The first sign that the sibling rivalry between Noel and Liam Gallagher was beginning to subside came during an interview last month.

Reflecting on the sound of the band, Noel told journalist John Robb: “It’s hard to explain. When I sang a song, it sounded good. And when (Liam) sang it, it sounded great.”

When Noel publicly complimented his brother after 16 years of insults, a few people certainly turned a corner. But few expected the band – who broke out in the same week in 2009 – would drastically reform.

A flood of headlines and a frenetic social media outburst followed, cutting through the national psyche as if the band… two era-defining nights at Knebworth in 1996.

And now we have a reunion. Tickets for the Oasis comeback tour have gone on sale on Friday for pre-sale and on Saturday for general sale, with fans trying to beat each other in the queue for tickets.

But why come together again now?

There are several reasons, but the financial incentive is undoubtedly on the list.

“There would have been a deal done quickly by the promoters and I’ve heard figures of the Gallagher brothers making £50m each,” says Jonathan Dean of the Sunday Times. who reported first the reunion tour. That £50 million estimate was made by Birmingham City University for the first 14 dates.

“I think that’s true, ticket prices are higher than they used to be.”

But, he notes, it’s difficult to estimate numbers until the full scale of the live shows is known.

“This is called a world tour, but at the moment it’s not going beyond England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland,” he notes. “It’s not going to the rest of Europe, to America, so I think all revenue is completely uncertain until we know how far this tour is going to spread.”

Birmingham City University estimates the first dates could potentially generate around £400 million in ticket sales and other perks.

For comparison: Take That’s Progress Live tour in 2011 grossed an estimated $185 million (£140 million).

The Spice Girls – minus Victoria Beckham – caused Ticketmaster to cancel their 13-date tour in 2019, which grossed an estimated $78 million (£60 million).

Abba made a hugely successful comeback without performing live themselves. The digital avatars they used in Abba: Voyage reportedly grossed $2 million (£1.5 million) a week in London.

But bands – including Oasis – are also likely attracted to the idea of ​​building their legacies and fattening their bank accounts.

When Blur played two nights at Wembley last year, critics received rave reviews.

To some, the Gallaghers’ sudden claims of a truce after years of bitter attacks might seem cynical of the Sex Pistols’ 1996 reunion. Frontman John Lydon admitted at the time that while the band still hated each other, they “found a common cause, and that is your money”.

But while “money is king here,” says Robin Murray, music editor of Clash magazine, the timing is also reportedly “very natural.”

He notes that both Gallagher brothers have just wrapped up their most recent solo musical commitments. “There’s definitely an element of truth to that, that it’s just two people, with a certain connection, being in the right place at the right time.”

Dean notes that the Gallaghers are “very wealthy men anyway,” so there must have been other motives.

“I think the family feeling is key. I think they’ve gotten older and their age has brought them closer together,” he says.

And their long rivalry, family ties and shared heritage also helped bring the band back together, suggests music psychotherapist Katerina Georgiou.

Both Gallaghers have enjoyed solo career success. But it is Liam’s star that has risen the most in recent years. “The brothers really lift each other up and there has always been that edge of competition,” says Dr Georgiou.

“Of course it would have been extra nerve-racking for Noel to see Liam sell out Knebworth and tour Definitely Maybe on his own, and vice versa, as Noel’s distance from Liam forced him to prove himself to his brother.”

The duo will undoubtedly benefit from changes in the wider industry landscape. Streaming didn’t exist during Oasis’ heyday, but it has helped them reach new audiences in the intervening years.

Carl Smith, editor at the Official Charts Company, said: “The timelessness of Oasis’ material transcends generations and remains relevant in the streaming age.”

It’s echoed by Dean, of the Sunday Times, who says their music is accessible. “What Oasis do is simple, and I don’t mean that in a negative way, it’s songs about escapism and going away and doing your own thing and being free from the humdrum of everyday life and work, but done in a simple, slightly raw, sing-along way.”

Even before the reunion was announced, Spotify reported that Oasis streams had increased by over 160% worldwide just because of the rumors.

Following the announcement, the chart climbed even further, bringing three of the band’s albums back into the top five of Friday’s official chart, with their greatest hits album climbing 332%.

A lot of new Oasis fans are young women – Attracting younger fans is crucial to financially future-proofing the band.

Liam’s popularity in particular is helping to bring the band’s music to a new generation. Just last week, at the age of 51, he headlined the Reading Festival, a favourite among GCSE and A-Level students.

Despite all the intoxicating temptations that reunions bring to artists, things can easily go wrong.

Jennifer Lopez canceled her greatest hits tour midway through this summer due to poor ticket sales. Music journalist Michael Cragg, author of the ’90s-’00s pop book Reach for the Stars, says she had already “flooded” the market with various Netflix projects, making her music feel “almost like the last thought.”

And the unexpected return of Oasis’ iconic Manchester contemporaries the Stone Roses in 2011, after a 20-year absence, underlined the dangers of over-promising and under-delivering. Their initial comeback dates were enthusiastically received, but new singles were disappointing and a new album never materialized.

According to Roisin O’Connor, music editor of the Independent, Oasis’ return has so far avoided this trap.

The band hasn’t made any big promises yet. They’re first gauging the reactions to the tour, which was a surprise in itself.

“There’s no indication that they’re planning to release new music, so there’s no risk that fans will be disappointed if the material doesn’t live up to their previous albums,” O’Connor said.

But that doesn’t mean the tour is without risk.

For example, there is a potential threat to Oasis’s working class reputation. If this tour becomes financially and logistically unachievable, it could undermine that image.

Standing tickets for the Oasis tour cost around £150, but premium packages cost up to £506. Some unofficial resale tickets are going for £6,000, although the band have warned that these may be cancelled.

During the sale on Saturday“Dynamic pricing” on Ticketmaster, where prices rise in line with demand, meant that remaining tickets sold for around £355 plus fees – up from £135 when sales began.

Tickets to see the band at Knebworth cost about £22 in 1996 – but this does not take into account inflation and the new era of differentiated pricing.

Concerns about prices and the demand for tickets have also increased. led to discussions about gatekeeping.

Some older fans feel they shouldn’t have to compete for tickets with fans who weren’t even alive the first time around. But many counter that music belongs to no one, it’s there for everyone to enjoy.

The cultural impact of the 2025 shows is likely to be huge, suggesting Oasis “have already agreed to next summer”, according to Dean.

The fact that the band have ruled out performing at Glastonbury next year is likely to increase demand for their own tour, with fans told they can only see the band live if they buy a ticket.

The appeal of Oasis’ live shows is further underlined by the fact that this is the last chance for fans to see them.

“I think this will be seen as the latest – and possibly final – chapter in the Oasis story,” said the Independent’s O’Connor.

“A moment of catharsis for fans who wanted closure or to see the band for the last time, and hopefully a turning point for Noel and Liam after all these years.

“After that, who knows.”

Additional reporting by Steven McIntosh