Oasis fans went wild as they spotted Noel Gallagher watching Richard Ashcroft’s support act – just an hour before he took to the stage for the huge reunion gig.
More than 75,000 fans are watching history be made as Noel, 58, and Liam, 52, appear for the first time on stage together in 16 years at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday night.
Though many fans expected the brothers to remain unseen until their big arrival, Noel sneakily milled among the crowds as he joined the sold-out audience watching Richard’s support act.
Although the singer attempted to keep a low profile, fans were quick to spot Noel as he watched on intently as Richard belted out some of The Verve’s classic hits from the 90s.
In photographs shared to social media, Noel could be seen wearing dark jeans and a jacket, with his hands in his pockets as he stared straight ahead at the stage.
An hour later, Noel and Liam made their epic arrival on stage at 8.15pm after warm up act Richard Ashcroft began his set at 7:00pm.
Oasis fans went wild as they spotted Noel Gallagher watching Richard Ashcroft’s support act – just an hour before he took to the stage for the huge reunion gig
More than 75,000 fans will watch history be made as Noel, 58, and Liam, 52, will appear for the first time on stage together in 16 years at the Welsh capital’s Principality Stadium
The band confirmed they would be hitting the stage at 8.15pm after warm up act Richard Ashcroft begins his set at 7:00pm
Richard is a longtime friend of Liam and Noel, who supported the Verve in 1993. Noel also wrote the track ‘Cast No Shadow’ as a tribute to the star.
The Verve broke up for a third time in 2009 and have not reformed since – although Ashcroft has enjoyed a successful solo career with six top ten albums.
Back in October Oasis wrote on X: ‘Just Announced, @richardashcroft will be joining as a special guest for all UK and Ireland Oasis Live ’25 shows.’
At the time, Richard Ashcroft said: ‘As a fan from day one I was buzzing for many reasons when the news of Oasis’s return was announced.
‘I can say with no exaggeration that the songwriting talent of Noel and Liam’s pure spirit as a lead singer helped to inspire me to create some of my best work. It was the perfection of ‘Live Forever’ that forced me to try and write my own.
‘They dared to be great, made the dreams we had real and I will always remember those days with joy. Now it’s time to create more memories and I’m ready to bring it. See you next summer. Music is power.’
One of Oasis’s first national tours was as support to The Verve back in 1993, often playing to just a few hundred people several months before their debut single Supersonic was released.
They were due to be reunited the following year in Amsterdam but a drunken incident on a ferry resulted in most of the band being sent back to the UK, except for Noel Gallagher who went on to play a solo set instead.
Richard Ashcroft is a longtime friend of Liam and Noel, who supported The Verve in 1993, after they split for a third time in 2009 they have not reformed since – although Ashcroft has enjoyed a successful solo career with six top ten albums (pictured: Ashcroft performing at Kew The Music 2024 on July 14)
The Oasis line up before their famous Knebworth concerts in 1996 was (from left) Alan White, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, Liam Gallagher, Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan and Noel Gallagher
But they were back together again in 1995, with The Verve supporting Oasis at The Bataclan in Paris before featuring as special guests at the giant tent show at Scotland’s Irving Beach.
The Verve broke up for a third time in 2009 and have not reformed since – although Ashcroft has enjoyed a successful solo career with six top ten albums.
Oasis announced their long-awaited reunion on August 27 after many had thought they would never get back together.
It followed a long-standing feud between Liam and Noel after the band split in 2009 prompted by a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in France.
The last time the brothers performed together was on August 22 2009 at V Festival in Staffordshire.
