Oasis confirm Richard Ashcroft as special guest for 2025 UK and Ireland reunion tour

nme.com:

Oasis have confirmed Richard Ashcroft as a special guest for their 2025 UK and Ireland reunion tour.The singer-songwriter and former frontman of The Verve is set to open for the Britpop band at each date of the trek next summer – which includes seven nights at London’s Wembley Stadium and five gigs at Manchester’s Heaton Park.It follows recent reports that Ashcroft would be joining Liam and Noel Gallagher on the road for Oasis Live ’25, along with Cast (who have not yet been announced).In a statement about the forthcoming massive support slots, Ashcroft said: “As a fan from day one I was buzzing for many reasons when the news of Oasis’ 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.”He added: “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.”Details about the rest of the support line-up for Oasis’ 2025 UK and Ireland shows will be revealed in due course, according to a press release.Ashcroft has a long history with Oasis, serving as the inspiration behind their 1995 song ‘Cast No Shadow’.

One of Liam and Noel Gallagher’s first national tours was as the support act for The Verve back in 1993, ahead of their 1994 debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’.In 1995, The Verve opened for Oasis at The Bataclan in Paris before featuring as special guests at the giant tent show at Scotland’s Irving Beach.