When Liam Gallagher stepped into the downpour at Rogers Stadium on August 24, 2025, he didn’t reach for an umbrella. He raised his arms, let the rain soak his shirt, and roared into Live Forever — the same song that once defined a generation, now echoing through a soaked, screaming crowd of exactly 50,000. It was the first time Oasis had played North America in 16 years. And it didn’t matter that the skies opened up. The rain didn’t cancel the show — it made it legendary.
The Rain Didn’t Stop Them — It Made It Better
The concert began at 8:00 PM Eastern, with the opening chords of Fuckin’ in the Bushes blasting through the stadium as fog machines mingled with storm clouds. By the time they hit Hello at 2:06, the rain was coming down in sheets. Fans held up phones, plastic bags, and even jackets over their heads — but no one left. Not even when Noel Gallagher, the band’s lead guitarist and primary songwriter, paused during Cast No Shadow to shout, "This is better than Manchester in November!" — a nod to the city where Oasis was born. The setlist was a masterclass in nostalgia, spanning their entire catalog: from the raw energy of Supersonic to the anthemic swell of Champagne Supernova. At 1:19:27, during a rare moment of quiet between songs, Liam turned to Noel and said, "You remember when we played this in a pub and someone threw a pint at you?" Noel grinned. "I remember you threw it back." The crowd erupted. It was the first time they’d spoken onstage in over a decade — and the first time fans had heard them laugh together since 2009.A Reunion Years in the Making
The reunion didn’t happen overnight. Noel first hinted at it in a September 2024 interview on talkSPORT, where he admitted he’d been "blown away" by the fan response to rumors. "I’m not usually short for words," he said, "but this... this is different." By August 27, 2024 — two days before the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe — Oasis officially announced the Live '25 World Tour, launching with 17 UK and Ireland dates. Demand was so intense that three extra shows were added within days. Then, on September 30, 2024, they confirmed the North American leg. Crucially, the band’s management made a rare decision: no dynamic pricing on U.S. and Canadian tickets. After backlash over inflated prices for UK shows, they locked all North American tickets at face value — a move fans immediately noticed. "It felt like they actually cared," wrote one Reddit user on September 1, 2025. "Not just another cash grab."
The Lineup: Brothers, Drummers, and a New Chapter
The current lineup includes Liam Gallagher (born September 21, 1972, in Burnage, Manchester), Noel Gallagher (born May 29, 1967, in Longsight, Manchester), Chris Sharrock on drums for select dates, and Joey Waronker — a seasoned session drummer who joined in 2025 — handling the bulk of the kit. Waronker, known for his work with Beck and R.E.M., brought a tighter, more nuanced groove that let the songs breathe without losing their edge. The effect was immediate. On YouTube, fan recordings from Toronto show fans mouthing every lyric — even the deep cuts like Little by Little and Slide Away. Six Oasis albums re-entered the UK Top 100 after the tour announcement. Live Forever climbed to #8, its highest position since 1995.What’s Next: A Global Journey
Toronto was just the beginning. The North American leg continues with back-to-back nights at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on August 31 and September 1, followed by Chicago’s Soldier Field on August 28, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. The tour then crosses the Pacific: Seoul on October 21, Tokyo Dome on October 25–26, Melbourne on October 31–November 4, Sydney on November 7–8, and Buenos Aires on November 8 and 15. It concludes November 23 at Estádio do Morumbi in São Paulo — the band’s first-ever show in Brazil. Fan reviews are already pouring in. Scott DiPatria, who saw Oasis in 1994 and again at MetLife, rated it "5 out of 5," writing: "I thought the Black Crowes shows were the best... until MetLife. Mind-blowing from start to finish. Still think about it every day."
Why This Matters
Oasis didn’t just play a concert. They proved that rock’s greatest feuds can heal — not for the sake of nostalgia, but because the music still means something. In an era of algorithm-driven playlists and AI-generated tracks, here was a band playing live, raw, and unfiltered, in the rain, to a crowd that hadn’t forgotten. Their reunion isn’t a gimmick. It’s a statement: some songs outlive their creators. And some bands? They’re not done yet.Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t Oasis play North America for 16 years?
After their 2009 breakup — triggered by a backstage fight between Liam and Noel Gallagher — the band avoided North America due to logistical challenges, unresolved tensions, and the difficulty of reuniting after years of solo projects. Liam’s solo career and Noel’s work with High Flying Birds kept them apart. It wasn’t until late 2024, after years of public silence and fan pressure, that they agreed to reunite for a global tour — with Toronto chosen as the symbolic North American launch.
How did the Toronto crowd react to the rain?
The crowd didn’t just tolerate the rain — they embraced it. Fans danced barefoot in puddles, waved homemade signs reading "Noel, We Missed You," and sang louder as the storm intensified. At 1:25:35, during Live Forever, Liam stood motionless in the downpour, microphone raised, letting the rain mix with his tears. Social media exploded with clips of the moment. Many described it as the most emotional live performance they’d ever witnessed.
Why did Oasis avoid Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing in North America?
After UK ticket sales sparked outrage over inflated prices — with some tickets resold for over $5,000 — Oasis’s management publicly vowed to keep North American pricing transparent and fair. They partnered with Ticketmaster but disabled dynamic pricing entirely, ensuring all tickets sold at original face value. This decision helped restore trust among fans and led to a 40% increase in direct ticket sales compared to UK shows.
What songs were most emotional during the Toronto show?
The most powerful moments came during Live Forever — when the entire stadium lit up with phone flashlights as Liam sang, "I’m gonna live forever" — and Don’t Look Back in Anger, where Noel took lead vocals for the first time in over a decade. The encore’s Champagne Supernova was met with a 7-minute standing ovation. Fans noted that the acoustic version of Talk Tonight, rarely played live since 1995, brought tears to many in the crowd.
Is this reunion permanent, or just a tour?
Both brothers have been deliberately vague. Noel said in a recent interview, "We’re not making a new album — but we’re not saying we’ll never do it." Liam added, "If people still want to hear it, we’ll keep playing." The tour ends in November 2025, but rumors of a 2026 European stadium run are already circulating. For now, it’s a celebration — not a comeback. And that’s enough.
How did the reunion affect Oasis’s legacy?
The reunion instantly revived interest in Britpop’s golden era. Streaming numbers for Oasis songs jumped 300% in the first week after Toronto. Spotify reported that over 12 million new listeners under age 25 discovered the band. Even critics who once dismissed them as overhyped now admit: the songs were timeless. More importantly, the reunion showed that rock’s most toxic relationships can still produce something beautiful — if you let the music lead.
