โCiao bella! The Gallaghers land in Italy with chaos, charm, and colossal chords!โ
Back in the tail end of 1997, Oasis were deep in the whirlwind of their Be Here Now world tour โ bigger than ever, bolder than ever, and possibly more coked-up than ever (weโre just sayinโ… ๐ ). On November 16th, they hit The Forum in Milan, bringing Manc swagger to Italian soil like a rock ‘n’ roll Roman invasion.
And you know what makes this night even more iconic?
๐ It was the first gig I ever went to.
Living in Milan at the time, teenage me stepped into that arena not knowing Iโd walk out absolutely obsessed with live music for the rest of my life. One night with Liam, Noel and 10,000 screaming Italians? Thatโll change your DNA, mun! ๐คฏ
๐ฌ The Context: Be Here Now Mania
At this point, Oasis were riding the tsunami of hype from Be Here Now, their third album that dropped in August. It was overblown, overproduced, and over seven minutes long per song, but it still shifted millions. Italy? Obsessed. The Forum? Packed to the rafters with fans belting “D’You Know What I Mean?” like it was church.
๐ถ Setlist Snapshot (likely but not 100% confirmed):
- Be Here Now
- Stay Young
- Stand By Me
- Supersonic
- Some Might Say
- Roll With It
- DโYou Know What I Mean?
- Donโt Look Back In Anger
- Cigarettes & Alcohol
- Slide Away
- Champagne Supernova
- Live Forever
- Itโs Getting Better (Man!!)
- Acquiesce
- I Am The Walrus (Beatles cover, obviously ๐)
๐ค Highlights & Chaos:
- Liam was on form: snarling, strutting, and sipping from a bottle of god knows what. His voice โ though slightly shredded โ still had that nasal snarl that made “Live Forever” punch your spine.
- Noel shredded like a man possessed on Slide Away, and his solos in Champagne Supernova melted the Milanese audience into a dreamy puddle.
- Italian fans? LOUD AF. Think football stadium-level chants between songs. Oasis barely needed to sing the choruses โ the crowd did it for them. ๐ฎ๐น๐ค
- There were rumours of Liam storming off mid-tour, but on this night, he stayed put. No tambourine tantrums โ just top-tier vocals and brotherly tension you could cut with a pizza cutter.
๐ A Personal Note from the Pit
As a wide-eyed gig virgin living in Milan, I didnโt know what to expect. But when the house lights dropped and Liam Gallagher sauntered out with that tambourine and trademark scowlโฆ I knew I was hooked for life. The sweat, the sound, the songs โ it was pure electricity โก
No other first could compare. That night birthed a love for live music, for rock โnโ roll, and for queuing in the rain for merch thatโs three sizes too big. ๐
๐ป Aftermath & Legacy:
This Milan show sits in that golden-yet-chaotic post-Morning Glory, pre-meltdown phase. The Be Here Now tour was a monster, and gigs like this prove why Oasis were the last proper rock โnโ roll band before everything went all indie and shy.
Fans still share bootlegs and grainy VHS recordings of the gig โ and if youโve got one, upload it now, butt โ seriously! ๐
๐ Fun Fact:
Oasis were so massive in Italy during this period that local fans nicknamed Liam “Il Re del Britpop” โ The King of Britpop. Not that his ego needed help, mind.
Verdict:
๐ฅ A stadium-sized band in a cavernous arena.
๐ป A night of swagger, singalongs, and sweat.
๐ธ A first gig experience Iโll never forget โ and the start of a lifelong addiction to live music.
Oasis โ The Forum, Milan, 1997:
Loud. Lairy. Legendary.
And for me?
Life-changing. โค๏ธโ๐ฅ
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialโfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heโs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heโs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heโs not writing or interviewing artists, youโll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicโtheyโre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatโs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. ๐ค
Comments