Noel and Liam Gallager ‘eager to convey again son of Beatles legend’
The lineup for the Oasis reunion is almost complete.
New reports reveal that Noel and Liam Gallagher will be joined on stage by the band’s bassist Andy Bell as well as guitarists Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Gem Archer.
Insiders have told The Sun that Bell, Arthurs and Archer have been confirmed for the band’s 19 live gigs next year, while the band are in talks with a potential drummer.
The Gallagher brothers are reportedly keen to get Ringo Starr‘s son Zak Starkey, 58, back on drums after he previously played for them during gigs in the noughties.
An insider has revealed: ‘Noel and Liam are slowly putting Oasis back together and they’re hoping to get Zak on board for drums. Andy has confirmed he is free for the tour now, with Bonehead and Gem both signed up, too.
New reports reveal that Noel and Liam Gallagher will be joined on stage by bassist Andy Bell and Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Gem Archer while they are in talks with drummer Zak Starkey (pictured L-R Archer, Liam, Starkey, Noel and Bell)
The Gallagher brothers are reportedly keen to get Ringo Starr ‘s son Zak Starkey, 58, back on drums after he previously played for them during gigs in the noughties
‘Alan White, who was the drummer with Oasis until 2004, isn’t returning. Zak was probably the best live drummer Oasis ever had and to get him back on board would be amazing.’
Zak joined the band in 2004, playing until 2008. Original drummer Tony McCarroll left in 1995, with Alan White taking over until 2004. Chris Sharrock played with the band until they split in 2009.
The son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Zak reportedly fell out with Noel – possibly due to his ongoing commitments with The Who.
Original Oasis member Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs meanwhile has the distinction of having remained friends with both the Gallaghers.
The guitarist has been credited in some quarters with helping to repair the brothers’ relationship alongside Liam’s fiancée Debbie Gwyther.
‘Bonehead is one of the few people they are both pals with and he has recently been trying too and it’s finally paid off,’ a source close to the negotiations told the Mirror.
Arthurs left Oasis in 1999 during the recording of its fourth album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, with an official statement saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
He has performed with Liam in recent years.
Insiders have told The Sun that Bell, Arthurs and Archer have been confirmed for the band’s 19 live gigs next year (Archer, Noel Gallagher, Bell and Liam Gallagher pictured in 2006)
Liam (left) and Noel Gallagher (right) have been criticised by fans over the ticketing chaos
Zak joined the band in 2004, playing until 2008.The son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Zak reportedly fell out with Noel – possibly due to his ongoing commitments with The Who
After joining Oasis following Bonehead’s departure in 1999, rhythm guitarist Gem Archer has also remained close to both Gallagher brothers.
Archer, 57, began his musical career in the early 1980s with bands like The Edge and The Contenders.
Later on he was a member of Heavy Stereo, which gained some recognition after contributing to a Jam tribute album and opening a Paul Weller tour.
During his time with Oasis, Archer played lead guitar on acoustic tracks and also got involved in songwriting.
Following the brand’s break-up, he joined Liam Gallagher, Chris Sharrock and Andy Bell in former Beady Eye. He has also jigged with Noel Gallagher‘s High Flying Birds.
Bell joined Oasis in 1999 as their bassist following the departures of Bonehead and Guigsy.
Bonehead (performing with Oasis on the left; and right, in 2021) has been credited in some quarters with helping to repair the brothers’ relationship alongside Liam’s fiancée Debbie Gwyther
He wrote several songs, including Turn Up the Sun and Keep the Dream Alive, and continued working with the band until its breakup.
Now aged 54, he was a member of Liam’s Beady Eye. Despite being rumoured to have a frosty relationship with Noel, in 2023 his band Ride supported High Flying Birds.
Meanwhile furious Oasis fans who have missed out on invitations to a private ballot for the band’s ‘final’ tour dates have labelled the ticketing system a ‘shambles’.
Hundreds of fans, many of whom queued for hours on Ticketmaster in the hope of getting tickets for the Manchester group’s reunion tour last week, were left disappointed again this morning to find they will not get a second chance to seal their spot.
Gem Archer joined Oasis following Boneheads departure in 1999. He is seen on the left in 2006 and right in 2014
The first emails to fans were sent shortly after midnight, with those who received an invitation expressing their delight – in sharp contrast to those who vented their anger at missing out once more.
However, even for those who were asked to join the private ballot may have their hopes dashed, with the band warning that entry into the box office will be ‘strictly limited’.
Those invited now face a nervous wait, with those who have gained entry to the private ballot set to be told by Friday, September 13, that they have been successful in moving to the next stage.
There may be hope on the horizon for superfans though, with reports last night that Oasis have ‘verbally agreed’ to play stadiums in America as part of the reunion tour, potentially offering people another chance to watch them in the flesh.
Andy Bell – left in 2006 and right in 2015 – joined Oasis in 1999 as their bassist following the departures of Bonehead and Guigsy
Original drummer Tony McCarroll, pictured second right in 1993 and bassist Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan, far right, will not return for the reunion tour
It came hours after the band revealed how the tickets for their additional two shows at Wembley Stadium on September 27 and 28 next year, which were added due to the overwhelming demand, would be released.
Posting on their official account on X, formerly Twitter, Oasis said in a statement that registered Ticketmaster account holders who had been waiting to snap up spots at a specific show could receive a follow-up email inviting them to join the ballot.
Fans were told to make sure they register for the ballot with the email address attached to their Ticketmaster account – preventing anyone who didn’t queue up first time around from trying to sneak in.
The statement read: ‘Invitations to enter the private ballot will be sent overnight tonight (Saturday) to eligible fans we have been able to identify.
‘If you signed into your Ticketmaster UK account on Saturday, 31st August, and were able to join a queue for a specific show, but didn’t get a ticket – then you may be eligible to take part and will receive an email on how to register for the ballot.
‘Keep an eye on the inbox associated with your Ticketmaster account, and don’t forget to check your junkmail.
‘Once successfully registered, you will be entered into the ballot for a code for access to the final Wembley on sale.
‘Due to the demand for the shows and to avoid last week’s long queues, codes will be strictly limited. Entry to the ballot does not guarantee you will receive a code.
‘The ballot is only open to invited fans. You must register with the email to which your invitation was sent and which is registered with your Ticketmaster account.
‘All other entries will be discounted. If you do not receive an email then unfortunately you will not be eligible for the ballot. You will be automatically discounted from the ballot, even if you go through the registration process.’
Oasis later amended the post to include the phrase ‘UK’ and a Union flag emoji, suggesting it will only apply to fans in the UK.
The band has been trying to re-establish goodwill with fans who were left bitterly disappointed when they failed to secure tickets for the limited run of reunion concerts announced on August 27.
However, for those who missed out it was another bitter blow in the sometimes tortuous quest to book their spot at next year’s gigs.
Furious Oasis fans have branded the ticketing system a ‘shambles’ after they were denied invites to a private ballot for their latest gigs
Many took to social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, to vent their frustrations, with one person writing: ‘Spent 6 hours in the queue on Ticketmaster, no email received. The shambles rolls on.’
Another fan added: ‘I was registered with oasis net for years ….. not a day ! Queued for 6 hours …. Signed in ….. nothing left Woke up today …. Jumped on my phone …., nothing ….. fuming.’
A third wrote: ‘I waited for hours and was kicked out the q when near the beginning. Where’s my email ??? This is some sort of sick joke.’
A fourth said: ‘No email, I have screen shots proving I was in the queue, via the Ticketmaster app. I queued 6.5 hours, got to select seats but when I clicked through to payment I was booted out for ‘inactivity’ absolute joke. Thought this would be enough to get an email!’
And a fifth added: ‘Logged in to Ticketmaster at 7.00am in the queue at 145,765 for a several hours, got no tickets as none left and still no email overnight!!! What a joke!!’
By comparison those who received their invites to the ballot overnight were left overjoyed as they were given another chance to see the band.
One person wrote: ‘Just received an email from Oasis asking if I want to join the ballot for 2 tickets for new shows at Wembley!’
Another said: ‘Emails are going out for the Oasis ballot, I have received one and I’m confirmed for possibly getting in the ballot, there’s still hope, after the hours I spent trying I deserve a bloody ticket.’
A third said: ‘Ballot entry confirmed!! All fingers and toes crossed now.’
