As Oasis reunite, we look back at the highs and lows of the Britpop giants

LONDON (AP) — Oasis announced a reunion tour Tuesday, 15 years after the Gallagher brothers’ feud forced the classic Britpop band to break up. Here’s a look at Oasis’ highs and lows:

1967

Noel Gallagher, songwriter and guitarist for Oasis, was born in Manchester.

1972

Younger brother Liam Gallagher, frontman of Oasis, was born in Manchester.

1991

Bassist Paul McGuigan, guitarist Paul Arthurs, and drummer Tony McCarroll formed the band Rain. Liam Gallagher was added as vocalist and came up with a different name based on water: Oasis. With the addition of Liam Gallagher’s older brother, the band took a new direction.

1994

Oasis’ debut album, “Definitely Maybe,” was released and reached number one on the UK albums chart. “Darlings of the English alternative scene, these four Manchester lads are alternately adored by British critics as raw retro-popsters with a Beatles twist and loathed as a Fab Four pastiche,” wrote an Associated Press review at the time.

1995

Oasis’ second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” was a huge success and became one of the UK’s best-selling albums of all time.

McCarroll, the original drummer, was fired and later awarded £550,000 after suing.

1996

Oasis won Best Group, Best Album and Best Video (for “Wonderwall”) at the Brit Awards, saying backstage that the only award that mattered to them was the latter, because it was voted for by fans. “Anything voted for by corporate pigs means nothing,” Noel said of the other trophies, which were awarded by industry insiders.

Oasis embark on a US tour that neither begins nor ends well. Minutes before leaving London, Liam Gallagher refuses to board, forcing Noel Gallagher to replace him on the first date in Chicago. Liam rejoins the band a few days later, explaining that he needed to deal with a “personal issue” and denying that the band is about to break up.

Two-thirds of the way through the tour, the band returned home early, citing “internal differences”. Oasis denied that sibling rivalry or poor ticket sales were the cause of the cancellation, and blamed the decision on Noel. The band stated that they would begin work on their third album due to his anticipated return.

1997

Their third album, “Be Here Now,” is out. Tapes of early takes were stolen during the quiet recording. Noel told Entertainment Weekly that fans shouldn’t expect to see Oasis playing festivals, which he likens to “traveling circuses” – even though some of the band’s most tumultuous moments will be at festivals over the next decade. He also has harsh words for Courtney Love, saying he finds Alanis Morissette, Sinead O’Connor and Bjork “annoying.”

1998

The band’s first Australian tour got off to a bad start in February, when a Cathay Pacific pilot threatened to remove his 30-member entourage from the plane for disruptive and offensive behaviour on a flight from Hong Kong to Perth. Liam denied any offensive behaviour, but instead blamed “rude” passengers and a tense crew for the six formal complaints lodged against the band. Noel said he was asleep and was unaware of the disturbance. Liam and the other members of his entourage were banned by the airline.

Liam is accused of headbutting a 19-year-old British tourist who was taking pictures outside the band’s Brisbane hotel. The teenager drops criminal charges and says he will press charges instead. Noel apologises for the band’s row during a Brisbane show and for refusing to perform an encore.

Later that year, Liam was arrested in London after a photographer claimed the singer punched him and broke his equipment outside a pub, but no charges were ultimately brought.

1999

Two other founding members, McGuigan and Arthurs, left the band within two weeks of each other. Arthurs said he left to spend more time with his family, and the Gallaghers suggested McGuigan might do the same. The brothers say they did not try to persuade them to stay.

2000

Release of Oasis’ fourth album, ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’. Noel suggests the band have been on the verge of breaking up before, but adds that Oasis are past the ‘hedonistic’ phase.

In May, the band’s management announced that Noel would no longer be playing overseas and that he would be temporarily replaced as guitarist. The decision was prompted by internal friction, but band spokespeople have not given further details. Noel rejoined the band for their final UK dates.

Noel told the BBC in June that he left the band because of Liam’s behaviour, calling his younger brother a “monkey” and a “little idiot”. Noel has taken credit for keeping the band together and said it was “impossible for me to be on the same stage and in the same room as” Liam.

Within two weeks, Oasis had pulled out of rock festival concerts in Switzerland and Portugal after being pelted with objects on stage, receiving criticism for their behaviour from organisers.

2002

Release of their fifth album, “Heathen Chemistry”.

Oasis have taken on the British Army over their unauthorised use of two old songs in a recruiting video for Scotland’s Highlanders regiment, leading to the recall of 300 copies.

In August, Noel and two other band members were injured but not seriously in a car accident in Indianapolis.

In December, a fight between guests at a luxury Munich hotel and members and entourage of the band Oasis left Liam’s teeth broken. He was accused of kicking a police officer outside the hotel’s nightclub, and his remaining shows in Germany were cancelled so Liam could undergo surgery. The band called the fight an “unprovoked attack”. Two years later, Munich prosecutors said they were unable to determine who started the fight and dropped the investigation after fining Liam €50,000.

2004

Following the departure of drummer Alan White, Oasis brought in Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey to replace him for their headlining set at Glastonbury Festival, intensifying comparisons between the band and the Beatles.

2005

Their sixth album, “Don’t Believe the Truth,” was released.

Oasis’ 1995 hit “Wonderwall” has been voted the greatest British song of all time by Virgin Radio listeners, beating Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and The Beatles’ “Let It Be”.

2008

In September, Noel was assaulted at the Virgin Festival in Toronto when a man rushed the headliner from backstage and pushed him. Noel fell onto his speakers and was taken to hospital after the show with a fractured rib and injured ligaments.

Their last album before the split, “Dig Out Your Soul”, was released.

2009

Oasis claims China is blocking the band’s mainland debut because of Noel’s participation in a 1997 concert calling for an independent Tibet.

Noel leaves Oasis just before a concert at a festival near Paris, this time apparently for good since the band splits up. He mentions “verbal and violent intimidation”, without giving details.

2011

Liam is suing Noel over claims that his hangover caused him to cancel a performance at the 2009 festival. He said in a statement that the lawsuit was not about money, but that he wanted an apology and for Oasis fans to “know the truth” about what happened, and that laryngitis had prevented him from performing at the concert. The lawsuit was later dropped.

2012

Liam performs ‘Wonderwall’ without Noel at the London Olympics closing ceremony.

2013

Noel reportedly turned down a £20million offer to reunite with Liam for an Oasis anniversary tour.

2017

Liam performed at a charity concert for victims of the deadly Manchester Arena bombing, sparking speculation that the brothers could reunite. He criticised Noel’s absence, saying he had shown his “true colours”. Organisers of the charity concert claimed that Noel – whose spokesman said he was unable to attend the concert due to a family trip – had approved the use of Oasis’ music at the concert and would donate royalties from “Don’t Look Back in Anger” to the British Red Cross’ One Love Manchester fund. Noel was later announced as the headliner for a concert in honour of the victims when the venue reopened.

2019

Liam told the AP he would like to reunite with Noel, but accused him of going it alone so he can “have all the money and be surrounded by all the men who say yes to everything and who he can fire and hire whenever he wants.”

2024

Oasis have announced a 14-date UK and Ireland tour for summer 2025. The band announced they will play at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on 4 and 5 July; at Heaton Park in Manchester, on 11 and 12 July and 19 and 20 July; at Wembley Stadium in London, on 25 and 26 July and 2 and 3 August; at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, on 8 and 9 August; and at Croke Park in Dublin, on 16 and 17 August. Tickets go on sale at 9am UK time on Saturday.