In July 2009, at the tender age of 15, I found myself amongst tens of thousands at Wembley Stadium, witnessing Oasis perform. At the time, I was blissfully unaware of the seismic impact this moment would have on musical history. Just six weeks later, Noel Gallagher’s departure sent shockwaves through the music world, effectively ending Oasis as we knew it. Fast forward to 2023, and the band is back together, poised to play 14 shows across the UK and Ireland. The brothers Gallagher have seemingly buried their hatchet, and for countless fans who cherished the ’90s Britpop era, this is a chance to relive those cherished memories. But as hundreds of thousands of tickets go on sale, a new generation of music lovers is eager to experience the magic of Oasis for the first time. This has sparked a debate on social media, with older fans expressing concerns about younger generations getting tickets. Despite the age-old argument of “I was there before you”, Oasis and Britpop remain strikingly relevant to younger generations. This is partly due to the influence of those who lived through the ’90s, emphasizing its significance in music history, but also through the initiative of younger fans who independently discovered the era’s captivating guitar-driven music. To any younger fans discouraged by the gatekeeping, I implore you to ignore it. Back in 2009, I was in your shoes, perhaps even more clueless about the band than the caricature portrayed in the viral tweet. At 15, my musical taste was limited to the charts, lacking depth or appreciation. My CD collection consisted of a mere five albums: James Blunt, Scissor Sisters, Eminem, Busted, and Chamillionaire. I was essentially dragged to Oasis’s Wembley gig by a friend who received two tickets as a birthday gift. To say I didn’t know their music would be an understatement; I couldn’t even name a single song, not even ‘Wonderwall’. This wasn’t just my first Oasis concert; it was my very first live music experience. Sitting in the rafters of the UK’s largest stadium, I had no idea what lay ahead. The opening act, Reverend and the Makers, filled the air with the loudest music I had ever heard. The Enemy and Kasabian followed, blowing me away with their raw energy. At the time, I thought my musical preferences leaned towards radio-friendly hip-hop, but here were these snarling guitars, booming drums, and charismatic lead singers, their aggressive and carefree attitude undeniably captivating for a teenage me. When the Gallagher brothers finally took the stage, Wembley erupted in a sea of cheering fans. Suddenly, this unfamiliar band washed over nearly a hundred thousand people, their music resonating deep within my millennial bones. The opening song, ‘Fuckin’ in the Bushes’, ignited a passion unlike anything I had ever experienced. Pure rock and roll, distilled into mesmerizing guitar melodies, seamlessly transitioning into the classic ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’. While some may dismiss Oasis as a mere embodiment of rockstar stereotypes, the shared experience of Wembley Stadium, united in this rockstar fantasy, was pure joy. The nearly two-hour gig unfolded, and thanks to Oasis’s infectious songwriting, I found myself singing along to every chorus by the second time they played. An acoustic rendition of ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ resonated deeply, and I belted out the newly learned refrain from the bottom of my lungs until I lost my voice during the extended outro. Going into that concert, I knew nothing about Oasis, their legacy, or how they and Britpop had revolutionized music. I had no comprehension of their fragility, nor did I truly grasp the tragedy of their split mid-tour a month later. But the raw energy of that gig left an indelible mark on my consciousness. I left Wembley Stadium a changed person, a music fanatic. At 15, I had a new dream: to become a rockstar. Though my teenage band efforts didn’t pan out, the spark ignited that night remains. What has endured is the profound recognition of music’s ability to move, to excite, and to shape lives. That single gig has shaped my life, leading me to a career as a 30-year-old writer, sharing my love for music with the world. So to anyone who thinks they are too young or not a big enough fan to see the reunited Oasis, I urge you to embrace the experience. You never know how one gig can change your life.
Oasis’s ‘Dig Out Your Soul’ Tour: A Life-Changing Experience
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