I’m a lifelong Oasis fan, and against all odds, I won the Ticketmaster war and got tickets for two gigs this summer (and I haven’t shut up about that since last August). As the announcement completely swept me off my feet, and like any other fan, I was left speechless, searching for the closest Berlin pub to serve me a pint of Guinness and play “Live Forever” on repeat for the whole night, I eventually got into a conversation with a bartender.  Why now? 

There have been multiple occasions in my life when I was certain the reunion was happening. Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary? Knebworth 20 years? What’s the story turning 20? The first hints of the famous announcement of last summer had me expecting another limited edition on the DM vinyl – perhaps a crystal one this time? 

Sure, this time there were hints – Liam’s tweets, Noel’s acknowledgments that certain tunes he just can’t sing. After Liam tweeted how he never liked the word ‘former,’ it got me thinking about legacy. Being in the best band in the world. Not becoming a myth, someone’s dad’s favorite band, whilst still living to see your life’s work being forgotten. And don’t get me wrong, I do believe Oasis was and still is the best band in the world. Being a 20-something who grew up in an oasis-dad household where playing “Wonderwall” on guitar was definitely not sufficient knowledge of the band, I’m over the moon to see the younger generation of fans reign over my tiktok fy page. But do I think the hype would persist without the reunion? In the ever-changing music industry, where anyone writing a very average, catchy pop tune has the potential to go viral and to have a short-lived career? Absolutely not. And that is something even the chronically offline brothers couldn’t overlook. 

People don’t crave legacy anymore, but bands do. With all the love I have for the solo stuff of both brothers, they knew that was not them writing history. But coming back on stage after 16 years, hand in hand, like they did in Cardiff now, that was a moment every fan is going to remember for the rest of their life. And that is legacy. And that’s why we needed a reunion.