NOEL Gallagher has been putting in the hard graft ahead of this summer’s Oasis reunion – but there was no sign of brother Liam at the marathon rehearsal session.
The 57-year-old rocker was spotted in London this week after a 10-hour stint in the studio.
He’s thought to have been recording new demos and brushing up on classic Oasis tracks before finally hitting the stage with his estranged sibling.
Wearing a hoodie and sunglasses, Noel looked shattered as he left the session, no doubt in need of some sleep after the intense practice.
Fans have been hoping for new Oasis music but Noel has also been busy with his solo career, releasing four albums in recent years.
Right now all focus is on the Oasis comeback, after last year’s ticket sales chaos proved there’s still huge demand to see the band back together.
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Fans went into meltdown at the first chance to see the Gallagher brothers on stage again since their infamous 2009 backstage bust-up in Paris, which led to Liam swinging a guitar like an axe and their spectacular fall-out.
Despite years of public feuding, Liam has recently dismissed claims that he and Noel are still not speaking.
Meanwhile, The Sun can reveal they’ve already landed a £20million payday after Warner forked out a fortune to secure the rights to their image for a merchandising deal – meaning you’ll soon be able to get all sorts with their faces on.
They filed documents last month at the Intellectual Property Office so that they would have sole rights to use the photo on everything from paint brushes and greetings cards to clothing and books.
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That means you won’t be able to get a knock-off hoody featuring the photo from knock-off merchants outside their stadiums when the tour begins in July.
A music insider told me: “Oasis have secured a massive deal for their merch this summer as they know everyone is going to want something to remember the shows by.
“They have already started working on an extensive merchandise range after signing a very lucrative deal for it last year.
“But now they are massively cracking down on fake merch because it could seriously put a dent in their profits unless they make moves now to stop it.
“They have made it clear that they won’t be taking any nonsense and will use the full extent of the law if they find anyone selling unofficial products featuring the new photo of the brothers together.”
Admitting his surprise at the demand for tickets when they went on sale last year, Noel said: “I thought it’d be a big deal, but I was a bit taken aback by just how much of a big deal it was.”
