Despite breaking up 15 years ago with a much publicised and bitter feud the Gallagher brothers announced today it was definitely and not maybe for a long awaited and much hoped for Oasis reunion.
The news has sent fans into a frenzy of nostalgia and excitement with an army of them making their way to Burnage in South Manchester to visit the record store where the brothers first bought records as they nurtured their love of music.
Sifters on Fog Lane is an old school record store, packed with vinyls and owned by ‘Mr Sifter’ Peter Howard, 76, who remembers the brothers as young lads sifting through the racks until the time ‘he lost them to the world.’
The store and its proprietor were namechecked in the band’s 1994 hit Shakermaker from their debut album Definitely Maybe – Oasis’ first top 20 hit, which peaked at number 11 in the UK charts.
Mr Howard said: ‘Liam and Noel used to come in in the mid Nineties and it was after the first single I started to notice them.
Sifters on Fog Lane is an old school record store, packed with vinyl and owned by ‘Mr Sifter’ Peter Howard, 76, (pictured)
An army of fans are making their way to Burnage in South Manchester to visit the record store where the brothers first bought records as they nurtured their love of music. Pictured: Sifters on Fog Lane
Mr Sifter remembers the brothers as young lads sifting through the racks until the time ‘he lost them to the world’
The store – where the brothers used to buy their records – was also featured in the Shakermaker music video
The band can be seen sifting through the disks as they film the music video inside the record store
Posters on the walls at Sifters on Fog Lane show artists including Guns N’ Roses, local boys Oasis and their idols The Beatles
The brothers’ legacy means Sifters is often visited by fans and tourists – including people from as far away as South Korea and Japan. Pictured: A mural of Oasis at the side of Sifters Record Shop Burnage
The owner of Sifters remembers the brothers as young lads sifting through the racks until the time ‘he lost them to the world’. Pictured: The nearby home where Noel and Liam grew up, left
Noel and Liam Gallagher proved they had buried the hatchet on their 15-year feud as they met up this summer to pose for a photo together to mark Oasis’ comeback tour
‘They used to come in and interact…. but I lost them to the world.’
Their legacy means Sifters is often visited by fans and tourists – including people from as far away as South Korea and Japan.
Peter says ‘We have fans coming in from South Korea and Japan.
‘We had a woman from Tokyo who was doing an exhibition and asked if I could be on a poster.’
The superstars are still no strangers to the shop or the area as mum Peggy still lives a couple of minutes drive away from the store and Noel was last browsing there just two months ago.
Peter says: ‘Noel was in the shop two months ago talking about buying a £6 million house of Mike Oldfield. Now that’s not a conversation you normally hear at Sifters.’
‘The announcement today came as a complete surprise to most people even though there were a few hints in recent conversations.
‘There are a lot of good songs that they have done that will be heard again and that is what millions and millions of fans will be keen to see.’
Visiting the shop, which is adorned with a huge black and white mural of Noel and Liam at the height of their fame, is Laura Beaumont, 36, from Moston who says she has liked Oasis all her life.
She says: ‘It’s 15 years since they last spoke, so I think something must have happened for them to reconcile.
Visiting the shop, which is adorned with a huge black and white mural of Noel and Liam at the height of their fame, is Laura Beaumont, 36, from Moston who says she has liked Oasis all her life
Partner Stacey Robertson, 43, a youth worker from Leeds says she is a huge Oasis fan and is emotional at the prospect of seeing her idols back together
Isla Derbyshire, 7, said that she thought Noel and Liam would still argue – just like her and her brother. Pictured: Laura Beaumont with Isla Derbyshire
The super-stars are still no stranger to the shop or the area as mum Peggy still lives a couple of minutes drive away from the store and Noel was last browsing there just two months ago. Pictured: Cranwell Drive, Burnage
The 1996 Oasis gigs at Knebworth saw the largest ever demand for gig tickets in UK history
Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher are pictured performing live on stage in 2001
‘When I heard they had got back together, I was like ‘Oh My God!’ – but are they going to last a year before anything happens? It’s Noel and Liam.’
Partner Stacey Robertson, 43, a youth worker from Leeds says she is a huge Oasis fan and is emotional at the prospect of seeing her idols back together.
She said: ‘Today is hugely important. The songs you love are songs you loved as a teenager.
‘It’s so important, not just for Manchester but for a lot of people in this country.
‘I bet at least one in every six households bought the first two albums. They sing songs for every day, normal people. It’s not about being rich – if you see every day, normal people on Top Of The Pops, it’s important.
‘When I first heard the news I wondered if it was true – but here we are. It’s just great.’
Isla Derbyshire, aged seven, said: ‘I like the songs and the rhythm of the songs.
‘I think they will argue sometimes like me and my brother but they will get back together.’
Suzanne Lake, 36, rushed to visit the store with her two daughters. Pictured: Mollie McKenna, 14, Suzanne Lake, Lexi Lake, 14, and Robyn Lake, six, outside Sifters record shop
Neve Spotswood, 25, and housemate Adam Woolstanholme, 25, have just moved in around the corner from the Gallagher family home in Burnage, where mum Peggy still lives
Standing in the rain on the street outside their former home they say they decided they may as well have a look at the house where the brothers lived as kids. Pictured: Cranwell Drive, Burnage
Four per cent of the UK population applied for tickets to see Oasis at Knebworth in 1996
Suzanne Lake, 36, rushed to visit the store with her two daughters.
She says: ‘I went to see Liam Gallagher in June this year but the last time I saw Oasis live together was in June 2009, when they were a band so this is amazing – I am dead excited. I have been driving my older daughter mad – blasting out Oasis tunes. It’s mint to be here and we are mad for it!’
Neve Spotswood, 25, and housemate Adam Woolstanholme, also 25, have just moved in around the corner from the Gallagher family home in Burnage, where mum Peggy still lives.
Standing in the rain on the street outside their former home they say they decided they may as well have a look at the house where the brothers lived as kids. The best friends say they will be keeping their eyes out for glimpses of the famous duo and their family.
Neve, an Oasis fan, says she went to see Liam in May and is hoping for tickets to their next gig.
She said: ‘It’s really exciting but I don’t think they will keep it together as Liam has a lot of attitude.’
Adam added: ‘We have just moved here so it is going to be eyes out from now on.’
Tickets will go on general sale this Saturday.
