If Oasis had any thunder to begin with (and after the last few albums we’re not sure they did), then it’s been well and truly stolen this summer by old nineties rivals, Blur.

Now, call me Fickle – it’s part of the job – but a month ago at Rough Trade East, then three weeks ago at Brixton, then two weeks ago at Glastonbury I was the biggest fan of Damon and the lads this side of Colchester and, having grown up a diehard Oasis fan (I queued at the Gates of Earl Court in 1995) who thought anyone who liked Blur was “a definite gay”, even found myself uttering something along the lines of “God, what was I doing being into Oasis when I was 15… Blur are much f**king better!”

Well, I take it all back! At last night night’s lad rock Wembley mash-up (The Enemy and Kasabian also played) Liam and Noel proved they’re still the boys – and as a live band are head and shoulders above Blur.

This was true sing-along, fist punching stuff. Pints were spilt, honest men-folk hugged and a Wembley audience of pissed-up, nostalgic thirty-somethings got more emotional than they’re likely to at the next England game.

Oasis knew nobody was here for a run through of the most recent stuff (perhaps realizing in their heart of hearts that it’s all a bit shit), and they played a triumphant greatest hits style set that included ‘Slide Away’, ‘Cigarettes And Alcohol’ and an almost tear-jerking rendition of ‘Wonderwall’.
Liam Gallagher may have made the slightly questionable decision to move into fashion lately, but as a front man he’s still got it.

This was proof that Oasis are still a massive, massive band. Oh yeah, and that Alex James is a massive, massive ponce!

Michael Wylie-Harris