LONDON — Some Oasis fans celebrated like a Champagne Supernovawhile others looked back angrily on Saturday, as online ticket sites struggled with demand for the band's first performances in 15 years.
The Britpop-era giant, led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, will play 17 shows in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin starting July 4.
Over 1,000,000 tickets went on sale on Saturday morning, with prices starting at around £74 (slightly below $100) and going as much as a £506 ($666) package that features a pre-show party and merchandise.
Representatives for the band said later within the day that each one tickets had been sold, but hinted that more shows could also be announced, saying: “Anticipation is now rapidly building for details of the international tour dates.”
Many fans were left frustrated of their attempts to get their hands on tickets. Some individuals who tried to access the few authorized sales sites, including Ticketmaster and Gigs and Tours, received error messages, while many others were informed they were in an extended queue.
Josh Jeffery, a videographer who lives near Edinburgh, spent hours working his way up the queue for online tickets before “the whole site crashed” at the ultimate step.
“I gave up, my friends gave up,” said Jeffery, who first saw Oasis in Manchester as a young person in 1996. “We just decided it was too much effort.”
“As I stood in line, I heard “Wonderwall” blaring from my neighbor's house,” he added ruefully. “He obviously had a parking ticket.”
Some fans were able to snap up pre-sale tickets on Friday, with barista Isabelle Doyle saying she was “over the moon” after snagging two seats to one of the band's London shows.
“I've been a fan of Oasis for about 10 years, literally since I used to be 11,” said the 21-year-old. “To finally have the prospect to see them after they helped me grow as a young person is completely amazing and I'm so excited.”
Within hours, tickets were being offered for sale on resale websites for up to £6,000 ($7,800). Oasis issued a warning, saying tickets could only be resold at face value through authorized websites.
“Tickets appearing on other secondary ticket sites are either fake or cancelled by the event organizers,” it said in a statement.
Megan Gordon, a 25-year-old fan from Manchester, said she was “furious” about not getting tickets.
“I don’t really want to pay the resale price, but I will,” she said.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis were one of the dominant British bands of the 1990s, producing hits such as “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova” and “Don't Look Back in Anger.” Their sound was driven by sing-along rock choruses and the explosive chemistry between guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher and his singer sibling Liam.
Oasis split in 2009 when Noel Gallagher left the band after a backstage argument with his brother at a festival near Paris. Although the Gallagher brothers, now aged 57 and 51, have not performed together since then, both regularly play Oasis songs in their solo performances. They have also criticised each other in the press.
When announcing the reunion, the band said their fans would experience “the spark and intensity” that only comes from sharing the stage together.
Alice Enders, head of research at media consultancy Enders Analysis, said touring has become the main source of income for many musicians and Oasis can expect a big payday – even if the tour, which is limited to the UK and Ireland for now, pales in comparison to global giants such as Taylor Swift's “Eras” tour.
She said Oasis needed to catch up in a live music market where “spending, consumer spending and demand for festivals have risen inexorably”.
“Basically, they missed a 15-year megatrend,” Enders said. “So it's good that they're jumping on the bandwagon now. … If they wait too long, they'll just be a bunch of old geezers.”
The tour is scheduled to begin at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on July 4 and 5. Oasis will also perform at Heaton Park in Manchester on July 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20; London's Wembley Stadium on July 25, 26 and 30 and August 2 and 3; Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium on August 8, 9 and 12; and Dublin's Croke Park on August 16 and 17.
The host cities are expecting an economic boost for hotels, bars, restaurants and shops – especially Manchester, the band's hometown and a city known for its musical heritage.
“This is a homecoming concert,” he said. “When they walk on stage for the primary time, it’s going to be a really special moment.”
Fans acknowledged that given the brothers' frequent feuds, there is a risk that not all dates will go according to plan. But most were undeterred.
Louise Hudson has got tickets for London's Wembley Arena and is planning a “family night” with her brother, sister-in-law and niece.
And as for the Gallaghers: “If they fight, they fight,” she said. “Families, eh?”
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