Oasis fans have been sent into a frenzy as they were treated to unheard versions of the band’s most iconic tracks, just hours ahead of a wild rush for tickets for the historic reunion tour.
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 discarded original recording session at Monnow Valley Studios, along with outtakes from the definitive album recorded at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall.
The album also includes an unreleased demo version of Sad Song, which features Liam Gallagher’s vocals.
Oasis fans have been sent into a frenzy as they were treated to unheard versions of the band’s most iconic tracks, just hours ahead of a wild rush for 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 features brand new artwork by the original art designer Brian Cannon for Microdot and original sleeve photographer Michael Spencer Jones.
After signing a worldwide record deal, Liam, Noel, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll decamped to Monnow Valley studios on the Welsh borders of Monmouthshire, to capture the kinetic energy of their live shows on record.
At the time, the initial recordings felt overly technical and polished, failing to capture the essence of the band.
The sessions were ultimately scrapped, and the band moved to the remote confines of Sawmills Studios in Cornwall to re-record the album.
Eventually, with the addition of Owen Morris joining to complete the definitive mixes, Definitely Maybe was formed.
The Monnow Valley recordings and Sawmill outtakes, now unearthed for the first time, offer a new and compelling look at the process that led to the finished article.
Following news of the new edition, fans were quick to praise the chance to relive some of the group’s most famous songs in a new format.
Posts on X included: ‘It’s been 30 years and I can’t imagine I get to listen to it for the first time. I’m 21. And still I’m a big fan of Oasis. It’s forever century;’
Following news of the new edition, fans were quick to praise the chance to relive some of the group’s most famous songs in a new format
Oasis is tipped to announce even more dates for their long-awaited reunion tour, which music insiders say will ‘ sell out in less than 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 unheard versions to see how the songs were constructed!’
The Daily Mail’s Adrian Thrills also praised the new edition as a ‘supersonic reboot,’ awarded it four stars.
He wrote: ‘The magic lies in how Oasis used those influences. With Liam’s vocal snarl adding an aggressive optimism to his brother’s nostalgic melodies, Definitely Maybe is a viscerally exciting record.
‘It’s arguable that 1995’s (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? had marginally better songs in Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger and Champagne Supernova, but Definitely Maybe is the definitive Oasis release.’
Oasis is tipped to announce even more dates for their long-awaited reunion tour, which music insiders say will ‘sell out in less than three minutes’.
The band, rejoined by their original guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, will play 17 concerts in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin next summer.
Tickets to the Oasis Live 25 tour will go on sale at 9am on Saturday. A presale will be held on Friday for certain fans that will be selected from a ballot pool.
More than four million fans are expected to be vying for the 1,066,888 tickets available across the gigs, with sources telling The Sun that once they sell out ‘extra dates will be added for sure’.
Industry insiders have also claimed that Bonehead is ‘confirmed’ for the tour and ‘ecstatic’ that the band is back together.
Liam and Noel Gallagher reportedly ‘both wanted him in the fold’ after he was ‘one of the drivers of the reunion’.
Oasis split in 2009 after many years of infighting, with Noel officially leaving the band just before a performance at a festival near Paris, saying at the time he ‘simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer ‘.
Even before the dissolution 15 years ago, the brothers had long had an antagonistic relationship and reportedly did not speak to each other for years after the breakup.
Fans have been pleading with the brothers to regroup since they disbanded and are now preparing for what they have hailed as the ‘ticket bloodbath of the century’.
‘These shows will sell out in less than three minutes. Extra dates will be added for sure,’ an insider told The Sun.
Liam and Noel confirmed Oasis’s long-awaited reunion with a tour in 2025 and also alluded to past tensions in the tour announcement on Tuesday.
‘The guns have fallen silent,’ Oasis said. ‘The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.’
A black and white image of the two brothers, both in dark jackets, was also released as part of the announcement.
The Britpop band, who split nearly 15 years ago and released their chart-topping album Definitely Maybe around three decades ago, announced the series of dates 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 throughout July and August next year.
