31 May 2000
Oasis returned to the stage last night at the Filaforum in Milan, Italy for their first gig since Noels decision to quit overseas touring with the band. It seems like the week long rehearsals with new rhythm guitarist Matt Deighton have paid off, judging by the review below from The Sun and also ones from Worldpop.com and NME.com as well as the fans themselves - which are located in the Gigography part of the On Tour section of the site.
... and this one's for Our Kid (from The Sun, Wednesday 31st May 2000)
LIAM GALLAGHER dedicated a song to his estranged brother in a touching tribute at last night's Noel-less gig. It was a weird one - the Beatles without Macca, the Stones without Keef, the Nolans without Colleen.
Liam made no secret of his brother's no-show. As he stepped on stage at Milan's FILA Forum, he told 10,000 screaming Italians: "Hello, no one's dead yet - be cool, let's have it."And when the crowd chanted: "Liam, Liam", he said: "Oasis are a band - we're not one person. If you're going to say anything, say Oasis. Be patient with us - we know how to slip up. You're going to have to help us with this."
Guitarist Gem Archer took Noel's spot and relished the opportunity to out-shine his boss with outrageous guitar solos on Supersonic and the opener, Go Let It Out - with Liam applauding his efforts throughout. Let's just hope Noel doesn't get hold of the tape. Significantly, the band decided to play Noel's brotherly anthem Acquiesce and told the audience: "This one's for Our Kid."
Noel's backing vocals were strangely absent and his brother held a microphone provocatively towards the crowd and urged them to sing his parts.
As he introduced new song Gas Panic, Liam told the crowd: "This one's called Don't Look Back in Anger - only joking!" - a reference to his brother's Number One vocal performance. Stand-in guitarist Matt Deighton did an admirable job and, to be fair, most Italians didn't even notice Noel wasn't there.
But it didn't quite feel like the old days - Gem almost looked like he was being unfaithful to Noel. A rousing gig, but come back Noel, it's not quite the same without you.
Here's what they played: Go Let It Out, Who Feels Love, Supersonic, Shakermaker, Acquiesce, Gas Panic, Roll With It, Stand By Me, Wonderwall, Cigarettes And Alcohol, Live Forever, Champagne Supernova, Rock 'n' Roll Star.
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