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Verve's Richard Ashcroft to support Oasis tour

BBC Richard Ashcroft performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone, wearing sunglasses and a black leather jacketBBC
Ashcroft said the Gallagher brothers inspired him to write some of his best music

Oasis have announced Richard Ashcroft, the former lead singer of The Verve, as a supporting act for the band's upcoming tour.

Liam and Noel Gallagher will kick off their long-awaited 2025 reunion tour in July, with Ashcroft joining for all of their UK and Ireland shows.

Ashcroft, who wrote 1997 hit Bitter Sweet Symphony, said the brothers "inspired me to create some of my best work".

It is the first guest the band has announced as part of their tour.

He said: “As a fan from day one, I was buzzing for many reasons when the news of Oasis’s return was announced.

“I can say with no exaggeration that the song-writing talent of Noel, and Liam’s pure spirit as a lead singer, helped to inspire me to create some of my best work.

“It was the perfection of Live Forever that forced me to try and write my own.

“They dared to be great, made the dreams we had real and I will always remember those days with joy.

“Now it’s time to create more memories and I’m ready to bring it.

“See you next summer. Music is power.”

It will be the first time the Gallaghers have performed together since 2009.

Beginning in Cardiff, the pair will also play further dates in Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.

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