ScottishNews.com

Oasis will come full circle when they kick off their world tour at Celtic Park. 

Having been discovered at Glasgow’s King Tut’s by Scots indie pioneer Alan McGee, they performed countless times in Scotland in the early years – from embarrassing corporate gigs to clubs, arenas, music festivals and sell out stadiums.

But things haven’t always gone according to plan for the band north of the border.

Despite being at the height of their fame in 1997, and fresh from topping the charts with their third album Be Here Now, it all kicked off when Oasis took to the stage for their December 7 show at Glasgow’s SECC.

Not long into the band’s set had started and as they performed their No1 hit Wonderwall, a bottle was thrown from somewhere near the front of the packed Hall 4 crowd. 

The missile struck guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs on the leg. Liam Gallagher was not amused.

He told the 10,000-strong crowd: “A bottle has been thrown. We’re not standing for it. Good night.” 

He then stormed offstage, taking the band with him. 

The Oasis fans, myself included, were momentarily stunned into silent disbelief as Liam walked offstage, taking the rest of the band members with him.  

Many thought it was a stunt until 10 minutes later they heard the public address system come to life and a member of staff asked fans to leave. 

That was when things turned ugly. There were jeers and other bottles were thrown in what was described in the press as a mini-riot. Police were called to the venue and 11 people were arrested.

A spokesman for the band put out a statement that the band were “totally disappointed. They were really looking forward to the show because they love Scottish fans and have a great affinity with Scotland.”

Thankfully, the sour note seems to have been a one-off.

In 2000, Oasis made a triumphant return to Scotland when they played Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium as part of their Standing on the Shoulder of Giants tour. Their guests for those shows were Happy Mondays and Doves.

A month later, they performed at Glasgow’s Gig on the Green festival alongside Beck, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub, Paul Weller, Stereophonics and the Dandy Warhols.

And in 2002, tickets were just £28.50 to see one of the band’s two Heathen Chemistry tour shows at Braehead arena.

Other Heathen Chemistry dates included Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange and Aberdeen’s Exhibition and Conference Centre.

In 2009, four years after playing at Hampden stadium, they returned to the home of Scottish rugby. 

Then the feuding Gallagher brothers were involved in a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. And Noel quit the band.

The sold-out Murrayfield show turned out to be their final Scottish gig before the band split. 

Noel went on to form Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Liam put together Beady Eye, both insisting Oasis would never get back together.

I talked to Noel during his visit to Scotland with his new band back in 2015.

The rocker – who was married to Scots publicist Sara MacDonald from 2011 to 2023 – told me: “I married into the MacDonald clan. I’m effectively Scottish anyway. 

“My kids are true celts. They’re half-Scottish, half-Irish. So, we’re all proud celts in my house.”

Because of the break-up of Oasis, Scots fans had to wait 16 years after the split to see Liam and Noel settle their differences and return to Scotland as a band.

Having witnessed all three of their Edinburgh Murrayfield gigs, I can safely say it was worth the wait thanks to stellar performances, great songs and an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium.

Fans sang along with the Manchester music legends throughout the gigs that marked the Scottish leg of the Oasis ’25 reunion tour.

Each night the band belted out classics including Champagne Supernova, Morning Glory, Live Forever, Roll With It, Cigarettes & Alcohol and Wonderwall.

But Liam did make his feelings known from the stage after discovering an Edinburgh council safety briefing ahead of the shows warned that “middle-aged men take up more room, consider this when working out occupancy.”

“One second,” he told the crowd. “Where do I start here with everyone at the city council, the — slags?

“£1 billion pounds we’re bringing to this city over the next three days. £1billion.

“But you won’t see any of it because the Lord Provost will be splitting it between [his] posh ugly — mates.”

Now, 33 years after their breakthrough gig at King Tut’s, Oasis remain one of the biggest bands on the planet. 

Fittingly, they are launching their latest world tour on Scottish soil, when Oasis Live ’27 kicks off at Celtic Park in Glasgow on Friday, May 21, next year.

Further shows at the home of Celtic football club will take place on May 23, 25, 28 and 29 before the rest of their world tour.

They are sure to be hailed by the 60,000 fans each night who will see Noel and Liam Gallagher’s band back in the city where it all began.