Oasis is and never was the greatest band in the world. Not even the greatest Rock band. Right now, with the big reunion tour hanging over UK and Ireland, you could, with only a hint of nastiness, call them the greatest Rock ´n Roll swindle, but face it, they´re on the same level as The Strokes: two decent albums, a handful of football stadium anthems and one song, Wonderwall, no one dares to admit sounds like the strangulation of a cat, at best. I don´t care. Ripping off The Beatles is and has always been a successful rock band strategy. Clever businessmen, the Gallagher boys, rip off the real deal, create a feud with Blur and a handful of other Britpop bands, split up before people realise you are really not that great, and reunite, decades later, to cash in. All from John Lydon’s playbook.

However, what was true in 1995 is even more true today; a lot of Oasis´ appeal, especially in the UK, is rooted in nostalgia. The music is regressive, with matching lyrics, harking back to the 60s, like time stood still, and no one ever addressed or got rid of misogyny and homophobia. They are the polar opposite of Iggy Pop; (still) a beast on stage, but offstage a well-read gentleman. There is a class of fans, white, middle aged, who just love all of it. Going to an Oasis concert gives them the opportunity to consume endless quantities of beer (only Pints please!), belt out every single song played, and feel protected from women and foreigners for a couple of hours.

Racist riots terrorised England in July and August 2024. Shortly afterwards Oasis announced their reunion tour. Not the same people, not the same audience but it makes you wonder, do we really need a glorified past, in music or politics? Great musicians move forward, mediocre ones cash in on the past. It’s the honest and painful truth.

Postscript – I love the first two albums of Oasis, I also love the first (and only the first) album of The Strokes. Wonderwall remains one of the most overrated songs ever.

Postscript 2 – There is no such thing as being confronted by Dynamic pricing as an artist. It´s a decision the artist makes or at least can influence. Hiding behind your management is just lame. Own it, boys! If you’re only in it for the money, just say so!