Aussie fans have been eagerly awaiting dates for Oasis’ 2025 reunion tour, but for now, it looks like the band will be sticking to the Americas.
While there’s still hope for an Australian leg, it feels like the perfect time to look back at the band’s most infamous visit Down Under: their chaotic 1998 tour, a rollercoaster of rowdy rock ‘n’ roll behaviour that earned Liam Gallagher a lifetime ban from Cathay Pacific airlines.
By 1998, Oasis had already earned their place as Britpop royalty, largely due to the runaway success of their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. The record stormed to No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Charts, buoyed by iconic tracks like “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” and spent months dominating the Australian airwaves.
But when the Gallaghers touched down in Australia, they were far from regal—instead, they brought a whirlwind of chaos with them.
Liam Gallagher Lands a Life Ban From Cathay Pacific
The trouble started even before the band touched Australian soil. Mid-flight from Hong Kong to Perth, Oasis turned Cathay Pacific flight CX171 into a rock ‘n’ roll nightmare. Passengers and crew were subjected to a torrent of swearing, object-throwing, and smoking in prohibited areas.
At one point, the situation became so tense that the pilot reportedly considered diverting the flight to kick them off at Perth Airport to meet police. The final straw? According to reports, Liam, furious over the shape of a scone, allegedly threatened to stab the pilot with a pen, a claim that seems absurdly fitting for a band known for its unpredictability.
“They were abusive. They were disgusting towards the aircrew,” one shocked passenger said of the sordid scenes. “They were nasty, they were destructive, they were smoking on board.”
But Liam said later: “I didn’t throw anything. I don’t know what they’re talking about. And they told me to shut my mouth.”
Cathay Pacific laid down an ultimatum—they would only reconsider their ban if the band guaranteed good behaviour moving forward. When Noel was asked if he could assure such conduct, he dryly replied, “I am not the rest of the band.”
Liam, however, was less diplomatic. When a local TV reporter asked if he thought he’d ever be allowed back on the airline, Liam famously quipped, “I don’t give a flying fuck, because you know what, kids? I’d rather walk.”
It was that very interview that sealed his fate: Cathay Pacific swiftly banned him for life.
Cathay Pacific’s spokesperson, Chuck Fai Kwan, later confirmed: “Cathay Pacific has taken the decision to refuse any further carriage to Liam Gallagher and people known to have been causing a nuisance on the flight in question.”
The Ruckus Continues Down Under
The turbulence didn’t stop after they landed. In Brisbane, outside the band’s luxury apartments at Quay West, 20-year-old British fan Benjamin Jones was hoping for a quick snapshot with his idols.
Instead, he received a headbutt from Liam that left him with a broken nose and severe swelling. After being treated in hospital, Jones filed an official police complaint.
On February 6th, 1998, Liam appeared in Brisbane Magistrates’ Court, charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. The courtroom was packed to the rafters with over 50 photographers and journalists, and 20 extra police officers were called in to manage security.
Prosecutors initially pushed for a $100,000 bail bond, fearing Liam wouldn’t return for his June court date, but his lawyer, Kelly McGroarty, successfully negotiated it down to $10,000. McGroarty noted that Gallagher had more to lose by missing the court date, including the disappointment of the 6,000 fans attending Oasis’ show that same night in Brisbane.
The controversy didn’t end in Brisbane. In Sydney, Liam was accused of harassing a woman in a bar after he reached out to touch her as she passed by. Later, when confronted, he reportedly stuffed a dirty tissue down her top.
Meanwhile, Noel wasn’t content to let Liam hog the spotlight. While his brother was wreaking havoc, Noel was stirring up his own controversy. Asked about the global outpouring of grief after Princess Diana’s shocking death, Noel quipped: “The woman’s dead. Shut up. Get over it.” He went on to criticise the public’s reaction as “an outpouring of guilt, not sympathy.”
Later, during a television interview with E! News, Noel would poke fun at the Cathay Pacific flight fiasco. Dripping with arrogance as he waved his Platinum American Express card around, the rocker declared, “This could buy you the airplanes we get thrown off.”
“Talking about upping the ante, when we get to South America, we’re going to set fire to some bastard rainforests as well, man. Fucking trees. Getting in the way of all the parking lots.”
“Anyway, I’m off to buy a ship,” he added.
Yet, amidst the chaos, Oasis still managed to deliver some unforgettable performances. Their Melbourne Festival Hall show saw the band tear through a setlist packed with hits like “Champagne Supernova” and “Supersonic,” proving that no matter the controversy, their music still reigned supreme.
With Oasis set to reunite for their 2025 world tour, it’s clear that the band’s knack for causing a stir is far from over.
