A cross-generational war of words has erupted between two of England’s most iconic bands, with the Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock aiming a verbal headbutt at Oasis—and, predictably, Liam Gallagher firing right back.
In a candid chat with NME, Matlock dismissed the hype surrounding Oasis’ highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour. The bassist, who helped define punk’s rebellious ethos, didn’t mince words, comparing Oasis to Status Quo—a band often (unfairly or not) seen as musically one-note.
“If you’re a fan, [the excitement is] understandable. They’ve got lots of fans,” Matlock conceded. “I’ve always seen Oasis as a bit Status Quo. [With Quo], to hear one song once was enough. It’s a bit like that with Oasis: to hear one song once is enough.”
While Matlock tempered his critique with some begrudging respect—calling Liam Gallagher “fantastic” and likening his stage presence to Johnny Rotten’s swagger, but with actual vocal chops—the digs kept coming. "The rest of the guys? No. I think they’re boring live. I’d never go to see ‘em.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Matlock revealed a surprising nugget from the mid-‘90s. “There was a bit of talk about me helping them [Oasis] out with bass a long time ago – in ’95, ’96 – and then they sorted out the problem they had with the bloke who was doing it,” he recalled. “I got invited to see ‘em at Earl’s Court. I left. It was boring. I went again to see ‘em in upstate New York with [Blondie’s] Clem Burke. Nah – I couldn’t wait to go.”
Matlock’s comments inevitably reached Liam Gallagher—because, of course, they did. And Liam, the self-proclaimed King of Twitter Clapbacks, didn’t disappoint.
“F**k him. Sid was the Pistols,” Liam spat on social media, referencing Sid Vicious, who famously replaced Matlock in 1977.
The timing of this spat couldn’t be more intriguing. Oasis’ reunion tour kicks off July 4 in Cardiff, Wales, while the Sex Pistols—reportedly with Frank Carter stepping into Johnny Rotten’s shoes—are rumored to be plotting a 2025 tour of their own.
The real question? Who will win the court of public opinion: Matlock’s punk-rock disdain or Liam Gallagher’s unfiltered swagger? One thing’s for sure—the banter might be more entertaining than the gigs themselves.
