LIAM and Noel Gallagher clasp hands as they take the stage for the Oasis concert fans worldwide thought they would never see.
The reunited brothers marched out last night for their first gig in 16 years to deafening cheers from a 74,500 sell-out crowd at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Liam, giving some oomph to his trademark swagger, told fans “Manchester vibes in the area” before the band launched into Hello, the opening track on their multi-million selling second album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?.
They then smashed into 1995 B-side and fan favourite Acquiesce.
The poignancy of the lyrics — including “because we need each other, we believe in one another” — was lost on no one in the crowd.
Many believed they would never see the day Noel, 58, was back on stage with Liam, 52, after their bitter feud which erupted when Oasis split up in 2009.
Liam, boiling in a thick coat on stage, shouted: “Yes, beautiful people, simmer down”, as the band settled in for their set — which was ear-splittingly loud thanks to 19 enormous speakers at the front of the Principality Stadium stage.
Fans who travelled from across the world to hear the band’s hits weren’t disappointed, with Noel and Liam curating a set list mainly from their first two albums, 1994’s Definitely Maybe and 1995’s (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?.
Both records celebrated their 30th anniversaries in the past year and the crowd lapped up every second of the nostalgic tracks.
Liam kept his words short and sweet, joking: “You’re still on the glue down here, then”, in reference to fans going wild as they played their 1995 No 1 hit Some Might Say, then Bring It On Down.
Before Cigarettes & Alcohol, Liam dished out orders to the crowd, urging them: “I want you to do us a favour. I don’t ask much.
“I want you to turn around, every single one of you. Put your arms around each other like you like each other and when the tune starts you jump up and down. It’s f***ing easy.”
The concrete floor literally shook under the weight of tens of thousands of frenzied fans who dutifully jumped up and down during Fade Away, Supersonic and Roll With It.
In the stands model Cara Delevingne danced with actress Anya Taylor-Joy, while Danny Dyer, singer Louis Tomlinson and Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno bounced around.
Fans had feared Liam was struggling with his voice prior to the show after he was seen arriving at rehearsals with throat sweets.
But on stage he sounded better than ever and when he handed over to his brother, he looked like he still had plenty of gas in the tank.
Taking the mic from Liam, Noel thanked the fans before crooning Talk Tonight, Half The World Away and Little by Little — the only song in the set to be taken from their 2002 album Heathen Chemistry.
Noel and Liam worked so hard to make sure this set list celebrated everything that was great about Oasis.
Source
Noel’s moment in the spotlight was lapped up thanks to flawless vocals and deft guitar handling.
At points he appeared genuinely taken aback by the reaction of the crowd — allowing him to soak in the atmosphere as they sang for him.
Liam returned to his older sibling for D’You Know What I Mean?.
In terms of musicality and ability, both Noel and Liam have bettered with age, with Oasis stalwarts Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, Gem Archer and Andy Bell working their way through the classics.
Drummer Joey Waronker looked just at home — despite never playing live with the band before.
Noel and Liam rounded off the mellow middle segment of the show with Stand by Me, before Cast No Shadow and Slide Away.
Before the brothers took to the stage, insiders told The Sun the pair were “good as gold,” and said that the atmosphere backstage was “positive and zen”.
Oasis numbers
70m records sold worldwide
8 number one albums and 8 number one singles
6 Brit Awards and 9 Q Awards
255+ arguments and 1 reconciliation
A source added: “Noel and Liam worked so hard to make sure this set list celebrated everything that was great about Oasis.
“They felt so confident when they went out on that stage.
“After the final run through with the band this week, they said there was nothing more they could do and it was in the lap of the gods.”
The crowd, thousands of whom sprinted through the gates at 5pm once they opened to get to the front of the stage, were on song all night, bellowing out their favourites.
Noel and Liam are back on stage tonight for a second sold-out show in Cardiff before a break until a run of five gigs at Manchester’s Heaton Park from next Friday.
Shows at London’s Wembley Stadium and Edinburgh’s Murrayfield follow, before Oasis head to Dublin and on to North America.
Staff to stars
OASIS have hired Justin Bieber’s bodyguard and Madonna’s chef for their reunion tour.
A source said of East London hard man and security expert Ian Norrington: “He’s one of the best in the security business and looked after Justin for years.
“Oasis know the tour’s going to be frenzied so there’s no one better. At the height of his fame, Justin’s fans were wild and the crowds around him were huge.
“Ian’s an old hand and is the perfect fit.”
He is on board for the global 41-date sold out run.
Another insider said of chef Darren Staats: “He knows exactly what the band want to eat on tour. It’s got to be healthy and nutritious — as well giving them plenty of energy to get through the gigs.
“Darren’s previously worked for Madonna and Tori Amos.
“There’s focus on clean foods, as well as rustling up some of their favourite grub as a treat.”
