Oasis fans have been sent into meltdown by the band’s much-anticipated news that they would be reuniting for a string of shows in 2025.
It’s set to be hugely lucrative deal with the Gallagher brothers, who are set for an eye-popping payday from the tour, which could generate up to £400 million.
Liam, 51, and Noel, 57, are expected to pocket about £50million each, but one person who is set to miss out is the band’s ex-drummer, Tony McCarroll.
While he was a key member of the band during its 90s heyday, Tony sensationally left the group in 1995 due a fallout with Noel.
Many fans have been questioning Tony’s current whereabouts, having noticed that his name is an answer to a question fans are asked as part of the tour ticket ballot.
Here’s everything you need to know about Oasis drummer Tony McCarroll…
Who is Tony McCarroll?
Tony McCarroll (pictured second right) was part of Oasis’ original lineup, with the drummer set to miss out on a huge payday from the band’s reunion after quitting the group in 1995
Anthony McCarroll was born on June 4, 1971, in Levenshulme, Manchester, and was the original drummer for Oasis, having joined the band in the 1980s when they were still performing under their old name The Rain.
During his time with the group, he performed on their debut album Definitely Maybe in 1994.
He also featured on singles Whatever, Supersonic and Shakermaker, with the latter becoming the first number-one single from their hit album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
Over the years, Tony’s drumming was subject to criticism from some Oasis fans, who complainted that his playing was sloppy.
Why did Tony McCarroll leave Oasis?
After a fallout with Noel Gallagher, he quit the band in 1995, and four years later tried to sue them for £15 million, with the case eventually settled out of court (pictured in 1999)
Soon after the release of Definitely Maybe, in 1995, Tony sensationally quit the band, following an altercation with Noel, who was the band’s principal songwriter and lead guitarist, during a tour.
His final Oasis performance was on Top of the Pops when the band performed their first number one hit, Some Might Say.
Noel had become increasingly frustrated with Tony’s drumming, particularly his inability to accurately reproduce complex rhythms and beats.
This led to a heated exchange, with Tony reportedly telling Noel to ‘f*** off’, and he was replaced by Alan White until 2004.
After leaving Oasis, McCarroll played with various bands, including a stint with The Boo Radleys, before trying to sue the group for £18million in 1999.
He hired the services of Jens Hills — the same lawyer who represented Pete Best, who won a settlement of £2million from The Beatles in 1995.
A high-profile legal case followed, with McCarroll arguing he was still entitled to his part of the band’s five-album record deal, and the case was settled out of court for £550,000.
For three years, Tony said he opted to travel the world to avoid the attention of Oasis’ rise to global stardom.
He told Manchester Evening News in 2019: ‘With the band I was used to travelling, touring. I just needed to get away.’
The band were getting bigger, good on them, but I needed to get away from the whole thing. So I began to ignore and neglect a few things and got away.
‘I lived in the States, Tenerife. Really I got drunk for three whole years. But at the same time the court case was all ongoing, so I’m trying to get away from it all but I’m also dealing with questions from solicitors round the clock.’
In 2010, Tony published his autobiography The Truth: My Life as Oasis’s Drummer, where he reflected on his time with the band.
Where is Tony McCarroll now?
Tony has been rarely-seen since he published his memoir, but now lives in Manchester with his wife Sue (pictured in 1994)
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Tony has been rarely-seen since he published his memoir, but now lives in Manchester with his wife Sue.
In 2021, Tony was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack.
He said on X: ‘Hi All. Wanted to let you know I was admitted to hospital on Thursday after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday night.’
‘I’m not quite out of the woods as yet but just want to give a massive big up to our #NHS. We are more than fortunate to have such a service! Thank you!! X’
The musician’s Twitter was soon flooded with messages from fans who wished him a speedy recovery.
He first started the band The Rain back in the 1980s, alongside Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs (guitar), Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan (bass) and Chris Hutton (singer/keyboards).
Bonehead invited Liam to join the band as lead vocalist in 1991, and he suggested they change the group’s name to Oasis.
Liam’s brother Noel, came to watch their first gig at the Boardwalk Club, Manchester on August 14, 1991, while working as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets.
Noel then approached the group with an array of songs and plays to launch a huge music career, completing the band’s original lineup.
When are Oasis reuniting?
Oasis sent fans into a frenzy by announcing that they would be reuniting for a string of shows in 2025, after the Gallagher brothers’ explosive feud 15 years earlier
After weeks of speculation over a shock comeback, the Gallagher brothers have confirmed they will perform 14 shows across Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin for a tour which could generate £400million.
Liam, 51, and Noel, 57, are expected to pocket about £50million each, which will go a long way to raking back the money they lost during bitter divorce battles and reigniting their rock and roll lifestyle which peaked in the 90s.
The eight-figure sum is said to have persuaded Noel – who once said ‘I liked my Mum until she gave birth to Liam’ – to bury the hatchet with his younger brother. Liam has also opened up about money being ‘tight’, including moaning about how he now has to make his own teas.
Noel’s divorce from Sara MacDonald last year after 12 years cost him £20million of his rumoured £53million fortune.
His net worth is believed to be far larger than Liam’s rumoured £6million, as Noel wrote most of the Oasis songs and continues to collect the lion’s share of royalties.
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Despite speculation that Oasis will be on the bill at Glastonbury 2025, it’s understood the band will not be performing at Worthy Farm. However, plans are underway for Oasis to go to other continents outside of Europe later next year.
Announcing the Oasis Live 25 tour alongside the brothers’ first picture together in years, the legendary band said: ‘The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.’
The Oasis website crashed immediately after the announcement as fans were sent into a frenzy. The reunion comes a day before the date the band split on August 28 2009.
Formed in 1991, the Britpop group rose to fame with hits like Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger and Stop Crying Your Heart Out.
They went on to become one of the biggest bands in British music history before their break-up in 2009.
The brothers went on to have successful separate careers, with Noel fronting the group Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.