Three Oasis superfans reveal how their lives have been changed forever by the Mancunian megastars and share some of their most magical memories and funny anecdotes with The Mirror
‘Some Might Say’ 1994 was a great year – TV show Friends premiered on NBS, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first Black president and here in the UK a band called Oasis became instant icons after releasing their first single Supersonic.
Over the decades that followed, the Britpop band had eight UK Number 1 singles and eight UK Number 1 albums – not to mention 22 consecutive UK top 10 hits between 1994 and 2008. While songs like Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back in Anger provided the soundtrack to many young people’s lives, Liam and Noel Gallagher were just as famous for their brotherly brawls that stole the headlines, as they were for their catchy, chart-topping anthems.
But public spats aside – and ahead of the band’s reunion shows kicking off in Cardiff today (July 4) – their fans have been sharing some of their best memories with The Mirror.
‘I’ve seen Oasis play 16 times and once gave Liam Gallagher a present he’ll never forget’
Matthew Dean, 40, is going to the opening night of the Oasis reunion in Cardiff tonight as well as two London concerts later on in the summer. The construction industry director says: “I first listened to Oasis when I was eight years old – it was the Definitely Maybe album – in the car, with my family, very loudly, and from that moment I was hooked.
“Since then I’ve seen the brothers play more times than I can count, but this tour marks something very different for me. It’s a chance to relive the nostalgia I had during my childhood, but this time with my wife and friends – which will create even more incredible memories that I will cherish.
“I managed to get tickets to the opening night of the tour, in Cardiff, as I wanted to make sure I could experience the buzzing atmosphere of the start of a tour that will make history. I’ve also splashed out on more tickets for two back-to-back nights at Wembley. When I go to an Oasis gig, I’m surrounded by others that love the same thing as me. It’s other-worldly.”
Katy Georgiou, 42, a music therapist told The Mirror she’s seen Oasis play 16 times and gave Liam Gallagher a birthday present that he still treasured eight years later. “I’ve met them a few times and in 1998 I gave Liam a gift for his birthday and to say thank you as a fan. It was a tiny, white, tasselled tambourine that I’d bought from a music shop in Camden market, along with a black and white print of John Lennon, because every fan knows he loves John Lennon.
“Years later in 2005 when I was in my final year of university, I was sitting in my room one morning writing an essay when I got a phone call from my mum. She told me that she’d gone out shopping and that I’d never guess who’d just walked in: Liam Gallagher!”
Unbeknown to Katy’s mum, Liam spotted her talking on the phone and strolled over to ask if he knew her because he thought he recognised her. She told him she was on the phone to her daughter – a huge fan of theirs. “The next thing I know, he’s taken the phone off her hands and says hello to me!” Katy recalls.
“I said hello back and we had a quick little chat. I was in shock. That wasn’t even the best bit. I then said ‘Liam, I have no idea if you remember me, but I’ve met you a few times in the past and I once gave you a tambourine as a present.’”
“He then proceeded to describe the very tambourine back to me! ‘Did it have a white skin on?’ he asked. ‘Yes!’ I replied. ‘Did it have tassels?’ he said. ‘Yes!’ I replied. He said he remembered it and that he still had it. t really made my day and made me realise how he makes an effort to remember people.”
And Sian Downes, 36, a mum of two from Scotland, says she could also be a contender for the World’s number one Oasis fan because she met her hubby through a shared love of the band.
“I met my hubby on Tinder, we both had Oasis in our profile, and we both feel incredibly lucky to have found someone who is such a fan,” she told The Mirror . The couple bonded after hubby Mark asked her if she preferred Liam or Noel after reading her declaration of love for the band on her profile.
Sian wrote him an essay in response and was surprised to find that, not only did Mark not run a mile, but he was also in a Noel Gallagher cover band. When they got married six years later, they had an Oasis-themed wedding and decorated their house in the band’s merchandise. Sian even tracked down an exclusive replica of Noel’s Riviera guitar as a wedding present for her new hubby.
And she has even named her business Strawberry Lemonade after falling in love with the lyrics from Oasis song Talk Tonight – the B-side of Some Might Say. I was probably about nine when I got into them,” she recalls. “I had the greatest hits of 1998 album, they featured on that, and I was hooked.
“I love the great music and the songs you can lose your mind and your voice to. It’s the perfect balance of rock ‘n’ roll along with beautiful lyrics. I’ve been to see them around 20 times – separately and together – but this reunion gig will be special because it just never ever seemed like it could happen. I am actually emotional about the whole thing and am beside myself with excitement.”
Meanwhile, Barclays research shows the Oasis reunion tour will give the UK economy an incredible boost. Oasis fans are set to spend a combined total of £1.06bn, with attendees each planning to splash out an average of £766.22 to see the Gallagher brothers reunite at one of the 17 UK concert dates.
This exceeds the £997m that Barclays estimated would be spent on the UK legs of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024, largely due to Oasis playing two more UK tour dates. And it’s good news for local businesses – with the tills at barbers and vintage clothes shops pinging in delight.
Jacob Knight, Owner of Knight Vintage said: “Since the Oasis comeback tour was announced, we’ve seen a real spike in sales, and there’s no doubt it’s because of the band. Stone Island, CP Company, Fred Perry, Adidas – all the key labels from that era are suddenly top of the list. We’d already been building up our collection in anticipation, but demand is through the roof.
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“Oasis were not just a band; they were a cultural movement. Synonymous with 1990s Britpop, they embodied working-class swagger, rebellion, and raw confidence, which translated effortlessly into fashion. From Liam Gallagher’s signature parkas and bucket hats to Noel’s mod-inspired tailoring, their style was as influential as their music.
“They revived British streetwear, made Adidas track tops cool again, and helped re-popularise the casual look with a rockstar edge. People are buying into Oasis’ iconic style. And they’re looking for the real thing, not just high-street copies. For shops like ours, it’s a chance to bring out archive pieces and have proper conversations with customers who know exactly what they’re looking for.”
Andreas Lazarou, owner of Lazarou Hair Group said they have also benefitted from the Oasis reunion. “Ten mod haircuts a week is a real shift from where we were just a few months ago – we weren’t getting any at the start of the year. You can see how fan culture drives real change. When a band like Oasis is back in the spotlight, people want to look the part. It’s not just about the music – it filters down into fashion, grooming, the whole lot.
“And when that happens, we feel it in the chairs straight away. It’s actually great for business – gives stylists something different to work with, and clients are very excited to look a little more like their icons. Trends like this remind you how connected our industry is to culture. It’s fun to be a part of.”
