As the questions surrounding Oasis‘ fast-approaching reunion tour continue to swirl, longtime bassist Andy Bell has confirmed his presence within the lineup.
Bell’s presence was confirmed in a recent conversation with Austrian outlet OE24, who spoke to Bell following a performance in the country by his band Ride. “Yes, I’m in and I’m really looking forward to it,” Bell noted. “We’ll see each other on tour. Or rather, you’ll see me, because I’ll hardly be able to spot you in the audience!”
News of Bell’s involvement gained traction in March after NME reported that “sources working closely with the band and tour” had outlined who would be performing with the Gallaghers onstage this year.
At the time of their split in 2009, Oasis officially featured Gem Archer on guitar, with Bell taking on bass, guitar, and keyboards. A series of touring drummers had sat behind the kit since the 2004 departure of Alan “Whitey” White, with Chris Sharrock holding the beat at their final shows.
According to the March report, the forthcoming version of the band would see the Gallaghers joined by Archer and Bell, along with Oasis co-founder Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs, and Joey Waronker, who has previously performed with R.E.M., Beck, Roger Waters, and more.
“NME tell me who your source pots are that keep giving you info about OASIS and I’ll give you an exclusive interview about up n coming OASIS tour,” Liam Gallagher wrote in response to the report. “You can have it all but how much do you want it.”
Bell – who had performed in Oasis since 1999 and later joined Liam Gallagher, Archer and Sharrock as a member of Beady Eye – previously sparked speculation of a reunion from the group in April 2024 when he was asked by Virgin Radio U.K.’s Andy Goldstein whether the band could ever perform together again.
“I’m going to say a qualified yeah, I think they will at the end of the day,” Bell said. “I don’t think it looks likely right now, but I think life is long, isn’t it?”
Liam Gallagher responded to Bell’s comments on social media, writing, “Andy bell from ride the shoe gazing phenomenon should really not be getting people’s hopes up it’s not big and and it’s not clever.”
When pressed by a fan who claimed Bell was simply noting what Gallagher himself had claimed in the past, the vocalist claimed, “I’ve never mentioned oasis reunion it’s over we must all really move in for our own mental health.”
To date, Oasis have lined up more than 40 dates for their Live ’25 outing, which will hit stadiums in the U.K., North America, Asia, Australia and South America from July through November. So far, the only participants confirmed by the Gallaghers to appear are the brothers themselves — who have not shared a stage since August 2009.
News of Bell’s self-confirmation comes soon after Alec McKinlay, who heads the band’s Ignition Management and Big Brother Recordings, Oasis’ U.K. label, disputed claims from Liam Gallagher that the band had a new album in the works.
“This is very much the last time around, as Noel’s made clear in the press,” McKinlay said in an interview with Music Week published Tuesday (May 13). “It’s a chance for fans who haven’t seen the band to see them, or at least for some of them to. But no, there’s no plan for any new music.”
