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National
David Morton

When Oasis superstar returned to Newcastle Arena with his new band 10 years ago

Oasis were one of the defining musical voices of the 1990s - but by 2009 the feuding Gallagher siblings had had enough and time was finally called on their all-conquering band.

The brothers would continue their musical journeys separately, Liam recording and touring under his own name, and Noel forming the High Flying Birds (a name apparently inspired by a song made famous by 1960s American psychedelic rockers, Jefferson Airplane).

Ten years ago, the High Flying Birds were performing at a sold-out Newcastle Arena.

READ MORE: The rise and fall of a vanished Newcastle railway station

The show was reviewed by both the Chronicle and The Journal, with each publication giving the thumbs up.

The Journal reported: "Although initially appearing on stage illuminated by a single spotlight, the former Oasis songwriter and guitarist wasn’t alone; he had his High Flying Birds with him.

"Bass, lead guitar, drums and keyboard were bolstered by a choir, the Hertfordshire Chorus, plus a three-strong brass section to recreate the sound on his chart-topping debut solo album.

"But the 20-song set, which featured much swapping of guitars, kicked off with Oasis songs, (It’s Good) To Be Free and Mucky Fingers, before moving on to the new material with Everybody’s On The Run.

"Claiming to be 'sweating Champagne', after a night out that had continued until 5am that morning, Gallagher was in fine form.

"There were football taunts and banter about the renamed St James’ Park (which had just been retitled Sports Direct Arena - a thankfully temporary aberration) but the audience forgave him, at one point breaking into chants of 'legend'

"'To be a legend you’ve got to be dead for 20 years – at least that’s what my daughter reckons,' said Gallagher. 'We’ll have none of this legend nonsense. Now go and buy a T-shirt on the way out'.

Fans at Newcastle Arena to see Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in concert, February 23, 2012 - from left Tasha Ridley, Mick Fairweather, Alex Simpson, Gary Leonard, Craig Johnston and Laura Sherriff (Newcastle chronicle)

"A new song If I Had A Gun, about a quarter of the way through the set, had everyone singing, as did an acoustic version of Oasis classic Supersonic and Half the World Away.

"The new material went down well, including the rocky Freaky Teeth which isn’t on the High Flying Birds album, but it was the well-loved Oasis tunes that had grown men flinging one arm around their mates, pointing at Gallagher with the other and singing their hearts out.

"The encore of Little By Little, The Importance of Being Idle and Don’t Look Back In Anger – was pure Oasis, but given the strength of his solo material, it’s unlikely that will remain the case for long."

Since the break-up of Oasis in 2009, Noel and Liam Gallagher have continued to enjoy huge success as separate recording and touring artists - but the question which refuses to go away is 'will the brothers make up and reform the band?'

Indeed, only last week, The Times reported Liam as saying: "I’d love Oasis to get back together. If it happens, it happens. But I’m quite happy doing [my solo career]. We should never have split up, but we did, and this is where we’re at.”

Watch this space...

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