Liam Gallagher has publicly criticized the City of Edinburgh Council, branding them “a bunch of snakes” during the opening night of Oasis’s highly anticipated reunion shows in Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium.
The frontman stated that the iconic Britpop band is “still waiting for our apology” from the local authority, referencing a report that reportedly characterized the band’s fanbase as potentially “rowdy” and “intoxicated.”
Gallagher’s remarks were delivered during Friday’s performance to an estimated audience of 70,000 at the national rugby stadium.
Oasis is scheduled to perform two additional concerts at the same venue on Saturday and Tuesday.
The event marked the first time Liam and Noel Gallagher have shared a stage in Scotland since Oasis disbanded in 2009.
Fans without tickets gathered near the Edinburgh Trams stop and in Roseburn Park to listen to the concert.
Inside the stadium, concertgoers were treated to a 23-song setlist encompassing some of Oasis’s greatest hits, culminating in a fireworks display after the final performance of “Champagne Supernova.”
However, the audience also witnessed Gallagher’s critique of the council, which stemmed from reports that a safety briefing described their fans as “middle-aged men” who “take up more room.”
Gallagher asserted that the band was “bringing £1bn to this city,” implying that the council’s actions would prevent the crowd from benefiting.
He also criticized the Edinburgh festivals, characterizing them as venues for “people who swallow swords” and perform “poor magic tricks.”
The council’s comments were disclosed through a freedom of information request by the Scottish Sun.
The remarks originated from a safety briefing held in October of the previous year, involving representatives from the council, promoters DF Concerts, security firm G4S, Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, and transport providers such as Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, and ScotRail.
Concerns were reportedly raised about Oasis fans “on weekends as they are already rowdy” and about “the tone of the band.”
The briefing also noted that the crowd might include a number of “middle-aged men,” who “take up more room” compared to the audience at Taylor Swift’s concerts at the same venue the previous summer.
DF Concerts reportedly suggested that the audience would be “energetic and high-spirited” with a “medium to high intoxication” level.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, who represents Edinburgh as a Member of Parliament, described the remarks as “classist and snobby.”
Earlier on Friday, fans had gathered at the stadium to secure optimal viewing positions before the band’s performance, which commenced at approximately 20:15.
Some attendees braved windy conditions to listen to the band’s soundcheck hours before the doors opened at 17:00.
Inside the venue, a multitude of bucket hats and band merchandise were displayed by fans eager to experience the group’s first Scottish performances since 2009.
The crowd comprised individuals of all ages, ranging from Britpop veterans to children who were not yet born when the band last toured.
Early tracks from their 90s heyday, such as “Morning Glory” and “Supersonic,” were met with enthusiastic applause.
Another favorite, “Roll With It,” prompted widespread jumping throughout the stadium.
One fan even used the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend during “Slide Away.”
Consistent with other performances on the tour, the setlist primarily featured songs from the band’s first three albums.
A rousing encore included two of their biggest hits, “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and “Wonderwall,” performed consecutively.
Prior to the concert, Scotland’s leading Oasis tribute act, Definitely Oasis, warmed up the crowd at Murrayfield Ice Rink, a short distance from the stadium.
Lead singer Brian McGhee noted that the band had been exceptionally busy since Oasis’s reunion.
“We’re always busy, but this is probably the busiest year we’ve had,” he stated.
“Next year is looking like being even busier. The demand has just gone insane, it has just gone through the roof.”
Martin Reid, who portrays Noel Gallagher in the tribute act, said it was clear why tickets for the Oasis concerts had been highly sought after.
“Noel’s songs have just stood the test of time,” he said.
“The thing is, it doesn’t matter what you think of the band in terms of the attitude, the songs are just phenomenal.”
It is estimated that the concerts could inject up to £130m into the local economy.
An Oasis store that opened on George Street on Monday has already welcomed thousands of customers, with some spending hundreds of pounds on official merchandise.
The attendance could surpass the record set by Taylor Swift last year for the largest stadium concert in Scottish history.
Police Scotland confirmed that three people were arrested at the event in connection with assault, drug offenses, and abusive behavior.
The force reported that a 46-year-old woman received a warning, while a 49-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman will appear in court at a later date.
Wembley Stadium officials say they are investigating allegations that fans got in without proper tickets.
Oasis Forever will perform the Manchester band’s hits in Wolverhampton’s Market Square on 13 September.
As the band finally return to Scotland, we look back at the role the country played in their success.
Lee Claydon, a 45-year-old from Bournemouth, died after falling from a height at Saturday’s concert.
The band said they were “shocked and saddened” to hear of the death of a fan.