Oasis didn’t just arrive on the British music scene in 1994 – they tore through it like a storm with their debut album Definitely Maybe, instantly claiming the crown of Britpop kings alongside rivals like Blur and Pulp.
By 1995, Oasis were more than just a band; they were a cultural force, their anthems echoing from every corner of the UK.
At the eye of the cultural storm that was Oasis stood the Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel. Their relationship – a volatile mix of creative brilliance and barely-contained hostility – was both Oasis’s greatest strength and the band’s eventual downfall.
“Noel Gallagher left Oasis. He couldn’t handle the vibes any more. He couldn’t handle the rock ’n’ roll,” Liam once quipped, while Noel once described Liam as “the angriest man you’ll ever meet,” adding, “He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.”
Their relationship was a ticking time bomb, a blend of creative genius and seething tension that fueled their rise but also set the stage for their eventual downfall.
The Gallagher brothers’ rivalry wasn’t just tabloid fodder – it was the lifeblood of Oasis, driving the band to unparalleled heights while threatening to tear it apart at every turn. Every spat, every power struggle, and every cutting remark became part of the Oasis legend, as iconic as the music itself.
Now, with the shocking August 27th announcement of their reunion tour, OASIS LIVE ’25, the impossible seems to have happened: the brothers are back together, ready to take on not just Europe, but the world.
As they prepare to share the stage once more, we revisit the timeline of their infamous feud – a saga that has become one of rock’s most gripping stories.
Liam and Noel Gallagher at the opening night of Steve Coogan’s comedy show in the West End, London, 1995.
1991-1994: Oasis Formation and Early Clashes
Oasis emerged from the Manchester music scene in 1991, a city already renowned for its rich history in British rock. With Liam as the magnetic frontman and Noel as the sharp-witted songwriter and guitarist, the band quickly became a standout act in the burgeoning Britpop movement.
From the outset, the band was marked by the brothers’ clashing personalities. Liam’s unpredictable behaviour often collided with Noel’s more calculated approach, though both were equally fiery.
The first public sign of trouble emerged in 1994 during Oasis’s first North American tour. At a gig at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, Liam, allegedly under the influence, threw a tambourine at Noel, causing him to storm off and quit the band temporarily.
“I stayed in the Luxor hotel in the Pharaoh suite, the room service guy comes dressed as a Pharaoh, we were eating fucking Pharaoh burgers and having one of those terrible cocaine conversations about water pressure in the desert,” Noel recalled in an interview with Uncut magazine, describing his retreat to Las Vegas after the incident.
Noel eventually rejoined the band and the incident would later inspire the song “Talk Tonight,” but the seeds of their infamous rivalry had been firmly planted, setting the tone for the explosive relationship that would define Oasis.
1995: The ‘Cricket Bat’ Incident
As Oasis rocketed to fame with the release of Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, their internal conflicts became increasingly public.
In 1995, during the recording sessions for Morning Glory in Wales, tensions boiled over when Liam brought a group of friends to the studio while Noel was working. In response, Noel reportedly hit Liam over the head with a cricket bat, an incident that has since become rock folklore.
That same year, the brothers’ heated interview with NME, later released as the single “Wibbling Rivalry,” captured their abrasive relationship and became the highest-charting interview release in the UK.
“You can stick your thousand pounds right up your fucking arse till it comes out your fucking big toe,” Liam spat during the fiery exchange.
1996: The MTV Unplugged No-Show and U.S. Tour Drama
The Gallagher brothers’ feud took another public turn in 1996 when Oasis were scheduled to perform on MTV Unplugged.
Liam pulled out of the performance last minute, citing a sore throat, leaving Noel to take the stage alone. “As they said, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Oasis,’ we walked out and [Liam] wasn’t there,” Noel recounted. Despite Liam’s absence, Noel delivered a memorable performance, though Liam heckled from the balcony throughout the show.
Just days later, Liam refused to join the band on their US tour, claiming he needed to stay behind to sort out his house for his then-wife. This led to the cancellation of several shows, further straining the already fragile relationship between the brothers.
Brothers and once-bandmates Noel and Liam Gallagher in non-holographic form in 1996.
2000: The Barcelona Incident
By 2000, the Gallagher brothers’ relationship had reached a breaking point, and an incident in Barcelona would cement the rift between them. While out drinking, tensions that had been simmering for years came to a head when Liam reportedly questioned the legitimacy of Noel’s daughter with ex-wife Meg Mathews, Anaïs.
The comment struck a nerve, leading to a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical altercation.
Reflecting on the incident years later, Noel admitted, “I’ve never forgiven him because he’s never apologised.”
The fight was so intense that Noel walked out on the tour, leaving the band in turmoil. Although he eventually returned, the incident left a lasting scar on their relationship, with Noel noting, “He’s my brother, but he’s at arm’s length until he apologises for what he’s done.”
2009: The Final Straw in Paris
The end of Oasis came in August 2009, and it was as dramatic as anyone could have imagined.
The band were set to headline the Rock en Seine festival in Paris, but backstage, the tension between Liam and Noel reached its boiling point. The argument that erupted was over something seemingly trivial—an ad for Liam’s clothing line, Pretty Green, in the festival program. But it quickly escalated into a full-blown fight.
According to Noel, Liam came into the dressing room wielding one of Noel’s guitars “like an axe.”
The argument got so heated that Liam smashed the guitar, shattering any hopes of reconciliation. Noel described the moment in a later interview: “The details are not important and of too great a number to list. But I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends, and comrades has become intolerable.”
That night, Noel made a decision that shocked the music world. “It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight,” he announced.
“People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.” This statement, issued just moments after the blowout, marked the end of Oasis. The band’s remaining tour dates were immediately cancelled, and the group disbanded, leaving fans stunned.
Liam, for his part, later dismissed the incident as just another fight between brothers. “I wasn’t going to let him walk all over me,” he said.
But for Noel, it was the final straw in a long history of conflict. “I had enough when Liam and Bonehead—this is true—started arguing over a leather jacket. I am not even kidding.”
The Paris incident didn’t just break a guitar; it broke the band for good. The Gallagher brothers went their separate ways, each pursuing solo careers while continuing to trade insults in the press and on social media.
The dream of an Oasis reunion seemed well and truly dead – until now.
