Oasis are back – and so are the flood of memories from the iconic 1996 Knebworth gig that has firmly secured its place in the history books.
For one weekend only, Liam, Noel, Bonehead, Guigsy and Whitey took to the stage across from the stately home in the Hertfordshire park to belt out their roster of hits to 250,000 fans.
The two shows – on August 10 and 11, 1996 – are still widely spoken about today and are considered one of the most influential moments in music.
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The ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ tour – supported by The Prodigy, Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, The Chemical Brothers , Kula Shaker, Cast and Dreadzone – was even made into a documentary that hit cinemas in 2021.
(Image: Simon Emmett)
But, here, we take a look at the era-defining tour in all its gritty detail – from backstage shenanigans, drunken antics and what the owner of Knebworth Park had to say about the ‘snub’ from the comeback tour.
‘World’s biggest guestlist’
Oasis don’t do anything by halves. And, that certainly wasn’t the case when it came to their mammoth guest list for the weekend at Knebworth.
Thought to have had 7,000 people – including some of the biggest stars in the world at the time – etched on it, the guest list for ’96 is considered to have been the ‘world’s biggest.’
For a gig that 2.5million people tried to nab tickets for (over 5% of the population), getting a general ticket was one thing and being on the coveted ‘it’ list was a whole other ball game.
Even though 28 years have passed since the brothers played the likes of Wonderwall to 250,000 bucket hat-clad fans, no other guest list for any show has topped it since.
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While it might have been the ‘world’s biggest’ guest list, it sounded like the ‘world’s greatest’ too thanks to the free-flowing booze and BBQ food in the VIP marquee.
Those lucky enough to secure backstage access to the all-important gigs were apparently met with an ‘eternal sizzling barbecue’ and a fully stocked bar.
Writer Roy Wilkinson recalled: “The backstage bounty at Oasis’s 1996 shows at Knebworth was astonishing. An immense marquee was lined with bars, all fully stocked with any drink you could imagine. A barbecue sizzled eternal. To anyone with a pass it was all free, all day.”
However, as you can imagine, the guest area wasn’t entirely exclusive with 7,000 people in attendance – but still pretty impressive to be one of the ‘chosen ones’.
(Image: Getty Images)
Continuing for the 2010 piece in The Quietus, Roy added: “It wasn’t that exclusive either. The music industry types were diluted by numerous family and friends.
“You could tell this because, when Noel Gallagher wandered in, he was instantly mobbed by autograph seekers.”
As well as celebrity spotting, burger gorging and drink guzzling, the ‘chosen’ 7,000 were entertained with magicians and caricature artists as they waited for Oasis to take the stage just before 9pm.
Drunken antics
You’d think that the Oasis gigs attracting 250,000 people over two days would result in mass disorder and debauchery. However, it turns out that for the most part, fans were well-behaved given the circumstances.
In total, there were only 10 arrests over the two days of the pinnacle of all things Brit Pop – which is incredibly low for a booze and hysteria-fueled crowd.
(Image: Mirrorpix)
But, it looks like Noel and Liam got upto their own fair share of trouble. It’s a well-known rumour that Liam could not remember that there were two shows to play.
And that meant he got pretty plastered after night one of the huge hedonistic bash. Jill Furmanovsky, an acclaimed events photographer, captured moments of the Gallagher brothers in their element – on and off stage.
“The first gig was amazing… it was wonderful, but rumour has it that Liam didn’t realise there was a second one which is why, for the second show, he didn’t have any proper clothes,” Jill recalled in a chat with The Mirror in 2021.
“He had to borrow Patsy Kensit’s large white chunky sweater on that sweltering night. It’s become iconic and it was hilarious.”
According to promoter Coral Dodds, Liam and then-partner Patsy “nicked” a golf buggy and tore around into “punter land” in it.
(Image: Getty Images)
Martha, wife of Henry Lytton-Cobbold, the custodian of Knebworth Park, added: “Liam was not fully in control of his senses and needed assistance to calm down.
“It wasn’t looking good and there were concerns about the Saturday night performance.” And, Sonja Benavidez, who was on the guest list, also said Liam was “in his heyday and losing it on an hourly basis.”
Speaking on his performance at Knebworth, Liam admitted: “I’m very proud of it, I am. What do I remember? Not a lot, really.
“Nothing. I remember forgetting that we were doing a second night – I thought we were only doing just one, so I got really drunk after the first night.
“But I can’t remember anything else.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Noel had a bit of a hard time remembering one of the highlights of his career, too. The main lyricist of the group admitted that he “can’t remember” walking onto the stage during the two-night stint at Knebworth.
Speaking to Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs, Noel shared: “Genuinely, now, if I close my eyes, I can’t remember walking on stage at Knebworth.
“I know it took place because there were lots of people there.”
But, Noel refutes that the pair were ever high or boozed up when performing. In the book, Oasis: Knebworth: Two Nights That Will Live Forever, Noel spoke on the rumours of extreme pre-show benders.
He said: “That’s f****** news to me. As a rule, we used to never go on stage high. The most we would have was a couple of drinks.”
30th-anniversary ‘snub’
Knebworth remains iconic as a music hotspot to this day. Much of that is owed to Oasis amongst other mammoth artists who performed there, such as Led Zeppelin and Queen.
Despite the two dates at Knebworth being a massive part of Oasis lore for both the band and the fans, as of yet, there are no plans for the lads to perform at the venue.
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Oasis announced their comeback on Tuesday (27 August) along with a number of dates – including five nights at Wembley. But, Knebworth hasn’t had a look in.
Some fans on social media have questioned as to why this is. On X, one wrote: “Would have loved a Knebworth performance or two.”
Another admitted: “I did think that they would be at Knebworth.” While a third begged: “I’m hoping they release some more dates… at Knebworth!”
The hoping and praying might pay off after all, but fans will have to wait a while.
Henry Lytton-Cobbold addressed the venue snub and suggested their five Wembley shows were a “reasonable warm-up.”
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He issued an informal invite to the band to return after they announced they would be playing a bunch of shows elsewhere to honour the 30th anniversary of album Definitely Maybe.
Henry quipped: “Wembley is a reasonable warm-up venue for Knebworth. Then get ready for a nice huge 30th shindig in 2026.
“That’s what the people want and they seem pretty good at doing what the people want. It would be a great way to have the best party of all parties.”
Liam Gallagher returned to Knebworth back in 2022 for two solo performances that saw thousands of Oasis fans descend on the plush grounds of the historic park. And Henry has extended a hand to bring him and Noel back.
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The BBC reports that the Knebworth House owner said: “He knows where we are, he’s always been keen, he’s up for it. They just have to stay mates for 12 months.”
Knebworth 1996 Oasis setlist:
- Intro tape: The Swamp Song
- Columbia
- Acquiesce
- Supersonic
- Hello
- Some Might Say
- Roll With It
- Slide Away
- Morning Glory
- Round Are Way
- Cigarettes And Alcohol
- Whatever
- Cast No Shadow
- Wonderwall
- The Masterplan
- Don’t Look Back In Anger
- My Big Mouth
- It’s Gettin’ Better (Man!!)
- Live Forever
- Champagne Supernova
- I Am The Walrus
What would you like to see on their setlist for the 2025 tour?
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
