Richard Ashcroft told Noel Gallagher he was the “only person” who could open for Oasis on their reunion tour.
Gallagher is reuniting with his estranged brother Liam and their bandmates to get the group back on the road this summer for series of sell-out stadium shows on the ‘Oasis Live ’25 Tour’ and The Verve star Ashcroft will be supporting them on all of their UK and Ireland shows – and he’s convinced he was the right choice because of his long history with Oasis.
In an interview on ‘The Chris Moyles Show’ on Radio X, Ashcroft explained: “I see it as I’ve got a very important part to play in this.
“You know, back in the day Oasis supported The Verve and then it flipped around and we supported Oasis at Earls Court, then I as a solo artist have played with Oasis.
“I said to Noel: ‘You know, I think I’m the only person who could go in this slot. Especially for a huge outdoor show, because everyone wants your lot. And unless you’re coming with something, unless you’ve got something to offer, I don’t know what’s gonna happen’.”
Oasis previously opened for The Verve back in 1993 before the release of their 1994 debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ and Ashcroft’s band went on to support the brothers’ group at The Bataclan venue in Paris, France in 1995.
Ashcroft went on to perform with Oasis at gigs in Scotland in 1995 and he also sang on their track ‘All Around The World’ which featured on the 1997 record ‘Be Here Now’.
He added: “I think it’s great that we’re still around. I’ve been there almost in that whole story together with them. Right from the day one.
“Before their album came out, first album [1994’s ‘Definitely Maybe’], seen that. They were kind of like mega successful before I was. They were on [TV show] ‘Top Of The Pops’. By the time it was my turn, it was like they’d been all over it.
“They sold millions of albums, blah, blah, blah, but the rarity of that, that you could have two bands, both in transits off playing to 300 people.
“Both saying: ‘We’re gonna do this.’ ‘No, no we’re gonna do that’. And for that to happen is incredible.”
Cast will also be opening for the band on the ‘Oasis Live ’25 Tour’, which kicks off in Cardiff, Wales on July 4.