Starting their final world tour on August 28, 2008, in Seattle, Oasis embarked on a journey that included seven legs and 118 shows, with the planned finale set for Milan a year later.

Even with the tour selling out, grievances simmered beneath the surface. Noel Gallagher reflected, “There was an undercurrent of, ‘Well, they should really call it a day.’ In 2009, Oasis wasn’t receiving the acclaim they once enjoyed. I felt that fans were only interested in the hits and had lost interest in our new music, which was not where I envisioned the band’s trajectory.”

As tensions mounted, Noel recounted, “We recorded the album, and everything seemed fine. However, just three weeks before the tour commenced, Liam expressed his reluctance to participate. It felt as though the band was reaching its natural end, and Liam didn’t appear to be content. I, too, was growing weary of it all.”

While mixing the album in the US, boredom set in for Noel, who, along with guitarist Gem, began recording demos in the corridor. He noted, “I listened to several tracks and realized I couldn’t picture Liam singing any of them, especially ‘The Death of You and Me.’ I began to realize I needed to move on and that loud guitar-driven music might not be my future anymore.”

As the tour progressed, both brothers opted for separate travel arrangements. In an interview with Q magazine, Noel candidly critiqued Liam: “I don’t like Liam; he’s rude, arrogant, and intimidating. He’s the angriest person you’ll ever meet. He’s like a man with a fork in a world full of soup.” Liam countered in NME by asserting, “It takes more than blood to be my brother… he doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him.”

Conflicts arose not only artistically but also concerning merchandise, as Noel halted plans to feature Liam’s clothing line, Pretty Green, in the tour program. The siblings’ relationship deteriorated, with Noel later telling Esquire, “The last six months were terrible. Just weeks before the tour, Liam and I engaged in a significant fistfight. In the past, we could resolve issues easily, but this time felt different.”

In June 2009, the tour reached Manchester’s Heaton Park for the first of three performances. A generator failure plunged the concert into silence, leaving 80,000 fans in awkward stillness as the band attempted to reappear, eventually announcing the show would be free due to the circumstances.

The subsequent month, a series of three concerts at Wembley Stadium unfolded, where Reverend and the Makers supported. Frontman Jon McClure noted palpable tension between the Gallagher brothers. He shared, “They had separate dressing areas, and it felt like you were either in Noel’s camp or Liam’s. Few crossed over. Following the final show, Liam entered the dressing room with an unusual inquiry about peas.”

Jon recounted, “When I told him I preferred garden peas with gravy, he challenged me about mushy peas, poking me in the chest, claiming I was ‘all right’ for standing my ground on the matter.”

After Wembley, Oasis headed to Japan and South Korea before returning to the UK for key performances at the V Festival. The first show went smoothly; however, during the second in Chelmsford, Liam dropped out due to alleged laryngitis. An infuriated Noel later asserted that Liam was merely hungover, further inflaming tensions.

With only three major festivals remaining in Paris, Konstanz, and Milan, anticipation was high. On August 27, they arrived in Paris, gearing up for the 40,000-capacity Rock en Seine festival. Backstage, the atmosphere was thick with unease. A final confrontation unfolded between the brothers, witnessed by the rest of the band. A source stated, “Liam taunted Noel constantly until things escalated.”

Noel described the altercation, highlighting Liam’s violent tendencies, stating, “He stormed out, grabbed a plum, and hurled it at the wall before returning with a guitar, wielding it dangerously. It felt like a scene from WWE wrestling, and I decided it was best to leave the situation.”

Another observer similarly recalled, “Liam appeared as if he was possessed, swearing angrily, and medical staff had to be involved due to the severity of the conflict. It was shocking to witness.”

Moments before taking the stage, Noel found himself outside, contemplating his next move as thousands waited. The tour manager noticed Noel’s distress and, at that moment, Noel declared, “I can’t do this anymore,” deciding to quit the band.

Oasis withdrew from yet another headline festival, replaced by Madness. The audience remained uninformed until Kele Okereke from Bloc Party broke the news on stage, initially causing disbelief among attendees.

In a poignant statement, Noel announced, “It is with sadness and great relief that I quit Oasis tonight. I could not continue working with Liam any longer. I apologize to fans who anticipated our performances in Paris, Konstanz, and Milan.”

Weeks later, Noel elaborated on his blog, stating, “The details surrounding this breakup are complex, but constant intimidation and a lack of support have left me no choice but to move on. I cherish the memories of this journey, which has been a dream come true.”

He also conveyed regrets to fans unable to see them perform, asserting he was ready and eager but others in the band weren’t. “Now, I have a family and a football team to focus on,” he added.

Reflecting on the split years later, Noel expressed that he felt if they had completed the remaining shows, he might have been able to move forward. He stated, “I believe it was the right time for the band to conclude, and I couldn’t envision writing another Oasis record. We accomplished everything.”

The remaining band members briefly considered going on without Noel but ultimately decided to disband. Liam later expressed disappointment, saying, “It was just an argument. It was evident Noel wanted out, and he had every right to do so, but open communication could have changed things.”

Noel agreed, stating, “The band concluded at the perfect moment. This led me to take time off to start a family with Sara.”

For Liam, the breakup was inevitable. He noted, “Noel distanced himself long before. He just wanted out, like putting down a suffering pet. It was the right thing to do.”

Yet, retirement was not on Liam’s agenda, emphasizing, “Retiring means stagnation. I have music within me that demands to be expressed; it’s a passion that will not wane until my time is up. Being in a band is challenging, but it remains the most rewarding job in the world.”