Liam Gallagher on Oasis’ new drummer Joey Waronker: “This guy is special”

8 June, 2025

Liam Gallagher live at Reading 2024, photo by Andy Ford

Liam Gallagher has had his say on Oasis’ new drummer Joey Waronker, describing him as “special”.

With their first reunion shows now just weeks away, the members of the band have been spending time locked away in a rehearsal studio in London for hours at a time to prepare for the giant stadium gigs.

As revealed by NME in March, this incarnation of the Britpop greats will see Noel and Liam joined by guitarists Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs and Gem Archer as well as bassist Andy Bell, all longtime Oasis members.

On drums, however, will be newcomer Joey Waronker, who has never played with Oasis before but did play on the tour supporting Liam and John Squire’s collaborative album last year. An experienced and respected drummer, he is best known for his work with the likes of Beck, R.E.M., Elliott Smith and Roger Waters, as well as being a member of Thom Yorke‘s Atoms For Peace band and experimental rock outfit Ultraísta with Nigel Godrich.

Liam, who joined the rehearsals later than the rest of the band, was asked by a fan on X this week how he felt Waronker would do on the mammoth world tour to come.

“He’s the best and we’re lucky to have him,” he replied. “I’ve enjoyed all our drummers but this guy is special.”

The frontman also responded to a fan that commented on apparent leaked audio of the band playing ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ in rehearsal. While the fan noted that Waronker’s playing sounded “just amazing”, he was not so complimentary about Liam’s vocals, which he said “sound dreadful, just shouting, not singing”.

Liam’s response was characteristically to the point, with the singer simply writing: “SHUT UP”.

When the news of the reunion broke last summer, it was not long before Oasis fans began speculating on who would be sitting behind the drumkit at the new shows.

Tony McCarroll, who played on their 1994 debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’, hinted early on that he did not expect to be getting the call, saying “they haven’t reached out yet and to be honest I’m not holding my breath”. He has since written a letter to the band and their fans, urging them to “be proud” and “enjoy it”.

Alan White, who replaced McCarroll and played on every album from ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’ to ‘Heathen Chemistry’, did appear to tease last September that he might be involved when he posted an image of a drum kit with Union Jack artwork, but that did not come to pass.

The first Oasis show is on July 4 in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, the first of 19 shows in the UK and Ireland with support acts Richard Ashcroft and Cast, including seven at London’s Wembley Stadium.

In the run-up to the dates, the band have partnered with Amazon to launch new merch that pays homage to the iconic moments throughout their career.

They are also looking for fans to share their stories of how the band’s music has “deep meaning” to them, to be used in a forthcoming film Live 25.

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