When I was on the radio and played a song by Oasis, I always said that they were the one band I would love to see get back together. There didn’t seem to be any hope as both of the brothers had carved out their own individual careers and neither seemed humble enough to pick up the phone and talk to each other. That has just all changed, as they announced this week that after 15 years apart they are getting back together.
Those of us that have been in Mallorca a few years will remember Oasis played on the island in 2002 at the old cricket pitch in Magaluf. It was part of the Isladencanta Festival and around 15,000 people turned up. Unfortunately, we had a show that night in Pirates, but I remember us going onto the roof to listen to some of it as it was not far away from us.
I’ve had the good fortune to meet and interview two of the drummers in the band over the years. Who just happen to be brothers, like Noel and Liam. This was an interview I did with Alan in 2018.
Always a pleasure to chat with a music legend. Last Sunday at Pirates, I met and chatted to Alan White, who was the drummer with Oasis from 1995-2004. I’ve met him a few times before as he has a home here on the island. He was part of arguably their best album “What’s the Story Morning Glory” including “Wonderwall” “Roll With it” and he’s the drummer in the pool on the “Don’t look back in anger” video. In Oasis, he was known by the phrase “Alan White – He’s alright”. White was also entrusted with the job of being Liam Gallagher’s ‘official’ drinking partner, and was also said to be his best friend in the band. Together, the pair were known as ‘Bert and Ernie’, named after the Sesame Street-characters. We had a good catch up, and I had to ask whether they would ever get back together. He said he doubted it as while Liam wanted to, Noel just isn’t interested. He did say though that if it did ever happen the brothers individually have said that Alan would be on drums, Paul “Bonehead” Arthur’s on keyboards and guitar and Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan on bass. I, for one, would buy a ticket.
Alan’s brother Steve is also a drumming legend, who played with Paul Weller and the Style Council. In fact Steve was the youngest musician to play at Live Aid in 1985 when he was just 20. He also found himself in 2001 filling in for his younger brother Alan in the hot seat for Oasis on the band’s American tour with the Black Crowes.
I said earlier that both the Gallagher’s have carved out their own music careers. My favourite Liam track is “Wall of glass” and my favourite track from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is “Pretty Boy”. Also, Noel is brilliant at talking football on Talksport and Liam is hilarious on Twitter.
If I had to choose my top three Oasis songs, they would be.
- Don’t look back in anger
- Champagne Supernova
- Live Forever
At the time of writing, we don’t know who the support act is going to be. Any suggestions would be welcome.
I hope the prices of tickets are reasonable enough for the real fans to be able to go. Will it be worth going to? Definitely, will they last the whole tour? Maybe!
Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
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