like they, for once, didn’t hate each other.
Their energy throughout the performance matched. It seemed like every song in the setlist was placed perfectly. Each song fit together like puzzle pieces, and it was clear that not only the setlist, but their set design and the tour as a whole was meticulously crafted and well thought out. Each song had its own visuals and lights paired to it, beaming on the two giant screens. Some songs were dedicated to different groups, notably “Morning Glory” to the early risers, “D’you Know What I Mean” to the warriors, and “Live Forever” to all the people that [couldn’t] be [there]. Liam even had the crowd doing the Poznan during “Cigarettes and Alcohol.” Everything was worked down to a science. There was no doubt about the quality of the performance. It was impressive how good they sounded, almost as if they’d never left.
About halfway through the show, the boys decided to slow the tempo with songs like “Talk Tonight,” “Little by Little,” and “Stand by Me.” It was a nice change of pace, but it was also comforting, in a sense, to look around and see what people were feeling. Those around me were crying, I’m sure as a result of simply being there, but the emotion that Liam and Noel were able to put into their performances was truly outstanding, and it was certainly felt in the crowd. Friends and family were hugging, jumping together, and singing along to all the words. It was nice to see that for moments, people from different corners could unite.
They finished up their set with “Live Forever” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” rocking out for the final time before stepping off stage. But everyone knew it wasn’t over. It couldn’t be. After more minutes of applause and cheers, the band stepped back on stage to “The Masterplan” and each member of the band was introduced. Joining the Gallaghers on stage were some familiar faces: Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, Gem Archer, Andy Bell, and Joey Waronker, each of whom have had history of some sort with the band.
Arthurs co-founded Oasis in 1991 and played with them until 1999, where Archer took over. Ironically, Archer later formed Beady Eye with Liam and toured with them until Arthurs took over because of an injury sustained by Archer. Andy Bell headed the bass, joining Oasis in 1999 replacing Paul McGuigan. He also helped form Beady Eye in 2011. Finally, with the least history with the band, Joey Waronker played drums for the show. He did, however, play on Liam’s joint album with John Squire in 2024, so he was no stranger.
They finally gave the crowd what they wanted when they performed arguably their three most notable songs: “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Wonderwall,” and “Champagne Supernova.” Not a single person in Soldier Field wasn’t singing along. You could probably hear everyone singing in Milwaukee. And along with the passion of the performance came a nice sentiment.
Liam is no stranger to letting his thoughts slip on stage, and had a few messages for the fans throughout the night, complimenting the stadium, saying “…proper f***ing stadium. F***ing huge,” as well as reassuring US fans that the band loved them. But the most memorable comes during the bridge between “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova.”
“Nice one for coming out. And nice one for putting up with us over all these years,” he said. “I know we are hard work and we must be a f***ing nightmare to support. Well, thank you, we appreciate it.” The statement caught some fans by surprise, with Liam not usually letting his tongue slip with emotional vulnerability. But, it showed reconciliation between the brothers that resonated with the crowd.
This feeling carried over into their final song, where the brothers gave everything they had left. The performance was complete with a fireworks show that seemed to last the whole song and beyond, giving the fans a proper goodbye. It was an unfinished chapter that finally had a good ending, one the fans deserved.
I’d heard these songs when I was a kid and to see them in real life, 10+ years later, with my parents and brother, was something I could only grasp after the show had ended. I’m grateful, as many are, that the show wasn’t just a cash grab, and actually felt like effort was put in to give fans something that they likely had never experienced before, and will likely never get to again.
It’s up for debate whether another tour is on the cards. Vague tweets from Liam and a rumored live album have stirred up rumors, but nothing concrete has been announced since their North American leg finished, apart from other shows in the Live 25’ run in other countries.
If another tour is not to be, one thing is for sure. Their music will live on in the hearts of their fans, for more generations to come. Oasis said it best, “We’re Gonna Live Forever!”