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James was referring to Blur’s 2023 reunion, which included two sold-out Wembley Stadium concerts and the release of their latest album, The Ballad of Darren. Despite initially planning a hiatus at the end of 2023, Blur extended their comeback to headline Coachella 2024 after reportedly making the decision in just five minutes. Their Wembley shows drew 150,000 fans, and was released as an album this summer, proving that Britpop’s legacy remains strong.

Moyles pressed James further, asking whether Blur’s success inspired Liam and Noel Gallagher to reunite. James responded diplomatically, noting the difficulty of maintaining relationships in bands, especially between siblings. “I’m always reading statistics about how many marriages end in divorce… They’re brothers as well. I’m genuinely delighted for them, and I genuinely won’t be going.”  

James’ comments come against the backdrop of Blur and Oasis’ definitive rivalry, which peaked in 1995 when Blur’s ‘Country House’ and Oasis’ ‘Roll With It’ famously went head-to-head for the number-one spot on the UK charts. Oasis mocked Blur’s victory at the time, but decades later, the relationship between the bands appears to have mellowed. Liam Gallagher even tweeted in October 2024, “I love Blur and at some point we need to do an old dears tour.”

I love blur and at sone point we have to do n old dears tours — Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) October 4, 2024

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree seems to echo this newfound camaraderie. Speaking after his defeat in the 2024 General Election, where he ran as Labour’s candidate for Mid Sussex, Rowntree said he’d be first in line for Oasis tickets. Guitarist Graham Coxon, in an interview with The Sun, praised the reunion, calling it “good for them and good for fans.”

Damon Albarn, Blur’s frontman, has remained silent on the topic since Oasis announced their tour. However, in summer 2023, he confidently predicted the reunion, saying the path for it was clear. 

Oasis’ reunion, announced in August 2024, has generated massive demand. Tickets for their 14-date tour sold out almost instantly, though controversy erupted over Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing, with some fans paying as much as £350 per ticket. Labour MP Rupa Huq has brought the issue to Parliament, with the second hearing of a proposed bill addressing ticket pricing set for tomorrow.

Hot off the press!

Due for debate this Friday

A Bill to make provision about transparency of ticket prices for sporting and cultural events; and for connected purposes.https://t.co/AlBGXyl9n2 pic.twitter.com/BRVAULv5fn

— Rupa Huq MP (@RupaHuq) December 4, 2024

Blur and Oasis both capitalised on nostalgia as a driving force behind their comebacks. With streaming revenue dwindling in the music industry, reunions offer bands a lucrative alternative to releasing new music. Reports suggest that the Gallaghers could earn over £50 million each from the tour, which is expected to gross £400 million.

For fans, these reunions offer a chance to relive the 1990s—a golden age defined by the rise of Britpop. As Blur’s Wembley success proved, audiences are still eager to connect with the music that shaped a generation. And with Oasis’ last performance dating back 15 years, the reunion opens the door for a new generation of fans to experience their music live.

While James’ “genuinely won’t be going” remark hints that not all rivalries are fully buried, the Oasis reunion represents a moment of celebration for fans and a symbolic end to one of Britpop’s fiercest feuds.