Oasis turned down requests from promoters regarding their reunion tour. The managers suggested that Oasis choose different opening acts for their UK tour. However, Richard Ashcroft mentioned at a concert last night that Liam Gallagher was firm about having Ashcroft as the opening act, and Noel Gallagher supported this decision. Ashcroft also shared a funny story about how Liam showed up in a ‘hazmat suit’ during the pandemic to record music with him.
Richard Ashcroft will perform at all 19 sold-out dates of the Oasis reunion tour, scheduled to take place in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin from July to September.
John Power, the frontman of Cast, expressed his excitement about the reunion, acknowledging Oasis as the voice of a generation and highlighting how their songs have become the soundtrack to many people’s dreams. He reflected on his long history with Noel and Liam Gallagher and noted the significant impact their music had on him as a songwriter and the music scene as a whole. Power also mentioned his anticipation for reconnecting with his Irish roots during the Dublin stop of the tour.
I’m blown away at the reunion. Oasis are the voice of a generation and the songs that they wrote and sung were and still are the soundtrack to many people’s dreams. They are the people’s band.
I’ve known Noel and Liam all through the years, we go way back. It’s been some ride, some journey. I’ve felt and known their music personally, as a fan. It inspired me as songwriter, it blew the whole scene open like nothing before and it reached way beyond the stratosphere. Everything changed. We were all part of that and we will all be part of this. I’m especially looking forward to revisiting my family’s Irish roots when the tour hits Dublin. Let the opening chords shimmer and shine next July.”
Noel Gallagher has previously described Cast’s music as cosmic and has likened attending their live performances to a religious experience. Cast was formed in 1992 from members of Power’s former band, The La’s, and Peter Wilkinson’s band, Shack.
Noel Gallagher, a fan of The La’s, invited Cast to open for some early Oasis shows, which eventually led to their signing with Polydor. Cast became a regular support act for Oasis, including at their iconic 1996 Knebworth concert.
Cast’s debut album, All Change, released in 1995, became the highest-selling debut album in Polydor’s history, reaching No. 7 in the UK album chart. Their second album, Mother Nature Calls, released in 1997, peaked at No. 3, while their third album, Magic Hour, released in 1999, reached No. 6. However, their 2001 album, Beetroot, was less successful, peaking at No. 78.
