Liam and Noel Gallagher departed the Venice Film Festival on Sunday, having attended the premiere of their Oasis documentary, "Don't Look Back In Anger." The brothers presented a united front on the red carpet at the premiere on Saturday night. Noel Gallagher, 59, described his younger brother, 53, as "delightful," noting that their relationship has been rebuilt despite Liam never having offered an apology.
The documentary has already garnered significant attention ahead of its official release. Critics, including the Daily Mail's Brian Viner, have responded positively to the film.
Noel arrived at Venice airport in a casual navy jacket, while Liam opted for a suede jacket. The pair waved to fans and signed autographs before boarding a water taxi together.
Reunion Tour Details
The film touches upon the initial strains of the Oasis reunion tour, which began in July of the previous year at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The documentary reveals an incident where Liam failed to attend the final rehearsal before the tour's commencement, appearing only 20 minutes before the show. Noel recalled the situation in the documentary, stating, "The final run-through, the night before the thing. Didn't see him. Ohh. The next thing is one of the biggest f****** moments of our lives right. And he's not rehearsed." He further recounted Liam's casual arrival and immediate readiness to perform.
Despite the initial tension, the "Live in 25" reunion tour has been a significant financial success, reportedly grossing approximately £100 million for each Gallagher brother. Another tour is anticipated for the following year. The documentary explores the behind-the-scenes story of how the estranged brothers reconciled.
Noel admitted to being emotionally affected by the reconciliation, even turning away from the audience during the 41-date tour to hide his tears. He noted a significant change in their dynamic, stating, "All the little things that used to annoy us about each other have gone away. We have come out of it now as equals. Here is a word which I never would have thought I would say about him: delightful." He added that they now communicate like "normal people" and that "the music brought us together."
Candid Revelations
The film, which utilized remote cameras to capture rehearsal footage unobtrusively, highlights the initial difficulties in the brothers' relationship. Filming began when the Gallaghers were not on speaking terms, leading them to travel separately. Tour promoters reportedly paid them only after all 41 dates were completed due to their history of conflict. Initial interviews for the documentary were conducted separately, with Noel expressing doubt about ever sharing a stage with Liam again.
During their first meeting for rehearsals, the brothers struggled to make eye contact. Liam entered the room, inquired about the drum setup, and asked, "Shall we start?" He then left once his vocal performance was complete. Noel described this period, saying, "He comes in a bad mood. He leaves in a bad mood. He just comes in and then f***s off."
Creator Steven Knight commented on the filming process, "We didn't really know how it was going to go when we started. These are British working-class men, they are not going to hug and kiss each other. It wasn't until they were into the tour that they were in a place where they were able to sit down with each other."
Thawing Relations
The documentary also details how the relationship between the brothers began to thaw as the tour progressed, particularly as their children started meeting each other. Noel has sons Donovan and Sonny, and daughter Anais. Liam has sons Lennon and Gene, and daughter Molly. The children of both brothers reportedly became close during the tour.
Initially, Noel expressed skepticism about the possibility of reconciliation, stating, "I was born with one fatal flaw in my character: I will not forgive people. That is something I was born with. I haven't got any forgiveness in me at all." He also described his brother as "a man who truly does not give a f***."
"Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger" is set to launch in IMAX and cinemas on September 9. The directors aim to provide fans who could not attend the live shows with an experience that brings them as close as possible to the concert atmosphere.