Ex Oasis drummer shares texts he sent the brothers after being left out of tour
Former Oasis drummer, Zak Starkey, will not be joining the Gallaghers in their much-anticipated reunion tour this summer.
Former Oasis member Zak Starkey has been left out of the Gallagher brothers' eagerly awaited reunion tour. Liam and Noel announced last year that they were putting their infamous family feud behind them and were getting the back back together after a 16-year break from the band.
Scots fans are eagerly awaiting the duo's Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium shows, which are taking place on August 8, 9 and 12. However, former drummer for the band Zak, who performed with Oasis between 2004 and 2009, won't be a part of the line-up.
Zak appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning (May 27) to promote his new single with supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, which also features Bez and Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays alongside former Oasis bassist Andy Bell, reported the Mirror.
When asked what he thought about the upcoming reunion tour, he conceded he was 'gutted' about not being asked to take part in the shows.
He said: 'I texted them and said 'why am I not in it?'. You know, if you get a new drummer, you get comfortable, don't you? You get comfortable with new musicians and I think that's what's happened and I'm alright with that.'
He went on to say he would have jumped at the chance to join Oasis on tour had the offer come in, but praised the band and Liam, saying: 'God, yeah. Greatest rock and roll band of my generation. Greatest rock and roll singer of my generation.'
Zak, who is the son of Beatles' legend Ringo Starr, spoke about how his group's new single, Domino Bones, was originally written by Noel Gallagher, who gave it to Mantra of the Cosmos after suggesting it suited them better.
The drummer told host Ben Thompson he was taken aback by the offer from Noel, saying: 'I was blown away by it - I couldn't believe it. The greatest songwriter of my generation sending me a tune."
Last week, fellow Mantra of the Cosmos member Andy Bell confirmed he would be joining Liam and Noel on their reunion tour. The bassist, who played with Oasis between 1999 and 2009, said he was 'really looking forward to it'.
Eagle-eyed fans shared snaps of Noel and Andy at rehearsals for the reunion gigs last week.
Despite some controversy over Ticketmaster's"dynamic pricing" strategy that saw ticket prices soar to double their value, those who managed to secure their spot are ecstatic, especially after a glimpse of the band arriving at the rehearsal studio.
One excited fan posted: "F**k and I thought I was hyped before. It's genuinely fantastic to see them!
"They've all aged pretty damn gracefully and I can't lie, the beard looks decent on Noel. Glad Bonehead looks so healthy as well. Lads, it's happening."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Oasis kick off rehearsals in Cardiff ahead of the first gig of their hotly-anticipated reunion tour after last-minute change
Oasis have arrived in Cardiff ahead of the first gig of their hotly-anticipated reunion tour, after a last minute change to the plans. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher will reunite on stage at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday - in their first gig in 15 years. The iconic Britpop band will perform stadium shows across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, South Korea and North, Central and South America, where it will conclude with a show at São Paulo's Estádio do Morumbi on November 23. And on Monday, fans became convinced that the duo had already arrived in Wales to sound check at the stadium after people heard music coming from inside. It has also been revealed the brothers have enlisted new bandmates for the tour, with drummer Joey Waronker and guitarists Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs on board. A source told The Mirror: 'With a new lineup and it being such a huge first show, the boys will do some songs inside the venue too. 'Some tours would start with a smaller show or take a week or two to get into the groove again- but there is no time for that, and also Liam and Noel want every night to be massive. 'This is such a huge comeback show, and they are taking it very seriously, it all points to it being an incredible comeback tour.' Fans have since reacted to hearing rehearsals for the Gallagher brothers' gig kicking off in Wales, taking to social media. One fan shared a clip saying: 'Hello, so it is Monday, the gig is this weekend and you can probably hear it behind me already - the sound check is happening. 'I'm not sure what song it is but it defintiely sounds like Oasis. There was just instruments earlier but now there is vocals so they seem to be in Cardiff already. Which is very early for a sound check. ' Meanwhile sharing other clips, people said: 'Oasis soundcheck in Cardiff just now, @liamgallagher sounding biblical,'; 'THEY'RE IN THERE!!! @liamgallagher and @oasis are testing @principalitysta speakers in Cardiff and they are LOUD,'; 'Oasis soundcheck Cardiff sounds wicked,'; 'Oasis sound checking in Cardiff ohhhh my god.' Oasis crew members could be forgiven for looking back in anger on Sunday after Liam took a swipe at them on social media. Liam, 52, risked upsetting the tireless roadies responsible for organising Live '25 - the band's first tour since their 2009 implosion - by claiming even their families will be relieved to rid of them this summer. Taking to X, he quipped: 'Our crew members don't have friends and there wife's and husbands are glad to see the f**king backs of them and tell me n rkid everytime we see them they don't know how we put up with them on a daily basis let alone go around the f**king world with them fyi.' [sic] The singer appeared to be responding to claims that Oasis crew members have not been issued free tickets for friends and family members - widely considered to be a perk of the job. 'The crew will be travelling around the country with the band, setting up the venues, and will be on hand throughout the concerts in case they are needed,' one source told the Daily Mail's Katie Hind. 'They'll be away from their family and are usually given tickets to invite them down to join them at one of the shows. 'But the Gallagher brothers have banned any free tickets being given out. The crew are all fuming. Many of them have toured with other big-name artists and have never known anything like it. 'All Oasis seem to care about is making as much money as they can. Is this about fans, or is the truth that it's all about the money?' The band recently confirmed a limited number of extra tickets will be released ahead of July. A statement posted to the band's official website on Wednesday read: 'As the shows are getting closer, Oasis promoters may be able to release a very limited number of additional tickets for sale once final sight lines are checked and the production is fine tuned. 'These final production releases will happen over the coming days.' Following their initial release, thousands of fans waited for hours in virtual queues to get their hands on highly coveted tickets for the band's reunion shows, only to find that prices had jumped in a 'dynamic pricing' scheme.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
BBC Sounds announces Mad for Oasis, new 10-part series exploring the enduring legacy of the band
As Liam and Noel Gallagher get set to return to stage this summer, BBC Sounds explores the lasting impact of one of Britian's most iconic bands in a brand-new ten-part series, Mad For Oasis. Made by BBC Local teams at BBC Radio Manchester, and hosted by Noel's daughter, Anais, Mad For Oasis tells the stories of their music through the eyes of the superfans. We hear from the Oxford-based artist Paul Fellows, who first saw the band more than 20 years ago, and the experience left a lasting impression. His deep love for Oasis inspired him to create artwork dedicated to the band - work that has since helped raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. It's a cause close to his heart, as the hospital once cared for his ill son. Paul said: 'Oasis have had a massive influence on my life. If someone came up to me in the field of Knebworth and said in 25 years' time, you're going to meet him on stage and raise money for a great cause, I would never have believed it!'. Karen from New Ross, in Ireland has been a devoted Oasis fan since day one. Their music has been a constant companion through both her teenage years and adult life. She recalls how one song in particular became the bridge that helped her reconnect with her mother, who had dementia. She said: 'An Oasis song helped me connect with my mother in a way I never thought I'd be able to again. Happy or sad, it will always be a massive part of me'. Host of the series Anais Gallagher said: 'Obviously, Oasis have always been a big part of my life. But to have the opportunity to hear these incredible stories from people about how their music has impacted their lives, has been amazing. I'm thrilled to be a part of it.' The artwork for this series was specially commissioned, it was created by Manchester Artist and Oasis fan Stanley Chow who said: "I'm thrilled to have to been asked to work on the series cover. I had so much fun researching the illustration. It's a lovely thing to be part of!' Chris Burns, Head of Local Audio Commissioning said: "Whether it's your favourite band reuniting, your football team winning, or losing, our BBC teams live and breathe the rollercoaster of local life with our audiences. BBC Radio Manchester really gets to the heart of how this local band made its mark upon ordinary people's lives and is told fantastically through Anais.' Mad For Oasis is a BBC Local production for BBC Sounds and will be available on BBC Sounds on Tuesday 1 July 2025. HM3 Follow for more
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Scotland's last RAF base – from £3.5BN submarine hunters to Top Gun jets poised to intercept Russian attack
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RAF Lossiemouth is poised to play its part in the spiralling Israel-Iran conflict with RAF Typhoon fighter jets being sent to the Middle East. But it's just the latest war the brave men and women at the Scots military base in Moray have put their lives on the line for over the decades. 9 RAF Lossiemouth is poised to play its part in the spiralling conflict in the Middle East Credit: Northpix 9 RAF Lossiemouth is the home of the £3.5bn Poseidon submarine hunter project Credit: Northpix 9 Sun reporter Matt Bendoris explores behind the scenes at RAF Lossiemouth Credit: Northpix Today, we take you behind the scenes to show you how it ticks. Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS not only meets the Top Guns, but many of the backroom staff that help protect our country from the air in these increasingly uncertain times. Behind the scenes at RAF Lossiemouth THE sign above the entrance to 9 Bomber Squadron HQ reads: 'Welcome to Gotham'. I was expecting more Maverick from Top Gun rather than the Caped Crusader, but it turns out their badge is a green bat to highlight the unit's night-bombing exploits. And I would get to feel like Batman himself when I had to don 16kgs — that's two and a half stone — of a Typhoon fighter pilot's high-tech kit. Just getting into it was a work-out in itself, even with the help of survival equipment technician Corporal Claire Weston. Claire, 36, from Wiltshire says: 'You're wearing an anti-G (anti-gravity) jacket and trousers. 'When the pilots are in the aircraft they inflate so the blood remains in the right places and they don't pass out.' Lastly the 4kg — nearly 9lb — helmet was squeezed on, making me feel and look like a bobblehead toy with ear defenders that rendered me completely deaf. Real pilots sometimes have to wear this clobber for 16 hours at a time, which begs the question — what do they do when they need a number one up there? RAF pilots will get NUCLEAR bombers for first time in 30 years as Keir Starmer says UK must prepare for threat of war Flight Lieutenant Rob 'Cheese' Smith, 30, from Winchester, says: 'We have a contraption called Skydrate, which is basically a bag with a hose that makes having a wee pretty easy.' But less said about No2s the better, Rob adds: 'Yes, that would be bad, especially if you've got no option.' Now, fully kitted out, 'Bendy 1' was reporting for duty. Base commander Sarah Brewin, below, explains: 'Our mission at RAF Lossiemoith is really clear. 'We defend the skies of the United Kingdom. We defend the seas of the United Kingdom. And we deliver on global operations for the benefit of the country.' Of course not only do our forces have to keep an eye on what's going on with Mad Vladimir Putin in the East, since 9/11 our pilots also have to intercept any unidentified aircraft entering our airspace. Scrambling the jets is called a Quick Reaction Alert so when the alarm sounds I spring into action, legging it as fast as the restrictive clobber would allow to No2 hanger. Waiting for me was a Typhoon with the call sign F-MOG — which eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted in the current series of Top Guns. And it turns out the Channel 4 show has done probably more for recruitment than any slick RAF promo videos. 9 'Welcome to Gotham' - the sign welcoming visitors to 9 Bomber Squadron at Lossiemouth Credit: Northpix 9 Our reporter Matt Bendoris climbs into the cockpit of a high-tech Typhoon fighter Credit: Northpix 9 RAF Typhoon jets are scrambled to intercept aircraft during Quick Action Alerts Credit: Northpix 9 Wing Commander David Higgins in front of 'submarine hunter' Poseidon(P-8A) aircraft Credit: Northpix Wing Commander Dave Higgins - Squadron Leader of the neighbouring 120 Bomber Squadron - says:: 'Top Guns has seen a huge amount of interest in the RAF's operations. It allows people to see the important work being done at our bases.' After my mock QRA I return to the changing rooms where I have sweat dripping from, well everywhere, onto the floor, making me more of a Plop Gun. Even Corp Claire remarks: 'Our pilots don't sweat that much.' But when it comes to pilot's nicknames, apparently there is only one rule. Dave explains: 'You're not allowed to choose your own. 'So your friends and colleagues decide on one at the appropriate moment and that might stay with you for life.' Of course the real Top Guns not only have to be superfit, but extremely skilled too, as they pilot these £120million aircraft with a top speed of over 1,500mph. But Lossiemouth is also home to the £3.5billion Poseidon project — a maritime patrol aircraft that monitors the UK's waters, equipped with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare. And if the aircraft shape looks familiar that's because they are a version of a Boeing 737, albeit with longer, reinforced wings to cope with the extreme turbulence while flying at 200ft above the sea. Squadron leader Dave, 44, from Warrington, Cheshire, says: 'Anyone who's flown with Ryanair will be familiar with the 737. 'Although the type of flying we do can be very low-level over the sea, dropping sensors that listen to submarines or torpedoes. That can get rough and leave even experienced air crew feeling queasy. 'But unlike the Typhoons, we do have a toilet, because some of our sortees can be nine hours long — even longer if we get some air to air refuelling.' 'The moral component' of fighting power REVEREND Wing Commander Adrian Dyer revealed how he gives RAF Lossiemouth personnel the 'moral component' to fight. The 58-year-old Welshman has been on the frontline with the RAF in Afghanistan while he's also served in the Middle East and Falkland Islands. He explains: 'The reason we're still in uniform as chaplains is because we contribute to the moral component of fighting power. 'It's quite a technical term, but it's about people's willingness to fight and their understanding of why they're doing what they're doing. 'In an ordinary job most people do it as a calling or there's a monetary incentive. That's never going to get you through a conflict situation. 'So part of what we do is help them to come to terms with what they're sometimes called upon to do in the armed forces.' And the padre believes that staff are more willing to open up to RAF chaplains rather than civilian ones. He explains: 'You go through the same sort of training and you have to be able to pass the officer course before you're commissioned. 'You're living alongside people and you're with them. So when they go on deployment, you go on deployment as well. 'But under international law you go as a non-combatant. You're there as a support function around the armed forces to help them to do the job they need to do.' It's not just about the dashing pilots on a base this size — and Lossiemouth covers 1,400 acres. There are over 3,000 staff including 2,000 military personnel, 1,000 contractors and 250 civil servants. And there's plenty to do in their down time with their own rugby team and extensive gym facilities, while its latest addition is an e-sports arena where RAF personnel can play Call Of Duty — talk about a busman's holiday. Chief technician Tom Gregson, 39, from London helped put the state-of-the-art centre together with the help of the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) fund. He says: 'We wanted to build somewhere all ranks and all trades can socialise and come together. 'So right now the PCs are set up for multi-player Call of Duty Black Ops. But because the PCs are high spec we can run any game requested.' 9 The RAF even has it's own eSports league Credit: Northpix 9 The state-of-the-art centre was created so "all ranks" could socialise together Credit: Northpix Lossiemouth has also recently undergone £700million worth of improvements including a new housing blocks where everyone is seemingly oblivious to the constant roar of aircraft. Boss Sarah says: 'We are the noisy neighbours in the area. 'But the local authority in Moray has given us their unwavering support, even for some of our antisocial flying activities. 'The amount of fuel that we draw each year is phenomenal — we're probably one of the biggest users of fuel in Scotland.' And Sarah, who joined the RAF 20 years ago aged 22, insists each one of her staff are as important as the high-flying air crew. She says: 'I actually originally joined as air crew, but embarrassingly, I was too light for the ejection seat. Despite my best efforts at eating pies and chips, I couldn't keep the weight on. 'But it doesn't really matter what your functional area is in the Royal Air Force. Whether you're on the frontline or behind the scenes we're all part of the same team.'
