The long, long-awaited Oasis Live ‘25 reunion tour has proven to be the hottest ticket of the year, with all 19 UK and Ireland shows selling out instantly. Now another layer of anticipation for the shows will be ignited with the news that Richard Ashcroft is confirmed as the special guest for the UK and Ireland leg of the tour. See here for international dates
A huge favourite amongst Oasis fans, Richard Ashcroft is a crowd-pleasing choice who is guaranteed to bring the atmosphere to fever pitch before Oasis hit the stage. Just look at the phenomenal strength of his back catalogue for evidence, from classic Verve anthems like ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Lucky Man’ and ‘Sonnet’ through to solo highlights such as ‘A Song For The Lovers’, ‘Break The Night With Colour’, ‘C’Mon People (We’re Making It Now)’ and ‘Music Is Power’.
It’s also a fitting choice given the long connection and strong mutual respect between them both. One of Oasis’s first national tours was as support to The Verve back in 1993, often playing to just a few hundred people several months before their debut single ‘Supersonic’ was released. They were due to be reunited the following year in Amsterdam but a drunken incident on a ferry resulted in most of the band being sent back to the UK, except for Noel Gallagher who went on to play a solo set instead. The Gallagher brothers famously recounted the tale on the ‘Wibbling Rivalry’ 7” single.
But they were back together again in 1995, with The Verve supporting Oasis at The Bataclan in Paris before featuring as special guests at the giant tent show at Scotland’s Irving Beach. Their friendship extended to recordings too, with Noel dedicating ‘Cast No Shadow’ from ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ to Richard, before Richard later provided backing vocals on ‘All Around The World’ from 1997’s ‘Be Here Now’. Richard, Liam and Noel have been firm friends ever since, and in 2021 Liam featured on a reworked version of C’mon People (We’re Making It Now)’ from Richard’s reworks album ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol 1’
Richard Ashcroft says, “As a fan from day one I was buzzing for many reasons when the news of Oasis’s return was announced. I can say with no exaggeration that the songwriting talent of Noel and Liam’s pure spirit as a lead singer helped to inspire me to create some of my best work. It was the perfection of ‘Live Forever’ that forced me to try and write my own. They dared to be great, made the dreams we had real and I will always remember those days with joy. Now it’s time to create more memories and I’m ready to bring it. See you next summer. Music is power.”
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