TONY McCarroll was the original drummer in the iconic UK rock group Oasis.
The Brit Pop legends are making a long-awaited comeback for a series of record-breaking UK concerts in the summer of 2025.
Who is Oasis drummer Tony McCarroll?
Anthony McCarroll was born on June 4, 1971, in Levenshulme, Manchester.
He was the original drummer in British rock band Oasis, having joined in the 1980s when they were still known as The Rain.
During his time with Oasis, the drummer contributed to the band’s debut album Definitely Maybe (1994).
He also featured in the group’s subsequent singles Whatever, Supersonic and Shakermaker, with the latter becoming the first number-one single from the worldwide smash hit album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
Tony’s drumming received some criticism from fans and critics alike, who felt his playing was sloppy and lacking in technical proficiency.
His time with Oasis came to an end in 1995, not long after the release of Definitely Maybe.
The final straw was an altercation between McCarroll and Noel Gallagher, the band’s principal songwriter and lead guitarist, during a tour.
Noel had become increasingly frustrated with Tony’s drumming, particularly his inability to accurately reproduce complex rhythms and beats.
This led to a heated exchange, with the drummer reportedly telling Noel to “f*** off”.
Alan White replaced McCarroll and played with Oasis until 2004.
After leaving Oasis, McCarroll went on to play with various bands, including a stint with The Boo Radleys.
He also tried to sue Oasis for £18million in 1999, hiring the services of Jens Hills — the same lawyer who represented Pete Best, rock ‘n’ roll‘s most famous jilted bandmate, who won a settlement of £2million from The Beatles in 1995.
A high-profile legal case followed, with McCarroll arguing he was still entitled to his as part of the band’s five-album record deal.
The case was settled out of court for £550,000, with the drummer agreeing to give up any royalties from the band’s songs.
McCarrol said he spent the next three years travelling to avoid the glare of Oasis’ rise to global stardom.
In a 2019 interview with the Manchester Evening News, he said: “With the band I was used to travelling, touring. I just needed to get away.
“The band were getting bigger, good on them, but I needed to get away from the whole thing.
“So I began to ignore and neglect a few things and got away.
“I lived in the States, Tenerife. Really I got drunk for three whole years. But at the same time the court case was all ongoing, so I’m trying to get away from it all but I’m also dealing with questions from solicitors round the clock.
“And that just wasn’t me. I was a young lad, I didn’t appreciate or care about law and litigation and I was just gutted I had to go through that.
“It dragged and it dragged and it dragged when it should have been dealt with in a much better way.”
In 2010, he published his autobiography The Truth: My Life as Oasis’s Drummer, offering an honest and humorous account of his time with the band.
Where is Tony McCarroll now?
Since the release of his autobiography well over a decade ago, not much as been seen of McCarroll.
But in April 2024, the reclusive music star was pictured out and about near his North London home.
He appeared to be in high spirits while enjoying a walk further north in a blue coat.
Who are the founding members of Oasis?
In the eighties, Tony McCarroll (drums), Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (guitar), Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan (bass) and Chris Hutton (singer/keyboards) started a band called The Rain.
Bonehead invited Liam Gallagher to join the band as lead vocalist in 1991, with the singer suggesting they change the group’s name to Oasis.
Liam’s brother Noel, who was working as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets at the time, came to watch their first gig at the Boardwalk Club, Manchester on August 14, 1991.
Impressed by what he saw, Noel approached the band with a plan for superstardom, armed with an array of his own songs, completing the group’s initial lineup.
Is Oasis reuniting?
Despite Noel regularly insisting he would never reconcile with Liam over verbal attacks the singer made against his ex-wife Sara MacDonald, fans will be pleased to hear Oasis is set to reunite for a massive tour in the summer of 2025.
The formerly feuding brothers posted identical Twitter messages displaying “27.08.24” and “8am”.
The same information was displayed on the big screen at Reading Festival after Liam finished his headline set there on August 25.
During his performance, Liam dedicated the track Half The World Away to his older brother.
He said: “I wanna dedicate this song to Noel f**king Gallagher.”
