Richard Ashcroft reveals how he landed coveted Oasis support slot

Posted On October 8, 2025October 8, 2025

Richard Ashcroft has revealed that it was Liam Gallagher who instigated him joining Oasis on tour as a special guest.

The former Verve frontman, who releases his new album Lovin’ You on October 10th, was the main support act for the Gallagher brothers at their celebratory reunion shows this summer across the UK and Ireland, performing at iconic venues such as Heaton Park and Wembley Stadium.

During an appearance on TalkSPORT, Ashcroft explained that he found out about the opportunity “a few months after they’d announced the tour,” and said that there were “hundreds of bands who wanted to do it”.

Ashcroft continued, “I think Liam just said, ‘I think it’d be great if Richard did it’. And Noel agreed. I think it was a meeting, whether it was on the phone, Skyping or something with the agent. Because the agent is my agent, he’s gutted, I’ve said before, he could have had someone for free. I’m not doing anything for free anymore.”

The singer, who has known Oasis since before they released any music, is appreciative that Liam and Noel were the ones who fought his corner, adding, “It was lovely that it came from the lads. You know what I mean, it wasn’t some agent or manager. You know, they understood, I think, that I could potentially have been the perfect act to leave it to them to slam dunk.”

Likening his role to that of a playmaker, he continued, “I’m the (Michel) Platini, I’m the pass through, I’m the whatever you want to call it in basketball, you know, laying it up for the slam dunk.”

As the majority of the UK and Ireland leg tour took place during the summer, it wasn’t until the final two shows at Wembley Stadium at the end of September that he fully appreciated just how big the concerts were. He explained, “We did two Wembleys in the dark, and it was the first time I’d truly seen the scale, because you can see the lights from the phones, and someone took a few shots from behind the stage, and it’s like I’m headlining. It’s like my show, and that’s a real privilege.”

Next year, Ashcroft is set to head out on a headline tour across the UK and Ireland, playing arenas including London’s The O2 and the Co-op Live in Manchester, which are both already sold out following the successful run with Oasis.

Related Topics