Oasis fans were in raptures as they were treated to never-before-heard versions of the band’s most iconic songs, just hours before a massive rush for tickets to the historic reunion tour began.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the group’s debut album Definitely Maybe, a deluxe version of the record was released on Friday, complete with early recordings made by the Gallagher brothers at Monnow Valley Studios.
The brand new formats include specially made vinyl versions and a limited edition blue cassette.
It also features tracks from the original recording session at Monnow Valley Studios, along with outtakes from the final album recorded at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall.
The album also includes a previously unreleased demo version of Sad Song, featuring Liam Gallagher.
Oasis fans were in raptures as they were treated to unheard versions of the band’s most iconic songs, just hours before a wild run on tickets for the historic reunion tour
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the group’s debut album, a deluxe version was released on Friday, complete with early recordings made by the Gallagher brothers
The package also includes brand new artwork from original art designer Brian Cannon for Microdot and original cover photographer Michael Spencer Jones.
After signing a worldwide recording contract, Liam, Noel, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll headed to Monnow Valley studios on the Welsh border in Monmouthshire to capture the kinetic energy of their live shows on record.
The first recordings at the time were too technical and polished, and failed to capture the essence of the band.
The sessions were eventually scrapped and the band moved to the remote Sawmills Studios in Cornwall to re-record the album.
Eventually, Definitely Maybe was formed, with the addition of Owen Morris who completed the final mixes.
The Monnow Valley footage and Sawmill outtakes, now unearthed for the first time, provide a fascinating new look at the process that led to the finished article.
When news of the new edition broke, fans were thrilled for the chance to relive some of the group’s best-known songs in a new format.
Posts on X included: ‘It’s been 30 years and I can’t imagine hearing it for the first time. I’m 21. And I’m still a huge Oasis fan. It’s forever century;’
Following the news of the new edition, fans were quick to cheer for the chance to relive some of the group’s most famous songs in a new format
Oasis are expected to announce more dates for their highly anticipated reunion tour, which music insiders say will ‘sell out in three minutes’
‘I have never heard such beautiful music in my life, thank you Oasis;’
’30 years and still iconic – this anniversary edition is a dream come true for fans!’
‘It’s so cool to listen to the previously unheard versions and see how the songs are constructed!’
Adrian Thrills of the Ny Breaking also praised the new edition as a “supersonic reboot” and gave it four stars.
He wrote: ‘The magic is in how Oasis used those influences. With Liam’s vocal growl adding an aggressive optimism to his brother’s nostalgic melodies, Definitely Maybe is a viscerally exciting record.
‘You could argue that 1995’s (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? had slightly better songs with Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger and Champagne Supernova, but Definitely Maybe is Oasis’ definitive release.’
Oasis are expected to announce further dates for their highly anticipated reunion tour, which music insiders say will “sell out in three minutes.”
The band, completed by original guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, will play 17 shows next summer in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.
Tickets for the Oasis Live 25 tour go on sale Saturday at 9am, with a pre-sale on Friday for select fans selected from a draw.
More than four million fans are expected to compete for the 1,066,888 available tickets for the concerts, with sources telling The Sun that once tickets sell out, ‘additional dates will definitely be added’.
According to industry insiders, Bonehead have been “confirmed” for the tour and are “overjoyed” to be back together.
Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘both wanted him in their midst’ after he was ‘one of the driving forces behind the reunion’.
Oasis split in 2009 after years of internal feuding. Noel officially left the band just before a performance at a festival near Paris, saying at the time that he ‘simply couldn’t work with Liam another day’.
Even before their split 15 years ago, the brothers had a long-standing adversarial relationship and reportedly stopped speaking for years.
Fans have been begging the brothers to pull themselves together since they split and are now preparing for what they are calling the ‘ticket massacre of the century’.
“These shows are selling out in three minutes. There will definitely be more dates,” an insider told The Sun.
Liam and Noel confirmed the long-awaited reunion of Oasis for a 2025 tour and also hinted at past tensions in Tuesday’s tour announcement.
“The guns have fallen silent,” Oasis said. “The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come and see it. It won’t be televised.”
As part of the announcement, a black-and-white photo of the two brothers, both wearing dark jackets, was also released.
The Britpop band, who split almost 15 years ago and released their chart-topping album Definitely Maybe around three decades ago, have announced that the concert series will kick off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The UK and Ireland tour will also visit Manchester’s Heaton Park, London’s Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium and Dublin’s Croke Park during July and August next year.