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Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Blur's Damon Albarn admits Oasis 'won battle' as he admits defeat amid rivarly
Damon Albarn has admitted Oasis won their long-standing Britpop rivalry, as the band's 2025 reunion tour draws incredible crowds and praise Blur frontman Damon Albarn has acknowledged Oasis as the ultimate winners of the long-standing Britpop rivalry, admitting their ongoing reunion tour has firmly placed them back at the top of the music scene. Speaking about Oasis' epic comeback, Albarn, 57, reflected on the decades-old competition that defined 1990s British music. 'Well, it was obvious, wasn't it?' he said. 'I think we can officially say that Oasis won the battle, the war, the campaign, everything.' Although Blur famously beat Oasis in the 1995 chart battle with their single Country House, Albarn now believes Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel have claimed the long-term victory. 'They are the winners. They take first place,' he added. 'In the face of such overwhelming evidence, I am happy to accept and concede defeat. It's their summer and God bless them. I hope everyone has a wonderful time but I'm going to be in a very, very different place.' Blur recently released To The End, a documentary chronicling their 2023 reunion and comeback album The Ballad of Darren. They also played two major shows at London's Wembley Stadium last summer. However, Albarn conceded that those performances are being eclipsed by Oasis's current success. 'My two-night stint at Wembley will be dwarfed by their seven,' he told The Sun. Oasis kicked off their highly anticipated Oasis Live '25 reunion tour last weekend with two sold-out nights at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. The band returned to their hometown of Manchester on July 11 for the first of five major outdoor shows at Heaton Park, which was their first concert in the city since 2009. Thousands of fans queued at the gates from the early morning hours, with some travelling from as far as Australia and South Korea to witness the historic performance. The show attracted over 80,000 attendees and featured some of the largest on-stage screens ever used in a UK concert. One emotional moment from the Manchester concert has since gone viral on social media. A video captured a group of concertgoers lifting a disabled fan named Daniel above the crowd so he could see the stage. He attended the show with his sister Jemma, but was unable to get accessible tickets. A woman who shared the video on TikTok wrote: 'This is Daniel – he went to night one of @Oasis with his brilliant sister Jemma… A lady got our attention and started asking around to see who could help – she was brilliant!' She added: 'This was Daniel's first concert, he had a fantastic time. Music brought everyone together once again.' Oasis's return marks their first tour in two decades and has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm, as fans around the world celebrate the band's long-awaited comeback as they belt out their classic songs including Wonderwall and Don't Look Back In Anger.
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Damon Albarn: Oasis won the battle and the war
Damon Albarn has "conceded defeat" to Oasis. The 57-year-old singer's band Blur had a huge rivalry with the Live Forever hitmakers in the 1990s - which culminated with the so-called Battle of Britpop, when both groups released singles in the same week in 1995, with Blur's Country House ultimately taking the number one slot ahead of Oasis' Roll With It - but now Damon has hailed his former foes "the winners" following the huge demand for tickets for their reunion tour this summer. He told The Sun newspaper: 'Well, it was obvious, wasn't it? 'I think we can officially say that Oasis won the battle, the war, the campaign, everything. 'They are the winners. They take first place. In the face of such overwhelming evidence, I am happy to accept and concede defeat. 'It's their summer and God bless them. I hope everyone has a wonderful time but I'm going to be in a very, very different place.' Damon warned his former rivals that they may find their reunion more emotional than they expect to, which he did when Blur played two gigs at London's Wembley Stadium two years ago, and is in awe of them for booking so many shows. He said: 'I couldn't do as many gigs as they're doing. That's a lot of the same emotion. 'They're very brave and I hope it's worth it. You know, money isn't everything.' While the Gorillaz and Africa Express frontman thinks the Britpop days of the 1990s were more "joyous" than the current time, he isn't particularly interested in looking back. He said: 'I'm not being funny but it does feel like a more innocent, joyous age than now. "Nostalgia's OK but I try and stay away from it as much as possible. Sometimes you can't help but be lost in it.' Damon has been busy working with his Africa Express collective and he relishes not having to be the "centre of attention" with the group. He said: 'I killed Damon the pop star many years ago. It was a gentle death. I'm just not that interested in being the centre of attention. 'Don't get me wrong, I embrace it when it's necessary but it's only a bit of me. 'And Africa Express is always an amazing opportunity just to become one of many.'
Metro
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Oasis' biggest ever songs in the UK as Live 25 Tour kicks off in Cardiff
Today's the day – the much-anticipated Oasis reunion tour Live 25 kicks off in Cardiff, with 75,000 fans flocking to the Principality Stadium. The Manchester Britpop band, formed in the early 1990s by Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel, were one of the UK's biggest rock acts of their time. However, after almost 20 years of success, which saw Oasis sell millions of singles and albums, the brothers spectacularly split in acrimonious circumstances in 2009. For 15 years they waged a cold war in the press but sensationally reunited in 2024, announcing a string of live dates across the UK, the rest of Europe, and all around the world. This week, rehearsals have been eavesdropped upon, set lists have apparently been leaked, and fans are holding tightly onto their treasured tickets. On the day they finally get back on stage, Metro has scoured years of streaming data and chart sales to find out which song is Oasis' biggest in the UK. First up is Oasis' 1995 hit Roll With It, which was released as the second single from the band's number one album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? With Oasis fast becoming one of the biggest bands in the country during the summer of 1995, Roll With It went right up against Blur's single Country House in the Battle of Britpop. While Country House won by landing the coveted number one spot, Roll With It arguably won the war, eventually being certified 2x Platinum. As of 2025, it's spent nearly a full calendar year inside the UK top 100 (49 weeks in total) and has been streamed over 90million times on Spotify. She's Electric, which was track nine on Morning Glory, had originally been written for debut LP Definitely Maybe but was ultimately cut from the final list. For the eighth year, 150,000 festival goers will descend on Glasgow Green from 11-13 July to see the liked of 50 Cent, Gracie Abrams and Biffy Clyro, and you could be there! Metro has teamed up with Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT Festival to offer four VIP tickets to one lucky winner. For a chance to win this massive music prize, simply enter your details here. You have until midnight on Sunday 6 July 2025 to enter using the form below. Entrants must be 18+. Good luck! T&Cs apply*. Click here if form is not loading. * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 18:01 BST on 2 July 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 6 July 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions is necessary to enter the promotion. There will be one (1) winner. The winner will win four (4) VIP weekend tickets for TRNSMT Festival, running from 11th – 13th July 2025 at Glasgow Green, in Glasgow ('Prize'). Proof of age and photographic ID are required for entry for all guests (the guests of the winner must be at least 16 years old at the time of entry). The Prize, including entry and attendance at TRSNMT festival, is subject to and governed by the Promoter's full ticket terms and conditions. 1 prize available. 1 entry per person. Full T&Cs apply, see here. As of 2025, the song has racked up 180m streams on Spotify, and the BPI reckons it's done well enough (1.2m sales) to justify being certified 2x Platinum in the UK. Noel later said: 'It's about a boy who's got a girlfriend, and he used to go out with her sister, that he fancies her mother, and he doesn't get on with her brother. 'Somebody gets [the girlfriend's] cousin pregnant, and everybody thinks it was him – but it wasn't. It's not a true story. Is it a true story? I'm saying f**k all.' Originally written and released in 1994, Half the World Away eventually found its home in two very special places: on 1998 B-sides album The Masterplan and as the theme tune to The Royle Family. The Royle Family's Craig Cash was born in Stockport, just down the road from the Gallaghers' home of Burnage, while the show's Caroline Aherne was raised in nearby Wythenshawe. Half the World Away only grew in popularity over the years, and it was eventually released as an official single in the 2010s. To date, it's notched over 1.2m sales in the UK and has been streamed over 160m times, while a cover version by Norwegian singer Aurora reached number 11 in 2015. The original Oasis song might never have made a big impact on the charts, but it has still been certified 2x Platinum in the UK by the BPI, who keep their eye on everything. In 1997, the Gallagher brothers returned with Be Here Now, their third studio album, and its lead single, D'You Know What I Mean?, which went straight to number one. Its follow-up, Stand By Me, reached number two, but over time it's been streamed almost 10 times more than Be Here Now's big comeback single. Stand By Me stayed in the charts for almost half a year upon release and has gradually climbed its way past 300m global streams on Spotify, shifting more than 600,000 sales as well. At the end of 1997, it was among the top 50 selling songs released in the UK that year, and as of Oasis' 2025 comeback, it's certified Platinum by the BPI. It's only right that Supersonic – the first single ever officially released by Oasis – winds up on this list, with the 31-year-old song still drawing in new fans. While the song only reached number 31 upon its original unveiling in 1994, it re-entered the UK charts on several occasions between 1995 and 1998, and again in 2024. It hasn't reached the weekly chart heights of later songs like Lyla, Little By Little, and The Importance of Being Idle, but Supersonic kept slowly ticking over and eventually sold more than 1.2m copies. The BPI saw fit to certify it as 2x Platinum in the UK in 2024, just in time for the Gallagher brothers to bring everything full circle and announce their comeback. As of 2025, Supersonic has managed to stay for more than a year inside the UK top 100 (61 weeks in total), making it one of Oasis' most enduring hits in this country. The only Oasis song from the 2000s to appear in this list is Stop Crying Your Heart Out, the second single from the band's fifth album, Heathen Chemistry. Released midway through 2002 after the number one success of The Hindu Times, Stop Crying Your Heart Out is another that's become more successful over time. During its 22 total weeks on the charts, it reached a peak of number two, officially beaten by the JXL remix of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation. The song stuck around for half a year and has consistently been the most streamed song from Heathen Chemistry, picking up more than four times the numbers produced by Little By Little and Songbird. Such is the might of Champagne Supernova; it appears in fourth place on this list despite never being officially released as a single in the UK. According to leaked set lists for the imminent Live 25 Tour, Champagne Supernova will suitably bring every night to an emotional and melancholic close. Noel Gallagher has said that Champagne Supernova is so popular with fans that it's the only song they've played at every gig since it was written. To date, despite never getting an official release in the UK, the song has been certified 3x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, equivalent to 1.8m sales. On Spotify, Champagne Supernova has racked up almost 500m streams, making it one of Oasis' most popular songs internationally. Oasis' star was still rising when Live Forever hit the charts, peaking at number 10 while Wet Wet Wet dominated the top spot during the summer of 1994. However, its popularity once again endured, slowly working its way to 1.8m sales in the UK – a 3x Platinum certification was given to the song by the BPI in July 2024. And 30 years after its original release, Live Forever climbed to new heights in the charts, slotting in at number eight after collecting almost 350m streams worldwide. Noel was working for a construction company in 1991 when an on-site accident caused damage to his foot. This resulted in him being given a less strenuous job and resulted in him writing Live Forever. Upon release, the Noel-sung Don't Look Back In Anger went straight in at number one as a brand-new entry and became Oasis' second chart-topper after Some Might Say. Its popularity was both instant and prolonged, with Don't Look Back In Anger currently sitting on a 6x Platinum BPI award and more than 1.1billion streams around the globe. After originally leaving the charts in January 1997, it re-entered the UK top 100 in 2017 and 2024, with two major events in the outside world pushing its numbers up even further. The song was famously sung by the people of Manchester during a memorial service after the Manchester Arena bomb attack in May 2017, which killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert. And Oasis' reunion announcement this time last year sent the song back into the UK top 10 for the first time since March 1996, and meant that it had spent almost a year (51 weeks total) on the chart. Wonderwall is undisputed, that's for sure. Not just Oasis' most famous song, but arguably one of the most famous pop songs of all time. More Trending Remarkably, never a number one—stopped by Soldier Soldier duo Robson & Jerome—Wonderwall has more than stood the test of time with Oasis fans and music fans everywhere. As of 2025, the song has raced to 2.4bn streams on Spotify and has been officially certified as going 8x Platinum in the UK by the BPI – equivalent to 4.8m sales. As of 2025, it is the 34th biggest-selling song in UK history—and that's based just on physical sales data, so that's before taking streaming into account. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Oasis superfan wants to be front row so Liam Gallagher sees tattoo of his face MORE: Oasis fans issued urgent warning as reunion tour kicks off in Cardiff MORE: 90s music icon 'finally on his way to being knighted' after raising millions for charity
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
On the brink of world domination Oasis played a Scottish town 30 years ago this month
'The ticket was the hottest in the land and there are stories of unlucky fans holding their own impromptu listening parties on Irvine Moor, where the music was blown loudly and clearly by the wind from the harbour.' With Oasis set to reunite for the first time in 16 years later this week, it's important to remember that the band once graced Ayrshire for some of the biggest rock shows the region has ever staged. We're just a few weeks shy of the 30th anniversary of the Manchester band's double performance at Irvine Beach Park. The Gallagher brothers rolled into town on July 14 and 15 in 1995 to play to thousands of fans. And Irvine's biggest claim to fame is that Don't Look Back In Anger was played live for the first time in Irvine all those years ago. The only agony attached to those shows is a stark reminder of how ticket prices have hit the roof with a brief for Oasis in Irvine in 1995 costing just £12.50 plus booking fee. Craig McAllister detailed the momentous shows for the 20th anniversary in the Irvine Herald. He wrote: "The band were surfing the zeitgeist, with the fastest-selling debut album ever released under their belt and a second, multi-platinum monster of an album about to be unwrapped by an expectant public. They could do no wrong and, a month after being the band of the festival at Glastonbury, with major input from Willie Freckleton they chose to play a weekend in Irvine. It was all very exciting." Freckfest's Craig Smart remembers it well. Craig Smart said: "That's what Willie was great at - making these type of events happen, being able to convince promoters and the council that Irvine was the location for big concerts. His people skills were phenomenal - he would enthuse anyone he came in contact with. I think if it had been anyone else, promoters Regular Music and CPL would have gone elsewhere.'Save the 'Some Might Say' single, fans had yet to hear any of the band's new material, but the new songs were warmly received. 'Roll With It', a month away from release and not yet in battle for Britpop bragging rights against Blur's 'Country House' was placed somewhere mid-set amongst the more familiar songs." Craig McAllister continued: "'Don't Look Back In Anger' was played live for the first time (in Irvine!) and a misty-eyed audience fell to their knees for a skyscraping anthem of Beatles proportions, made all the more pertinent by Noel playing the song with one of George Harrison's plectrums. That's a true story! "If, like many, you attended both nights, by the Saturday performance these new songs were greeted like old friends. "I have a very vivid memory of going to The Attic above The Kings after the Saturday show and hearing a group of folk bouncing into the queue singing the chorus to 'Hello', a track that wouldn't see the light of day until the album release in October. "The gig meant something to people. "The ticket was the hottest in the land and there are stories of unlucky fans holding their own impromptu listening parties on Irvine Moor, where the music was blown loudly and clearly by the wind from the harbour. It was great to see our town flooded with music fans from across the country. Hotels, pubs, restaurants and supermarkets all saw a spike in profits. Local Our Price stores stocked up on the band's back catalogue of singles and promoted them heavily. They too saw a marked increase in sales over the event weekend, the stellar line-up of support acts (Cast, Ocean Colour Scene and The Verve) contributing greatly to the ringing tills. In short, the shows were a brilliant thing for our town. "'Shall we do this again?' asked Noel Gallagher from the stage. 'Same time next year? Write to your local MP and demand it!' "Oasis never did come back the next year. A mere 12 months later, they were the biggest music act on the planet and would play to a quarter of a million people at Knebworth. Those Irvine shows captured the band perfectly in a moment in time, as they moved up a league from mere 'indie' band to an act that your gran would be familiar with. It's perhaps difficult nowadays to appreciate just how massive Oasis were about to become at the time, which makes those Irvine shows all the more special. 'When I think back to what was held in the Beach Park area over the space of 6 weeks or so - Rock on the Watter with approx 3000 people, the Radio One Roadshow with 20,000 people, the Harbour Festival with in excess of 40,000 visitors and the 12,000 over the two days Oasis were here – it's pretty impressive, not just in the amount of people involved but the programme itself. How do you top that?' "So how did they top that? The following year we had 'On The Beach' with the likes of Bjork, Supergrass and Julian Cope playing. "It was held in the same tent as the Oasis shows and was warmly received. Again our town was flooded with incoming music fans and once again the local economy received a boost. The year after was to have featured The Prodigy, but due to a number of reasons the event was relocated to Glasgow Green. 'It's very sad that nothing even close in terms of kudos happens in the area now. "
New York Post
07-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Baeza looking to right a Kentucky Derby wrong by besting favorites at Belmont Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS — While many horse racing fans are expecting Saturday's Belmont Stakes to be a rematch, it just might turn into a threematch. Baeza made a late rush from the back of the pack in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, coming up less than two lengths short of winner Sovereignty, with Journalism in between. Journalism then won the Preakness two weeks later, while Sovereignty rested. Now, in the second Belmont Stakes to be conducted at Saratoga during Belmont's renovation, Baeza is the third-favorite at 4-1 to get his slice of the Triple Crown pie. 4 Baeza is pictured June 4 ahead of the Belmont Stakes. Jason Szenes for the NY Post 'I had a hard time finding him [in the Derby] because it was so muddy that day, but once he got out and made his move, he was obviously finishing faster than any horse in the race,' trainer John Shirreffs told The Post. 'After the race, [jockey] Flavien [Prat] said he didn't get all the run he could have out of Baeza had he had an opportunity to get out a little sooner.' Shirreffs is best known for training 2005 Kentucky Derby champion Giacomo and 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Zenyatta. Prat has two Triple Crown wins — the 2019 Kentucky Derby aboard Country House and the 2021 Preakness with Rombauer. Baeza himself is in position to claim a place in history. 4 Trainer John Shirreffs is pictured June 4 ahead of the Belmont Stakes. Jason Szenes for the NY Post With a victory on Saturday, his broodmare, Puca, would become the first to have produced three Triple Crown race champions, and she would have done it in consecutive years. Mage won the Kentucky Derby in 2023 and Dornoch captured the Belmont Stakes last year. Both were by Puca and Good Magic. 4 Trainer John Shirreffs is pictured with his horse, Baeza, on June 4. Jason Szenes for the NY Post Baeza was sired by McKinzie. Like Mage and Dornoch, Baeza spent his first year and a half of life at Runnymede Farm in Paris, Ky. '[Baeza is] a dream to train. I mean, there's nothing I would want to change about that horse,' Shirreffs said. 'He's the perfect weight. He's the perfect size. He's got a beautiful stride. He's got this great appetite. He's the total package.' 4 Baeza is pictured June 4 ahead of the Belmont Stakes. Jason Szenes for the NY Post Baeza is named after Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, who in 1963 became the first Latin American rider to win the Kentucky Derby aboard Chateaugay. Owner Mike Repole, the billionaire benefactor of St. John's basketball, has a Belmont Stakes championship with Mo Donegal in 2022 and a second place with Mindframe last year. On Saturday, he sends 30-1 Uncaged to the post with trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Luis Saez. Saez won last year's Belmont Stakes aboard Dornoch. Repole's Fierceness will be hunting for an automatic bid to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when he runs in the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap, Saturday's eighth race. Fierceness won the Travers Stakes in 2024, the signature event of Saratoga's summer meet. Giants board director Chris Mara made it to the winner's circle on Friday. He's part of the ownership group of Bellacose, who won the first race for jockey John Velazquez and trainer Wesley Ward.
