[ad_1]
Fans in Manchester, the northwest English city home of legendary rock band Oasis, were in awe on Tuesday at the seemingly impossible announcement: the band will reunite for a global tour next year.
“It’s time,” said Ralph Clare, sitting in a wheelchair in front of a giant mural of Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose 15-year feud left many fans wondering if they would ever play together again.
“I’m a little tired of all the arguments … This is great news — the best news ever,” the 82-year-old said.
“Their music, because it’s local music, means more. Just their voices… it makes you dance!”
The retiree lives in the south of the city, close to where the feuding Oasis siblings grew up in Burnaby.
It’s filled with old and new history of the band, including a recently painted mural outside Sifters Records, where the brothers used to buy records as teenagers.
They mentioned the store in their hit song “Shakermaker,” with the lyrics “When I was only 16/Mr. Sifter was selling me songs.”
The record is still selling in stores after the band that wrote the song broke up and reunited, and Pete Howard — or “Mr. Shifter,” as he’s known — said the news was “out of the blue.”
“People always ask me, are they going to get back together? And I always say, well, at some point, long after I’m gone,” Howard, 76, said.
Young Generation
Local teaching assistants Mark and Michelle Locke take a selfie in front of the mural, which was installed this summer to mark the upcoming 30th anniversary of Oasis’ breakthrough debut album, “Definitely Maybe.”
Michelle, 45, said “no one thought” the brothers would reconcile after more than a decade of attacking each other on social media.
“(People) always say ‘oh, they’ll never be together again, they hate each other’.”
“Never thought this day would come,” said fan Gary Edwards, 26. “But listening to their music and stuff, you feel connected to it, especially being from the North.”
Fourteen shows have been announced for the UK and Ireland in July and August next year, four of which will take place at Manchester’s Heaton Park.
Ryan Quinn, 24, who was just nine when the band broke up, said he would be willing to spend “hundreds of pounds” on a ticket. “If I can get a ticket, it would be special to get a second chance to see them play.”
“I wasn’t there for most of the time when they first became popular. But to me … 30 years later, their popularity is still incredible.”
“I saw how people felt in the ’90s, and it made me feel similarly,” Quinn added. “Everyone was really looking forward to it.”
– ‘Positive vibes’ –
After a lengthy public spat — attacking each other online and in interviews — some expressed doubts about how long the new truce between the siblings would last.
“The brothers’ relationship will have its ups and downs, but I hope they don’t just have the first concert and then have a falling out and I don’t get to see them again,” Michelle said. “That would be a nightmare.”
“Do I think they’re going to stay calm? No,” Quinn said. “But that’s part of the appeal, isn’t it? I don’t know if they’re going to stay calm, but as long as the music’s on and they’re on stage, I’m happy.”
For Howard, the age of the two might help make peace. “Maybe as they get older, they’ll discuss things instead of beating each other up. So, you know, that would be good,” he said.
Claire predicted the reunion would also be a big event for their mother, Peggy Gallagher.
“I think she’s over the moon … she’s wanted this for a long time,” he said. “It’s going to be great to see the two kids together again.”
Clare said he thought the pair simply realised it was time to share their talents again.
“They’re just lovable little rascals and the music is great,” he said. “They should have done it years ago, but they weren’t ready. But now I think they are.”
For Quinn, the duo’s impact on Manchester remains as great as it was three decades ago when they released their first two hit albums and before they split up in 2009.
“They’re not dead. They just haven’t performed in 15 years,” he said.
[ad_2]
Source link
