An Oasis superfan with a back tattoo of Liam Gallagher and £12,000 worth of memorabilia has described the band's reunion as the 'best thing that's happened for a long time'. John Smallbones, 49, from Andover, Hampshire, who also has several other Oasis tattoos, said next year 'can't come quick enough' following the Gallagher brothers' announcement of their reunion tour in 2025.
The tradesman, who fell in love with Oasis in the early 90s and now runs a business called Wall of Glass after Liam Gallagher's first solo single, said he always believed a reunion would happen. 'I said it will in 2025 and I thought it's got to be because it's the 30th anniversary,' he told the PA news agency.
Mr Smallbones owns more than £12,000 worth of Oasis memorabilia, including a duvet cover featuring Noel and Liam Gallagher's faces, cabinets full of tambourines from the band's 1994 album Definitely Maybe, and framed pictures and canvases throughout his home. He also has several Oasis-themed tattoos, including a silhouette of Liam Gallagher's face on his back and the words Definitely Maybe on his chest.
He plans to do whatever it takes to secure tickets for the reunion tour, including paying triple the face value on eBay if necessary. 'I'll get tickets for Wembley Stadium. I wouldn't mind doing two nights there and one in Manchester,' he said. He will attend wearing a Parka jacket, brown wig, and hat to pay homage to the band's iconic style.
Mr Smallbones admitted Liam Gallagher is his favourite, whom he sees 'at least twice a year, every year', but added seeing the brothers perform together 'is the ultimate'. He said, 'I just can't wait to go and it will be just as good as it was years ago. It can't come quick enough to be honest next year.'
