Manchester, 1991. Little did the world know, but one of the biggest bands was silently on the making. Better yet, silence isn’t a word that fits the magnitude of Oasis. If there is something they have never been, it’s quiet.
Ambitious, explosive, arrogant, irreverent, confident and fearless are attempts to classify the Gallagher brothers. Noel and Liam, the iconic duo that raised a generation by paving the golden age of Brit rock, made history with songs that quickly became the soundtrack for the youngsters.
The essence of their time, a period where change was sought, was perfectly captured in lyrics that spark an undeniable feeling of freedom.
“Maybe I just want to fly / I want to live, I don’t want to die / Maybe I just want to breath / Maybe I just don’t believe / Maybe you’re the same as me / We see things they’ll never see / You and I are gonna live forever.”
A certain sense of rock n’ roll optimism was strong enough to elevate the brothers from emerging artists to pure rockstars. Their boldness was a cultural manifesto, a shout inviting people to be big, loud and invincible.
The band, featuring Liam Gallagher as the vocalist, Noel Gallagher as vocalist and guitarist, Andy Bell as bassist and Gem Archer as guitarist, released seven studio albums, being recognized by Guinness World Records as the most successful musical group in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 2005.
Their debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994) festures iconic songs, like “Live Forever” and “Supersonic”. But it was their second album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? (1995) that sparked their success, with bangers such as “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. They were, undeniably, a global phenomenon.
However, all of this energetic personality was not only directed toward the show. Noel and Liam had their differences and never tried too hard to hide them.
OASIS’ BREAKAWAY
Over the years, the brothers had more conflicts, arguments and fights than released songs. They were opposites. While Noel was witty and sarcastic, Liam was charismatic and chaotic. Interviews, tours and backstages were the set for unpredictable explosions. No one ever knew in what mood they would be found and what kind of reaction could surface from them.
This land of uncertainties culminated on the point of no return. Right before a concert in Paris, back in 2009, a discussion was all the brothers could take. Without an explanation, much less a goodbye, Noel announced his departure from the band. Just like this, it was all over.
They both released solo work, but the shadows of their legacy kept haunting whatever plan they intended to materialize.
It may be the ambition for money that spoke louder than past grudges, but what we know for sure is that after 15 years of no public contact, the brothers finally faced each other personally and announced a world tour.
In August 2024 the siblings released a joint statement, where they said: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”
THE RETURN
Time has a funny way of unfolding, and throughout almost two decades, the distancing, slight maturity gained and endless media pressure, resulted in a reconciliation. Finally, the fans’ prayers were heard and their loyalty was rewarded.
It is not only appealing. Obviously, one of the biggest bands announcing a reunion tour is enough to lift people’s moods, but there is a strong meaning behind this act of bravery and forgiveness.
It is not easy to let the guard down, step back and admit that, maybe, you were too severe on your statements and decisions. But by getting the band and the family back on track, Oasis teaches that even the most broken ties can be patched.
With that, they allow an entire generation to get back to their youth. By uniting the old fans with the new ones, the Gallagher brothers prove that there is nothing more powerful than music. The sound they made together, not only brought them closer together again, but also opened a memory box for people whose lyrics followed them through their entire lives.
Now, November 22nd and 23rd, a warm weekend in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, was the set for their farewell from the stages. After 41 shows and 142 days on the road, the duo ended this musical marathon with a historical show at MorumBis stadium.
Catharsis and communion, no better way to describe their impact.
These brothers being together again, hand in hand; all of those people from all sorts of ages, together in one place and connected by music; made it clear that this is what life is about.
And, of course, the same uncertainty that has always followed the duo is still vividly present. Is this the new end? Will they enjoy this moment of closeness and do some more projects?
Well, all we have is an enigmatic message posted on their socials.
“There will now be a pause for a period of reflection”
This tour may have been a proper goodbye, since 16 years ago they weren’t quite able to do that. Maybe, the heat from the public convinced them to stay longer under the spotlights.
But what we know for sure, is that their musical legacy is more alive than ever. Doesn’t matter how much time passes, their verses will always have the power to immerse us in raw emotions, heal our hopeless hearts and give us breath whenever we feel like we can’t.
And that, my friends, is Oasis.
The article above was edited by Helena Maluf
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