After 16 years of bitter feuding, broken promises, and countless “will they or won’t they” moments, the Gallagher brothers have finally done the unthinkable. On July 4, 2025, Oasis stepped back onto the stage at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and the world collectively lost its mind.
The Great Wait Is Over
The moment fans had been dreaming about since 2009 finally arrived with all the drama and spectacle you’d expect from rock’s most notorious siblings. Liam and Noel Gallagher walked out arm-in-arm to a deafening roar from 75,000 fans, opening with “Hello” and its perfectly fitting lyric: “It’s good to be back.”
The symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone. After years of public spats, lawsuits, and enough bad blood to fill Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, the brothers who once conquered the world with their swagger and anthems were finally sharing the same stage again.
A Night That Felt Like History
The Cardiff show wasn’t just a concert – it was a cultural event. Fans traveled from South Korea, Germany, and the Netherlands just to witness this moment. The BBC ran a live stream of people getting off trains at Cardiff Central Station, because apparently even watching Oasis fans arrive was newsworthy.
And why wouldn’t it be? This was the band that sold over 40 million albums worldwide, whose debut “Definitely Maybe” became the fastest-selling debut in UK history. These were the songs that defined a generation, and now they were being performed by the original lineup for the first time since Barack Obama was in his first year as president.
The Show That Delivered Everything
The setlist read like a greatest hits compilation come to life. “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” “Live Forever,” “Champagne Supernova” – every song was a singalong moment that had 75,000 people losing their voices in unison. The band kicked off with “Acquiesce,” whose lyrics “Because we need each other, we believe in one another” felt like a not-so-subtle message about the brothers’ reconciliation.
Liam, now 52, proved his voice hasn’t lost any of its sneering power, while 58-year-old Noel focused on his guitar work, letting the music do the talking. The brief moments of interaction between them – a hand clasp here, a shared glance there – were dissected by fans like ancient texts.
The Ticket Chaos That Broke the Internet
Getting tickets to these shows was like winning the lottery, except harder. When tickets went on sale in August 2024, an estimated 14 million people scrambled for just 1.4 million seats across the initial 17 UK and Ireland dates. The demand was so intense it made Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour look like a local pub gig.
The chaos was so legendary that Liam even joked about it from the stage: “Was it worth the £40,000 you paid for the ticket?” he quipped before launching into “Slide Away.” The reference to inflated resale prices got one of the biggest laughs of the night.
More Than Just a Reunion
What made this comeback special wasn’t just the nostalgia factor. The band sounded revitalized, with Noel’s guitar work described by attendees as some of his best in decades. The addition of drummer Joey Waronker (whom Noel introduced as their “14th drummer”) brought fresh energy to classic tracks.
The emotional peak came during “Live Forever,” when the band dedicated the song to Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota, who had tragically died in a car crash just days before. His image appeared on the stadium screens as 75,000 voices sang the anthemic chorus – a moment that transcended music and became something genuinely moving.
The Brothers Are Back, But Are They Really?
Despite the onstage unity, reports suggest the brothers are still maintaining their distance. Sources claim they stayed at separate hotels 20 miles apart after the show, with Liam at the Celtic Manor Resort and Noel at the Parkgate Hotel next to the stadium. Old habits die hard, apparently.
But for the two hours they shared that stage, none of that mattered. Fans described the experience as “biblical,” “divine,” and “better than they ever imagined.” One attendee who had seen them at the legendary Knebworth shows in 1996 said this performance was even better.
What’s Next for the Phenomenon
This Cardiff show was just the beginning of a massive 41-date world tour that will take them to the US, Australia, Brazil, and Japan through November. The American leg kicks off at Chicago’s Soldier Field on August 28, followed by stops at MetLife Stadium and the Rose Bowl.
For a band that once seemed destined to remain a cautionary tale about sibling rivalry, Oasis has proven that sometimes the impossible really can happen. The guns have fallen silent, the stars have aligned, and rock’s greatest comeback story is just getting started.
The great wait is indeed over, and it was worth every minute.
