Tony McCarroll, the former drummer of Oasis, has shared his message to the band ahead of their highly-anticipated reunion tour this year.
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McCarroll was one of several founders of Oasis in 1991, performing on debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ and singles ‘Whatever’ and ‘Some Might Say’ before his departure in 1995. He was sacked from the band and later sued them for royalties.
Earlier today (April 4), McCarroll shared his letter to the band on Instagram accompanied with a older picture of himself. “Almost a lifetime ago, a few Burnage lads got together and created something special,” he wrote. “Something that time can’t out date, the start of a wave that’s evidently still rolling with the last real band before the world changed.”
“Oasis captured the time and minds of the people; we were the same as them, and they felt it. The connection,” he continued, adding that, over the last two years, he’s noted more young people attending Q&A events of his.
“The circle has started again lads. A new generation ready to start a journey of listening,” he stated. “Actually, I’m a bit jealous of that blank canvas they’re about to start on.”
“Lads, the world is excited to see this, it’s all people are talking about. The time ‘feels’ right, I can’t wait to see how it all goes down,” he expressed. “Liam, Noel, Bone, Gem….
(I better stop there as I’m not sure who else) Good luck with everything, and don’t forget to stop and take it in! If the drummer fancies a stage partner for Supersonic at Heaton Park, give us a buzz ;)”
“What we started back in The Boardwalk days, has become this,” he added. “Be proud. I fuckin am! Enjoy it”.
Drummer Alan White got fans talking last year after he posted an image of his drum kit with a swirling Union Jack design, while McCarroll said that the band “hadn’t reached out yet and to be honest I’m not holding my breath” following their public legal battle.
In March, ahead of the tour, which kicks off on July 4 in Cardiff, sources close to the band told NME that the band’s line-up will include Andy Bell, Gem Archer, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Joey Waronker, alongside Noel and Liam Gallagher.
Last week, Noel broke his silence on the controversy surrounding tickets when they went on sale last August. “I thought it’d be a big deal, but I was a bit taken aback by just how much of a big deal it was,” he said.
Ticket sales drew further ire from fans when it was found tickets were listed for hugely inflated prices due to “dynamic” pricing (an automatic surge increase due to demand). Both the CMA and the European Commission are investigating the issue.
In response, Oasis said that they “at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used” in the sale, claiming that “prior meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band’s management resulted in a positive ticket sale strategy, which would be a fair experience for fans, including dynamic ticketing to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting, the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations.”
The band later announced “a small step towards making amends for the situation” with “a special invitation-only ballot ticket sale strategy” for two additional Wembley gigs on September 27 and 28.
‘Some Might Say’, which was the final song McCarroll recorded with Oasis, is set to be reissued on vinyl later this month to mark its 30th anniversary.
Fans have also been revisiting the group’s final setlist from 2009 to get an idea of what they might play this July. See NME’s dream setlist for the forthcoming massive gigs here.