Oasis never quite managed to crack the US market, with the British rock band’s albums and singles failing to top the charts – and it could all be down to one brutal insult
Liam Gallagher’s shocking jibe at America may have been the nail in the coffin for Oasis’ success in the US, preventing them from ruling the charts and airwaves.
The British rock band never quite managed to replicate their UK success stateside. Some attribute this to cultural differences between America and the UK, as well as contrasting class perceptions, while others point to Oasis’ unsuccessful attempts to tour the country.
As the band embarks on the North American leg of their Oasis Live ’25 Tour, fans, particularly those left awestruck by a phenomenal performance in Chicago on 29 August, are questioning why Oasis didn’t gain more traction in the States. However, one ill-judged remark could have scuppered their chances of cracking the US market.
When the group announced the American dates for their reunion tour in 2024, they reignited memories of Oasis’ fraught relationship with America, issuing a stark warning: “America. You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along.”
After Oasis soared to fame with Definitely Maybe, the band eschewed radio promotions and attempts to curry favour with record executives, tactics deemed crucial in the American music industry. This wasn’t their style, and they had already publicly criticised the US, most notably at the MTV Awards when Liam spat onstage during Champagne Supernova, reports the Irish Star.
Despite public opinion surrounding the decision, Liam was simply attempting to show America the authentic Oasis, explaining (per Far Out): “I went over there with a chip on my shoulder, but a good chip. I was like, ‘We’re going to f****** have you, and we’re going to do it our way. You won’t be moulding us to be one of your own.’
“I wasn’t bothered whether we made it in the States. We would give it a good crack, but it would have to be on our terms. My main thing was to make an album and be great where I lived. In America, it was, ‘if it happens, it happens.'”
During their commercial zenith, Oasis reigned supreme across the UK, Europe, and even throughout Latin America and Asia, yet they never cracked the US market. None of Oasis’ eight studio releases ever claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200.
Their best performance came with 1997’s Be Here Now, which secured No. 2.
Nevertheless, 1995’s (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? achieved 4 x Platinum status according to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). Examining the band’s chart singles, Wonderwall climbed to No.8 on the Billboard Hot 100, whilst the remainder failed to surpass Don’t Look Back In Anger’s No.55 position.
Meanwhile, grunge titans Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden ruled the charts. In 1992, Nirvana’s legendary Nevermind climbed from No.6 to No.1 on the Billboard 200.
Pearl Jam’s Ten secured No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in August 1992, and Soundgarden’s 1994 release Superunknown launched straight to No.1 on the Billboard 200. In the same year, Oasis set off on their inaugural US tour, which included a notorious gig at LA’s Whisky A Go Go in 1994.
As recounted in the 2016 documentary Supersonic, the band accidentally purchased crystal meth instead of cocaine, leading to an incident that Liam described as keeping them “just kept us up for f****** days.”
The brothers’ on-stage squabble led to Noel temporarily leaving the band and several shows being cancelled. Their misfortune in America persisted, with Liam going AWOL for a series of concerts in the US in 1996.
Noel reflected in 2023 on the American music market’s reaction to their attitude, stating, “They couldn’t handle the fact that we didn’t give a f–k about anything,” adding, “That’s the reason we’ve never really had a number one album in America – they wouldn’t go the extra mile for us because we wouldn’t go the extra mile for them.”
Despite their efforts to make headway in America, grunge remained dominant. Commenting on this struggle, Liam quipped, “They get a bright bunch like us, with deodorant on, they don’t get it.”
However, fans who recently saw Oasis perform in Chicago – their first American show since 2008 – are surprised that the band didn’t achieve greater popularity during their heyday. The performance has received high praise from numerous fans, with many describing it as “electric.”
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