Noel Gallagher Won't Go Back to Oasis

11 December 2015

Noel Gallagher dedicated 'You Know We Can't Go Back' to "Oasis fans everywhere" as he performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Thursday night (10.12.15).

Noel Gallagher performing at the Royal Albert Hall

The rock star once again dashed fans' hopes of him reconciling with his brother Liam Gallagher, using the track's poignant title to further distance himself from reunion rumours.

Introducing the track - taken from his second solo album 'Chasing Yesterday' - he said: "I dedicate this next song to all Oasis fans everywhere."

Although Noel doesn't want to reform his former band, the 48-year-old musician did reunite with ex-Oasis guitarist Gem Archer at the concert at which he provided his own support.

For the first part of the show, Noel played a semi-acoustic set comprised of Oasis classics, B-sides and rarities.

He opened with a cover of Neil Young's 'Hey Hey, My My', and then went straight into '(It's Good) To Be Free' before following it up with little played 'D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman' and fan favourite 'Listen Up'.

Speaking to the sell-out crowd about opening for himself, he quipped: "Thanks for getting here early by the way. We're only doing this because we couldn't find a support band. I'm not joking, everyone was busy. So my manager had a good idea he said, You'll do it.' Yeah, I can play for f***ing four hours. I do get double the rider though."

Other highlights included 'Slide Away' - before which Noel boasted he was going to "blow myself" off stage - and closing track 'Wonderwall'.

Before playing the 1995 hit, he said with a grin: "We've got time for one more, I'd like to play longer but we've got to come back on. The headline act is a **** by the way. He's not given us a soundcheck and he's not f***ing spoken to us all day".

After a short break, Noel then came back on stage with his High Flying Birds band, backed by a three-piece brass section and the Crouch End Choir.

They opened with 'Everybody's On The Run' from his 2011 debut solo album prompting a mass sing-along in the crowd.

Afterwards, he joked: "That's a tough act to follow cause I was f***ing pleased with myself back then."

His second set featured several solo hits including 'Lock All the Doors', 'In the Heat of the Moment', 'If I Had a Gun...' and 'The Death of You and Me'.

The iconic songwriter also performed more Oasis songs such as 'Talk Tonight', 'Whatever' and 'Digsy's Dinner' and after a spell-binding, stripped down version of 'Champagne Supernova', during which his fans sang every word, a visibly moved Noel said: "Thank you for all making that song so special."

Ahead of 'Half the World Away' - which was covered by Aurora for this year's John Lewis Christmas advert - he joked again about his double set, saying: "What I can say it's been an absolute f***ing dream come true playing for myself tonight. Give it up for the support band they were f***ing brilliant. I'll leave you with this anyway. Merry f***ing Christmas."

Noel and his band returned for a three-track encore of 'The Masterplan', 'AKA... What a Life!' and closer 'Don't Look Back in Anger' and at one point a woman ran on stage to hug and kiss the singer, prompting him to jest: "That's my PA, she's p***ed out her head!"

Before playing his final song - during which Noel stepped away from the microphone to let the crowd sing the famous lyrics - Noel signed off by saying: "Thank you for sticking with me - what a year. I'm only as good as you are so thank you."

Noel Gallagher's Royal Albert Hall setlist:

Semi-acoustic performance:

'(It's Good) To Be Free'

'D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman?'

'Listen Up'

'Sad Song'

'Slide Away'

'Cast No Shadow'

'The Importance of Being Idle'

'Wonderwall'

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds performance:

'Everybody's on the Run'