The Oasis reunion lineup is almost complete, and the Gallagher brothers only have one musician to convince.
Reports say that Noel and Liam Gallagher will be joined by bassist Andy Bell and guitarists Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Gem Archer.
Insiders told The Sun that Bell, Arthurs, and Archer are confirmed for the band’s 19 live shows next year. “Noel and Liam are slowly putting Oasis back together and they’re hoping to get Zak on board for drums,” the insider said. “Andy has confirmed he is free for the tour now, with Bonehead and Gem both signed up, too.”
They also added that they were planning to get Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey: “Alan White, who was the drummer with Oasis until 2004, isn’t returning. Zak was probably the best live drummer Oasis ever had and to get him back on board would be amazing.”
Starkey joined the band in 2004 and played until 2008. Original drummer Tony McCarroll left in 1995, and Alan White took over until 2004. Chris Sharrock played with the band until they split in 2009.
The drummer himself also addressed the rumors in late August. “This has happened before – couple of times actually -they see Oasis and the Who on my Wikipedia and think the worst ‘I’m in a much more well-behaved band now Mantra of the Cosmos with Shaun Ryder Bez and wild child Andy Bell’ (boy is he a handful!),” he wrote in a social media post.
When a user asked him, “Mate! You joining Oasis if it happens next year???,” Starkey replied, “I don’t know it will happen -only two people will ever know that but as the greatest band of my generation…”
Another member, Arthurs, was an original Oasis member and has stayed friends with both Noel and Liam. He’s been credited with helping repair their relationship, along with Liam’s fiancée Debbie Gwyther.
Arthurs left Oasis in 1999 during the recording of their fourth album, ‘Standing on the Shoulder of Giants’ to spend more time with his family. He has since performed with Liam Gallagher.