Skip to main content

Oasis was quite a popular band with a decent amount of hits. But though they have plenty of successful songs, the band is almost better known for its constant feuding than for its output. The two brothers behind the group, Liam and Noel Gallagher feuded early and often during the band’s impressive run. Let’s take a closer look at the history of their feuding, why they happened, and why they broke up for good. 

The formation and success of Oasis

Oasis was a British band founded by Liam and Noel that found quite a bit of mainstream success in America during the 90s. Hits like Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova are still sung at bars to this day seemingly any time they come on.

While the group seemed to have captured a powerful dynamic that toed the line between early 90s grunge and what came after it, their star burned brightly but flamed out too soon. That was mainly due to the brothers and their ever-present in-fighting. 

Oasis feuded endlessly

From L-R Gem, Noel Gallagher, Andy Bell and Liam Gallagher, members of the British rock band "Oasis" hold a photocall in Hong Kong 25 February 2006. The Band are to hold a concert 25 February.
From L-R Gem, Noel Gallagher, Andy Bell, and Liam Gallagher, members of the British rock band “Oasis” hold a photocall in Hong Kong from 2006. | MIKE CLARKE/AFP via Getty Images

Rolling Stone provided a helpful overview of the many Oasis fights and feuds. It’s almost impressive what they were able to accomplish with the amount of fighting that went on between the Gallaghers.

Here’s just a sampling of some of the bickering they’ve engaged in throughout the years: 

  • They’ve been fighting since the 70s. Even at an early age, the two seemed to be at each other’s throats. Liam even admitted in a documentary that as a younger man, he urinated on Noel’s stereo (accidentally, he claimed). The seeds were sown for an epic rivalry even in their formative stages. 
  • Noel left the first American tour in 1994. At the height of the group’s popularity, Noel left their first American tour. After a bad set in LA during which the group was rumored to be high on drugs, Liam struck Noel with a tambourine. This left Noel to leave in anger. 
  • An audio recording of their fighting is released. Finally, fans had concrete evidence of the duo’s distaste for each other. An audio track called Wibbling Rivalry was released in 1995. On it, listeners could hear the brothers verbally assault each other. It stood to prove just how much they seemed to argue. 
  • Liam bows out at the height of the group’s success. In the mid-90s the group was at its apex. Liam couldn’t seem to get out of his own way, however. He claimed laryngitis to get out of a gig playing MTV Unplugged. He then dropped out of the group’s American tour at the last minute. 
  • The 2000s and social media. Throughout the past 20 years, the pair have taken to social media to insult each other, mainly with Liam leading the charge. He often bizarrely tweets at his brother to call him a potato insultingly, though the actual insult is unclear. 

Why Oasis broke up (for good this time)

Related

Why Oasis’ Singer Once Said Green Day Stole ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’

After years of fighting back and forth, Noel had had enough. In 2009, he released a statement where he claimed to be leaving the group for good. In the statement, he unsurprisingly cited his relationship with his brother as the reason for the split: 

“It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight…People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer…He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.”

Any Oasis fans out there looking for a reunion should not hold their breath. According to Radio X, Noel took an opportunity several years ago to remind fans that “it’s not f***ing banter” between the two. 

Best in Entertainment