When Oasis reunite in 2025, lead singer Liam Gallagher has hinted that "there could be a few new faces".
Speculation about who else would be joining him and brother Noel Gallagher on the eagerly awaited tour began as soon they announced their reunion in August 2024.
Liam on Tuesday (September 17) responded to a fan who enquired about the other artists accompanying him on tour on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Good question, there could be a few new faces just to freshen things up.”
Good question there could be a few new faces just to freshen things up
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) September 17, 2024
Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs and Gem Archer are reportedly set to join the Gallagher brothers at their sold-out dates.
Liam and Noel’s long-awaited reunion includes 19 gigs across the UK and Ireland, including seven at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Tickets went on sale in late August. Those who weren’t lucky enough to get a presale code faced hours at their computers on a Saturday morning, as an influx of thousands of fans caused ticketing websites to crash.
Many of those lucky enough to make it to the front of the online queue found the ordeal wasn’t quite over yet — as ‘dynamic pricing’ meant some tickets had more than doubled in cost due to “demand”.
Meanwhile, several unanswered questions surround Oasis’s tour plans.
Fellow Mancunians the Blossoms have been linked to the Manchester dates but the Gallaghers have yet to reveal who will support them at the gigs.
Here’s all you need to know about the original Oasis line-up — and whether any members will reappear for the reunion tour.
Who was in the original Oasis line-up?
Oasis were formed in 1991 in Manchester, England, emerging from the city’s vibrant music scene. The band was founded by Liam, who took on the role of lead vocalist, and his older brother Noel, who played lead guitar and was the primary songwriter.
Bonehead on rhythm guitar, and Paul McGuigan, affectionately called "Guigsy," on bass guitar, joined them. Guigsy was initially a member of the band The Rain, which would eventually evolve into Oasis.
Bonehead was the rhythm guitarist until 1999 when he left the band to spend more time with his family. Despite his departure, he has remained close with Liam, joining him on numerous shows, including his 2024 solo tour. Guigsy also left in 1999, reportedly announcing his departure to the group via fax, which added to the tumultuous reputation of the band.
Who was Oasis’s original drummer?
Oasis’s original drummer was Tony McCarroll, who completed the band’s line-up when they formed in 1991. McCarroll left the group in 1995 after a disagreement with Noel, who criticised his drumming style, stating: “I like Tony as a geezer, but he wouldn’t have been able to drum the new songs.”
Following his departure, McCarroll pursued legal action against Oasis for £18 million, claiming he was unfairly dismissed, but eventually accepted an out-of-court settlement.
Despite not being part of the band for many years, McCarroll has recently commented on the possibility of rejoining Oasis for their upcoming reunion tour, admitting he probably won’t be invited back. He told MailOnline, “They haven’t reached out yet and, to be honest, I’m not holding my breath.”
Interestingly, while he may not expect a call from the Gallaghers, McCarroll has played an unexpected role in the reunion tour; fans applying for presale tickets were asked to name Oasis’s original drummer, highlighting his lasting legacy within the band’s history.
Who else has played drums with Oasis?
McCarroll was swiftly replaced by Alan ‘Whitey’ White, who made his debut with the band on Top of the Pops just one day after taking the job.
White became the longest-serving drummer in Oasis’s history but left in 2004, and the reasons remain unknown.
Since then, two other drummers have been part of the band. Zak Starkey — whose father is The Beatles’ Ringo Starr — joined Oasis from 2004 to 2008 before being replaced by Chris Sharrock, who was with the band when they split in 2009.
Since then, Sharrock has drummed for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Liam’s Beady Eye.
Who will play drums on Oasis’s 2025 tour?
Many fans have argued Whitey should be the drummer to perform with Oasis next summer, with one writing on X: “I want Whitey in more than any other former member of the band.
“From a live perspective, the band went through the roof with him as a drummer. Just a force of nature that when he left, the band wasn't the same.”
“Alan White is an amazing drummer, the real Oasis sound is made with him on the drums,” argued another.
If Whitey’s Instagram is anything to go by, fans might just get their wish.
The drummer, who has led a quiet life and stayed out of the spotlight in the years since leaving Oasis, posted a snap of a bass drum on social media. This was shortly after the tour tickets sold out, fuelling fan speculation.
“Are you telling us what I think you're telling us?” one person commented on the snap.
