Inside Liam and Noel Gallagher’s tumultuous sibling rivalry

After years of teases, rumours and constant begging from fans, it appears that Noel and Liam Gallagher are set to bury the hatchet and reform one of Britain’s biggest ever bands.

Music industry sources have suggested that an Oasis reunion now looks ‘more do-able than it has been for years’, with Glastonbury bosses reportedly hoping to lure the band to the festival for a headline slot next summer.

The news has sent the band’s fanbase into meltdown as many did not expect to see the bickering pair work together again after their tumultuous split in 2009.

The band’s break-up came after a backstage bust-up in Paris, including a barrage of insults being traded and a guitar being ‘wielded like an axe’, to end a 15-year career which saw its fair share of Rock and roll antics from both siblings.

From using tambourines as weapons, no-showing gigs and numerous booze-fuelled altercations – MailOnline takes a look at the infamous sibling rivalry between two of this country’s most famous musical icons.

Early tensions – the 90s prove turbulent for the brothers:  

There had been early tensions between the brothers ever since they rose to huge fame in the 1990s. 

The first notable cracks in the relationship between the pair emerged on their first American tour in 1994.

During the shows Liam frequently changed the lyrics of Noel’s songs to annoy both his brother and American listeners.

In addition, during a showcase gig at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles Liam reportedly started to fling insults at the band, and chucked a tambourine at his brother.

Disgusted, Noel stormed off and disappeared for a couple of days. He eventually returned, but turned the incident into the song Talk Tonight. 

Then in 1995 During the recording of the second Oasis album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory in Wales, Liam brought a group of people back to the studio while Noel was trying to work. 

Noel responded to this disruption by reportedly hitting his brother over the head with a cricket bat. 

During the same period, the brothers were interviewed by music mag NME when they infamously repeatedly told each other to ‘f**k off’ in a memorable spat.

The next bust-up came in 1996 as Oasis’ MTV Unplugged performance arrived and Liam pulled out at the last minute.

Noel announced at the time: ‘Liam ain’t gonna be with us ’cause he’s got a sore throat, so you’re stuck with the ugly four’. 

However despite pulling out due to ‘illness’ he then proceeded to watch the whole show from the crowd. 

Next – in 2000 a tour in Spain saw a drunken altercation occur between the pair.

Noel punched his brother and split his lip open after Liam questioned the paternity of Noel’s child with Meg Matthews, Anais.

Noel then left the band for the second time and the band completed the rest of the European tour without him. 

The beginning of the end – A back stage bust up and their official split: 

Noel and Liam have been trading insults ever since Oasis split at their final concert in Paris – Rock En Seine – in 2009 after a backstage bust-up.

According to reports an argument broke out, with Liam wielding Noel’s guitar around ‘like an axe’. 

It was the last straw for the duo and the show was cancelled, along with the rest of the tour.

Noel issued a statement at the time: ‘It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. 

‘People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.’ 

In another statement a few days later, titled ‘Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere’, Noel added: ‘The details are not important and of too great a number to list. But I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. 

‘And the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.’ 

The duo quickly went their separate ways when the band disbanded and their infamous decade-long feud has been running ever since.

New ventures: Liam sets up new band Beady Eye and Noel goes solo as sparks continue to fly 

In the aftermath of their split, Liam set up a new band, Beady Eye with former Oasis members Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Chris Sharrock.

The band released two albums, Different Gear Still Speeding and BE, before disbanding in 2014 amid lukewarm sales, persuading Liam to embark on a solo career.

Noel also went solo under the name Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, in 2011.

However, Liam couldn’t shy away from a dig and referred to them on Twitter as the ‘High-Flying Turds’. 

The musician recently revealed that plans for a new Oasis compilation album and accompanying bonus disc of unreleased material have ‘been scrapped.’

Noel had hoped to capitalise on the band’s enduring popularity by releasing a compilation of hits recorded during their arguably less popular second era, from 2000 to their eventual split.

The band, originally formed by Liam in 1991, established themselves as one of the most significant indie bands of the 1990s following the release of debut album Definitely, Maybe in 1994.

Second album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? – released the following year – became the second-fastest selling album in British history behind Michael Jackson’s Bad with 345,000 copies sold in its first week, a record at time.

After replacing two-members in 2000, the new look group went on to release albums Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants, Heathen Chemistry, Don’t Believe The Truth and Dig Out Your Soul over the course of the ensuing decade before finally disbanding.

Noel reveals the details of their bitter feud: 

Noel revealed in 2021 that he was the one to spark the bitter feud with his brother Liam. 

The Oasis rocker spoke of how Liam had given him clothes from his brand Pretty Green before it launched in 2009, only for him to donate it, unworn, to a charity shop. 

Marking what was ‘the beginning of the end’, Noel told The Matt Morgan Podcast  how his brother ‘went f*****g mental’ when he discovered his clothes were on ‘a shop mannequin in Barnardo’s’ before he had even launched the brand. 

Reliving the tale, Noel said: ‘Liam gave us a load of clobber, not just me, he gave the band it. I went straight to the charity shop and left it in the shop doorway.

‘He went f*****g  mental. He said, ‘If you didn’t f*****g want it, you should have just said you didn’t f*****g want it, you c***.

‘It was on the shop mannequin in Barnardo’s a month before it launched. If push comes to shove, that was the beginning of the end.’

Liam launched the menswear brand in 2009 to replicate his own eclectic sense of style, but after it was revealed the business is reportedly unable to pay back creditors the £16 million it owes because of insufficient funds.

The Oasis hitmaker was hoping for a boost in sales after being acquired by JD Sports when it plunged into administration in 2019.

According to reports from The Sun, paperwork from the company show that creditors will just be given a share of £133,751. 

In 2013 Noel shuts down reunion rumours: 

In Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Noel said of a potential Oasis reunion: ‘We are split up. You’ve heard that, haven’t you? 

‘You must’ve heard… Yeah, so, ergo, band splits up, band is no more. There is no band. So, no, I won’t be getting involved, anyway. If there is a reunion, I won’t be in it.’

Liam, clearly unhappy with this information, then famously tweeted: ‘I see Noel Katie Hopkins Gallagher is talking out of his slack arse again go and polish your SAXAPHONE Ha ha,’ punctuating the tweet with his trademark, ‘LGx’. 

A year after Liam tweeted that his solo band Beady Eye had called it a day. 

The announcement immediately started Oasis reunion rumours, with some people even going as far as to speculate that they’d play Glastonbury in 2015. Noel told Radio X: ‘I’m available that weekend – it’s not up to me though, is it?’

2016 – The rift continues and potato gate begins!

While time can be a healer, the rift between the brothers did not seem to have softened by 2016 when the documentary film Supersonic about the band was released.

Liam, asked about the prospects of Noel turning up to the premiere, said: ‘Oh no, Noel won’t be here.

‘He’s in one of his really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really big houses. Probably eatin’ tofu while havin’ a face peel, isn’t that right, man of the people?’

Around the same time Liam first started calling his brother a ‘potato’ as an insult he claimed he ‘looks like one’.

On Wednesday he used the insult again when talking about if they would reunite on French radio.

Fans asked the youngest sibling why Noel has not picked up the phone to ring him, he said: ‘Exactly, what does he think this is — 2013?

‘He don’t deal with yes men. Here’s how I see it. The little fella, aka potato, has done a lot of damage to Oasis as a band/brand.

‘He’s got a lot of making up to do not just to me but to you the fans, the people that put us where we are today.’

2017 – Liam viciously attacks Noel over Manchester show 

Following the Manchester terror attack that saw 22 people killed, Liam slated Noel for not attending the tribute concert at Old Trafford. 

Noel’s camp responded by saying he was out of the country and had donated proceeds from Don’t Look Back In Anger to the fund for victims of the atrocity. 

At the time Liam Tweeted: ‘Manchester I’d like to apologise for my brothers absence last night very disappointed stay beautiful stay safe LG x.’

He later added: ‘Noels out of the f***ing country weren’t we all love get on a f***ing plane and play your tunes for the kids you sad f**k.’

2021 – Noel says he will reunite for £100MILLION 

Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2021, the elder Gallagher responded to a claim that he’d turned down £100 million to reform Oasis. 

He said: ‘If anybody wants to offer me £100 million now, I’ll say it now, I’ll do it. I’ll do it for £100 million’.

However he then added: ‘There isn’t £100m in the music business between all of us.’

Inevitably, Liam countered this claim as their confusing bickering continued.

Commenting under a post made by fan page Oasis Mania which shared the quote from Noel, the Wonderwall singer wrote: ‘I’d do it for FREE’.

2022 – Liam hits out over Knebworth 2022 

More recently, Liam has hit out at Noel for allegedly blocking the use of Oasis songs in Liam’s new documentary, Knebworth 22. 

When asked by a fan on Twitter if there would be any of the band’s hit songs featured in the documentary, Liam responded: ‘No Oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them he also blocked the Oasis I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute he’s a horrible little man.’ 

2023 – Reunion rumours begin to swirl more than ever 

In March 2023 Liam insisted an Oasis reunion was ‘happening’ 14 years after the iconic band’s split. 

The group’s former frontman is adamant he and estranged sibling and guitarist Noel are going to put their years of feuding behind them and take to the stage together one more. 

Responding to a Twitter follower who asked what the chances of the Britpop group reuniting are, he replied: ‘It’s happening.’

Noel recently admitted he’ll ‘never say never’ to an Oasis reunion: ‘You should never say never, [but] it would have to take an extraordinary set of circumstances.

‘That’s not to say that those circumstances would never come about.’

The Champagne Supernova hitmaker was then asked how he and Liam are getting on these days, to which he replied: ‘Oh, brilliantly, yeah. Genuinely, yeah.

‘He [Liam] has taken a year out apparently to find himself.’

This summer, Noel revealed what he thinks the highly-anticipated Oasis reunion would look like if it were to ever happen.

Teasing a reunion once again in an interview with The Sun, Noel cheekily shared his thoughts on what the gig would look like, remarking: ‘Me, Liam and a load of fit f**king birds.’