How music’s most notorious feud unfolded

They were one of the world’s most successful bands, until a rift between two brothers sparked an all out war.

It’s one of the most famous feuds in music history.

Liam and Noel Gallagher were at odds early on when they started the rock band Oasis, and despite their success in the industry, their relationship completely fell apart.

A backstage fight between the brothers at one of their concerts in 2009 led to their falling out and the “Wonderwall” group’s disbandment.

In the years that followed, Liam, 51, and Noel, 57, continued to take jabs at each other on social media and in interviews as they pursued solo careers.

Overnight, they confirmed they are back together for a series of shows in the UK.

Here’s a look back a how it all went down.

Oasis are reportedly set to reunite for the first time in 15 years. Picture: AP Photo/Mauricio/Castillo.

1994: Noel briefly quits before first North American tour

Three years after Oasis formed in Manchester, England, the group kicked off their first US tour in Los Angeles. That night, there was a big fight during which Liam threw a tambourine at Noel’s head.

Noel told Uncut Magazine: “It’s the first night of the tour at the Whisky A Go Go, and everyone but me were wasted on crystal meth, someone got hit in the face with a chair, there was a big fight, the press called us a bunch of drug addicts and I got the tour float, my passport and f**ked off to San Francisco.”

According to Noel, the band’s record label eventually convinced him to return.

1995: “Whibbling Rivalry” audio is released

“Whibbling Rivalry” was a single released under the name “Oas*s” that featured a recording from the Gallagher brothers’ interview with NME in 2014. The siblings got into a big argument over an incident where they were being kicked off a ferry. The 14-minute release ended up charting and reaching No. 52 on the UK Singles Chart. It is still the highest-charting interview release.

Noel and Liam in Hong Kong circa 2006. Picture: AFP

1996: Liam drops out of “MTV Unplugged”

Liam abandoned his brother shortly before a planned appearance on an episode of “MTV Unplugged”.

“As they said, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Oasis,’ we walked out and [Liam] wasn’t there,” Noel said to Far Out Magazine about the 1996 taping. “He said, ‘I’m not doing it. I thought, ‘Thanks a lot.’”

According to Noel, Liam said his throat hurt during rehearsals and then stopped practising with the band before they taped the episode.

“About an hour before we were due to go on, he turned up, absolutely sh*tt-faced. We said, well look, let’s see if you can sing a couple of songs, and it was f**king dreadful,” Noel recalled.

While Noel did the show alone, Liam sat in the balcony and heckled his brother.

2000: Noel briefly quits after brutal fight

Noel briefly quit Oasis, again, after a fight with his brother when they were out drinking in Barcelona. The Guardian reported that Liam questioned the legitimacy of Noel’s daughter with ex-wife Meg Mathews, causing a brawl between the two. “I’ve never forgiven him because he’s never apologised,” Noel said about the fight in 2005, per the Guardian, which stated that Liam eventually apologised.

Oasis finally broke up in 2009.

Aug. 2009: Noel quits for good — and Oasis breaks up

Noel finally walked away from Oasis in 2009 after another heated fight with his brother in Paris, where they were due to perform at the Rock en Seine festival.

“It is with some sadness and great relief … I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer,” Noel wrote in a statement at the time.

He told the Independent in 2021 he made the decision when he was sitting in the back of a car outside the festival.

“And the driver pulled off and that was it. I didn’t feel a sense of relief because I knew there was a sh*tstorm coming. And there was going to be a lot of nonsense talked about it,” said Noel.

He continued, “One of the biggest bands ever imploded, finally. And I couldn’t go back to England because the press had descended on my house and my missus was there with my kids. So we had to kind of spirit her out in the middle of the night and they came to join me in France somewhere. And then when we eventually got back to England, of course all f**king hell broke loose.” Oasis broke up after Noel quit, but Liam and the rest of the band stayed together under the name Beady Eye. They disbanded in 2014.

Feb. 2010: Liam snubs Noel at the Brit Awards

At the 2010 Brit Awards, Liam accepted the award for Best Album of the Past 30 Years for Oasis’ “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” During his speech, he thanked all his founding band members minus his brother.

He later explained his reason for the snub, saying, “I’m sick of it all being about me and Noel, the last couple of months has pretty much been all about me and him so I thought it was only right to mention the other lads who played on the album and the best fans in the world.”

The Gallagher brothers have patched things up... for now.

June 2017: Liam calls out Noel for skipping Manchester benefit concert

Liam, and not Noel, was one of the performers at the 2017 “One Love Manchester” benefit following the terrorist attack at Ariana Grande’s concert.

The day after the event, Liam tweeted, “Manchester id like to apologise for my brothers absence last night very disappointed stay beautiful stay safe LG x.”

In a second tweet, Liam ranted, “Noels out of the f**king country weren’t we all love get on a f**king plane and play your tunes for the kids you sad f**k.”

“F**k the reunion mate it ain’t about oasis it’s about people helping other people and he’s once again shown his true f**king colours,” Liam added.

Oct. 2022: Liam claims Noel ‘blocked’ song at Taylor Hawkins tribute

At a tribute concert honouring the late Taylor Hawkins, Liam alleged that his brother “blocked” him from playing an Oasis song at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Liam fumed, “No oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them he also blocked the oasis I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute he’s a horrible little man.”

In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, “You can stop us using the songs but you can’t erase our memories shame on you Noel Gallagher.”

This story originally appeared on New York Post and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as How music’s most notorious feud unfolded