Oasis deny popular song to be dumped from reunion tour setlist

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Ahead of their highly-anticipated reunion tour that kicks off next month, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher has denied rumours the rock outfit is set to drop a fan-favourite song from their setlist.

According to a report published by the U.K. Sun, Hello — the leadoff track from their breakout 1995 sophomore album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? — had been dropped from the trek.

“The lyrics of the song would obviously have been a good fit for the reunion tour but the band have decided to leave it in the past,” the newspaper reported a source as saying.

The song utilized a melody written by disgraced U.K. pop star Gary Glitter’s original 1973 track Hello, Hello, I’m Back Again as the backing track as frontman Liam Gallagher sings the lyrics, “Hello, Hello, it’s good to be back, it’s good to be back.”

Glitter, who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, was convicted of sex abuse in 2015 for indecently assaulting three girls in the 1970s.

But as the scuttlebutt made the rounds, Liam took to social media to shoot down speculation that Hello was being dumped from the upcoming tour.

In response to one fan who asked the singer if the news was true, Liam replied, “We’ll be playing HELLO trust me.”

When another follower asked if his response meant the band would be opening with Hello, Liam answered, “YEP, put your hands over your ears if you don’t like it.”

After a feud between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher sidelined Oasis for 15 years, the pair announced they were reuniting for a world tour this year.

“This is it. This is happening,” the Britpop band said in its announcement last August.

“The guns have fallen silent,” Oasis continued. “The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”

When one devotee asked Liam on X what it felt like to be back with his brother, the singer said, “It’s like we’re showing off now.”

Liam has been regularly interacting with Oasis enthusiasts since the reunion was confirmed. He even sounded off when another fanatic shared a purported 21-song setlist.

When one fan sent in a detailed guess of what songs the band would be playing, Liam said “it’s not far off,” adding that he wouldn’t be singing any of his solo tracks. 

During their 18 years, the multi-platinum-selling band spawned numerous chart hits, including Live Forever, Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back in Anger. But the acrimony between the siblings had long simmered for years.

“People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer,” Noel, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, wrote in a statement after their 2009 split also citing “verbal and violent intimidation” as part of his reason for quitting the group.

In 2011, Liam sued Noel for his claims that a hangover caused the cancellation of a 2009 festival performance telling the duo’s fans he wanted them “to know the truth.” The suit was eventually dropped.

But in the intervening years, the pair continued to play Oasis songs as solo artists as calls for a reunion continued to grow.

Liam founded Beady Eye before going solo in 2017 with As You Were. His sophomore LP, Why Me? Why Not., was released in 2019 with C’mon You Know following in 2022.

“I’m here to make music, not stare at the four walls. That’s when I decided to do the solo thing,” he told Postmedia in a 2022 interview.

But Liam insisted that Oasis’ breakup was all down to Noel.

“Noel Gallagher is the one who decided to call it quits because he couldn’t handle being told a couple of f—ing home truths and he knows he couldn’t sack his brother and the main man, so he decided to go home. He was the one who called it quits,” Liam said.

As he connected with younger fans, Liam said that it was great he had been able to reach a new audience. “It’s beautiful seeing young kids at the shows who never got to see Oasis,” he said.

Still, he conceded that the estrangement changed how he viewed himself as a musician.

“It made me more determined,” he said, looking back on the rift. “I’m here to make music, whether that’s with Noel or Dave Grohl or Andrew Wyatt or Kermit the Frog or Mickey the f—ing Mouse. I don’t care who it is. I think it’s a shame we split up. The albums we could have made these last 10 years, or however long it’s been, could have been great. I didn’t spit on his kids or shoot his cat. I think it’s ridiculous. But it’s made me more determined…”

Liam was also certain that Oasis’ success would never be duplicated by any of their younger counterparts.

“Not a chance. No way. Do you think any of these lot — I’m not going to mention names because I don’t want to come across as an old fart — are going to be filling out the Knebworth Festival 25 years from now or even once in their lifetime? I’m getting to do it four f—ing times. So, no, I don’t see them lasting.”

But he added a caveat. “If it happens, I’ll be first to say fair play to them.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com