Shaun Ryder responds to rumours about Zak Starkey rejoining Oasis
The drummer suffered a blood clot earlier this week, forcing Mantra Of The Cosmos to cancel a show in London The post Shaun Ryder responds to rumours about Zak Starkey rejoining Oasis appeared first on NME.
Shaun Ryder has responded to rumours that Zak Starkey is rejoining Oasis, after the drummer suffered a blood clot in his leg earlier this week.
Ryder performs with Starkey (The Who) in the supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos along with Bez and guitarist Andy Bell (Oasis, Ride). The band recently collaborated with Noel Gallagher on a new single, ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’.
On Tuesday (January 21), Mantra were forced to cancel a secret gig in London due to Starkey suffering a blood clot in his right leg.
Ryder has since spoken to the Daily Star‘s ‘Wired’ column about Starkey’s condition, and addressed reports about his possible Oasis return. “He’s got his leg up and he’s got keep completely still,” he explained (via Music-News). “My nana had blood clots and she ended up with both legs took off.
“I’ve had me hip done and had to wear fucking tight stockings so I didn’t get blood clots, so I’m gonna get Zak some tight Mantra stockings.” Bez then joked: “He might look sexy as well.”
When asked if Starkey could be sharing a stage with Oasis once again this summer, Ryder replied: “You gotta ask him that. We sort of know…”
However, the Happy Mondays and Black Grape artist had no doubts about Starkey’s ability to perform with the Britpop giants on their huge 2025 reunion tour, which kicks off in early July.
“Zak is next level and he plays guitar as well as drums,” Ryder said. “If you ask Zak, he’ll say his first instrument is guitar. He’s really fucking talented.”
The drummer has been ordered by a doctor to take blood thinners for his leg condition and to rest for two weeks.
Starkey began drumming for Oasis in 2004, playing on their final two albums ‘Don’t Believe The Truth’ (2005) and ‘Dig Your Own Soul’ (2008). He was later replaced by Chris Sharrock for the band’s last run of gigs before their split.
There is currently speculation that Starkey could be joining the new Oasis line-up at their comeback dates. Bell, who played in the group between 1999 and 2009, is also in contention to appear onstage again with Liam and Noel Gallagher this year.
Other possible members for Oasis Live ’25 include Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, Gem Archer and drummer Alan White – the latter of whom sparked rumours online last summer. However, NME believes that White will not be part of the comeback.
Elsewhere, Liam Gallagher has since teased that the band could feature “a few new faces” too.
Early reports claimed that “no other original Oasis member is expected to join the reunion” with the Gallagher brothers, and that “the members of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will step in”. NGHFB’s line-up includes both Sharrock and Archer.
Check out NME‘s full guide on all the players who could be returning to Oasis.
Oasis have announced stadium gigs in the UK and Ireland, followed by a string of dates in North America. They’ll then return for two extra shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in late September, before heading to South Korea and Japan. Further concerts are scheduled in Australia ahead of the extensive tour finishing up in South America in November.
For the UK and Ireland leg, Oasis will be supported by Richard Ashcroft and Cast. The North American dates feature Cage The Elephant as the opening act.
Upon announcing Mantra Of The Cosmos’ ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’, Starkey – son of The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr – called Noel Gallagher “the greatest songwriter of my generation”.
He went on to recall first meeting Noel in a London rehearsal room in early 1995. “I met his brother for the first time at Oasis’s Earls Court shows in 1996. We’re Mods so we got on straight away,” he added.
“Every time I saw Liam, I used to go: ‘Alright Liam, still the greatest rock and roll singer in the world?’ He’d go: ‘Alright Zak, still the greatest rock and roll drummer in the world?’ That was going on for years as a joke. Who knew what was going to happen? Nobody knew that was going to happen, that’s for sure. That was a surprise for everyone, wasn’t it?”
Liam Gallagher responded to a ‘leaked’ Oasis reunion tour setlist earlier this month, saying that “it’s not far off” the real thing. Last month, it was revealed that not even Noel’s daughter Anaïs knew about the band’s comeback.
In other news, Andy Bell has announced a new solo album titled ‘Pinball Wanderer’, featuring his former Oasis bandmate and longtime collaborator Gem Archer. Meanwhile, Pete Doherty has offered to support Oasis for free in a bid to try and secure some tickets for his in-laws.
The post Shaun Ryder responds to rumours about Zak Starkey rejoining Oasis appeared first on NME.
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