Oasis Reunion: Alan McGee speaks out on the Gallagher brothers’ long-awaited comeback

Virgin Radio

27 Aug 2024, 12:39

As Noel and Liam Gallagher gear up for their epic Oasis reunion, Alan McGee reveals the story behind the long-awaited return of Britpop’s biggest band.

It’s official, folks! The Gallagher brothers have finally put aside their differences and are reuniting for a string of massive Oasis shows in 2025.

Fans have been waiting for this moment for years, and the announcement on August 27th sent shockwaves through the music world.

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But while the fans are already digging out their parka jackets and practicing their best Mancunian drawl, there’s one man who’s been quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes—Alan McGee, the legendary music mogul who first discovered the band.

McGee, the founder of Creation Records, is the man who signed Oasis after a chance encounter at Glasgow’s King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in 1993.

He recently appeared on talkSPORT to dish out all the juicy details about the reunion, and it’s clear he’s just as excited as the rest of us.

Reflecting on that fateful night in Glasgow in his autobiography, McGee recalled, "I could hear all these Manc accents arguing. I looked over and saw Liam Gallagher for the first time. He looked amazing. A proper, Adidased-up mod.

"He had hair like a young Paul Weller. And I thought, ‘He’s got to be the drug dealer’. Because nobody in a band looks that good."

Of course, it wasn’t long before McGee realised that Liam was no dealer, but rather the frontman of what would become one of the biggest bands in British music history.

After hearing them play I Am The Walrus, McGee was sold.

"It was that song that made me absolutely certain I wanted to sign them," he said. "And I don’t think it’s a coincidence because years later I became fascinated by occult writing."

Fast forward 30 years, and Oasis is gearing up for what promises to be one of the biggest comebacks in music history.

The band will be playing a series of massive gigs in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Dublin, and Edinburgh, with tickets going on sale at 9 am on August 31st.

But despite the frenzy surrounding the announcement, McGee admitted that even he wasn’t sure if the reunion was really happening until the last minute.

"I didn’t know. I mean, I only asked Noel yesterday, but I thought I knew," McGee confessed.

"About a week ago, I was up in Scotland with a few of my bands, Ocean Colour Scene and The View, and I was talking to one of the promoters, Geoff Ellis. He looked at me and went, ‘Big year, next year.’ And at that point, I went, ‘That’s on. That’s 100% on.’"

But it wasn’t until McGee finally got confirmation from Noel himself that the news became official.

So why have the famously feuding Gallagher brothers decided to reunite now, after years of very public spats? According to McGee, it’s all about family.

"That’s just brothers, mate," he said.

"Why it’s good for music, the media has really disproportionately kind of victimised rock and roll bands. Maybe that’s the wrong word for it, but isolated them, and Oasis have brought it back.

"And this is how big it actually is... And Oasis are the best of that genre, you know, rock and roll band. You can’t deny it."

As for McGee himself, he’s thrilled to see Oasis back together and ready to rock. "I’ve never, ever not been an Oasis fan," he said.

"I mean, I was an Oasis fan when I saw them in King Tut's in May 1993. I’m still a big fan. And, I mean, I love the music of Noel and Liam, it’s brilliant. I’m just happy for them, and I think it’s good for music."

And good for music it certainly is. The Oasis reunion isn’t just a trip down memory lane; it’s a reminder that rock and roll is still alive and kicking, even in an age dominated by pop and electronic beats.

"Whether you like the music or not, you can’t deny the scale of this," McGee said. "It’s massive."

With tickets expected to sell out faster than pints at an Oasis afterparty, fans will need to act fast to secure their spot at what’s sure to be one of the most talked-about tours of 2025.

And for those who’ve been waiting since the ‘90s for the brothers to bury the hatchet, this reunion is nothing short of a Britpop miracle.

Check our handy guide for everything you need to know about the Oasis reunion.

For Oasis 2025 ticket details and more information, visit OasisMusic.lnk.to/oasisinet.