Oasis reunion: Basildon tribute band 'never busier'

Stevie Brown says his band Oasiz have seen a huge surge in popularity after rumours of the Manchester rockers' return began circulating last week.

The 45-year-old - who formed the cover band nearly 20 years ago with his elder brother on guitar, like the Gallaghers - went viral last year after fans saw him perform and mistook him for the real Liam Gallagher.

Liam, who was recovering from hip surgery at the time, even commented on the videos.

Busy - Stevie Brown says his band Oasiz have seen a huge surge in popularity (Image: Courtesy Stevie Brown / SWNS)

Mr Brown, who has seen Oasis ten times and once even travelled to New York to see them play, will join the millions of fans trying for tickets to the band's 2025 stadium tour on Saturday (August 31).

But the dad-of-three from Basildon, jokes that he wishes his daughters didn't share his music taste - as he'll have to fork out four times as much for tickets.

Oasis have confirmed they will reform next year for a world tour beginning with a string of shows in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and Dublin.

Tickets are expected to be difficult to obtain due to the 90s band's popularity.

But Mr Brown is inviting unlucky fans who miss out to catch the next best thing at one of his band's gigs instead.

"It has all picked up and is going really well," he said. "I had a few enquiries in the pipeline, and suddenly I had four or five messages straight after the announcement.

"All the venues want to put the tickets on sale right away; everyone wants to cash in.

"Since the announcement I've not stopped. It's been a busy couple of days... I can't even take all the work I'm being offered at the moment.

"We find ourselves having to turn work down - gigs that three or four years ago we'd have loved to do. It's really fashionable again to be an Oasis tribute act.

"We want to do it respectfully, but we're saying if you don't want to pay £130 to see Oasis or stand with 100,000 people, you can come and see us.

"[Or], if you can't get tickets - come and see us."

Mr Brown - who fronts Oasiz alongside elder brother Marcus Brown as Noel Gallagher on lead guitar, drummer Simon 'Oz' Osbourne, bassist Gary Ayres and Matt Straker on rhythm guitar as Bonehead - says the band will play around 50 theatre shows across the country next year.

The band - who claim to be one of the oldest of around 30 well-known Oasis cover acts in the country - also recently reformed following a long hiatus much like the Gallagher brothers' - but with far less bad blood.

First formed in 2006, Oasiz dropped off before Mr Brown was mistaken for Liam in TikTok videos that went viral last year.

"We did the Butlins circuit and then took our feet off the gas a bit," Mr Brown continued.

"Then I went viral in February last year - I had ten million views off three videos.

"The comments on the first one - about 80 per cent, probably more - thought I was actually Liam.

"Liam commented on it saying 'Silly billies' or something because they thought I was him.

"It was mad - it was just in a social club.

"[After that], I put the feelers out and said we should do the band properly again."

Despite not resembling the younger Gallagher brother too much in day-to-day life and attire, Mr Brown transforms himself for gigs with a wig, shades and a Parka whilst channelling Liam's Mancunian swagger.

A superfan himself, the singer says he will try for tickets for himself and his family - though he dreads the cost if he manages to get tickets for all three of his daughters and his wife.

"I will try to get tickets but I'll have to look at the dates when we're gigging," Mr Brown said.

"Within reason, there's not really a price you wouldn't pay to see Oasis - but it will be difficult to get them.

"I didn't think I was that interested in the reunion until they put that teaser video out. I felt like a 15-year-old again.

"But it will probably cost for a pint this time what I used to pay for a ticket."

Even allowing for the potentially hefty price, Mr Brown added that he simply couldn't miss the reunion, and may try for the band's first show in Cardiff on July 4.

"I wouldn't have played guitar if it weren't for Oasis," he admitted.

"I would have considered myself the biggest fan in the world in my youth.

"I'd never heard anything like the way Liam sings. It's such a powerful sound and the songs are so great.

"As far as I'm concerned, they're the greatest band ever.

"I know everything they did. Every song, every word."