Oasis will play The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday April 26th, just before they head to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 28th. This gig reunites Oasis with their special guests Cornershop who last toured with them in the USA on the Be Here Now tour in 1998. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased on line through Ticketmaster, and local Ticketmaster numbers, or the Hard Rock Hotel box office on: 702 693 5000

Oasis have announced their first major outdoor UK shows since two sellout Wembley Stadium concerts in July 2000. The band will be playing two nights at London's Finsbury Park on Friday July 5th and Saturday July 6th. Support for both shows will be provided by The Charlatans and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Tickets for the two shows priced at £28.50 plus £2.00 booking fee go on sale at 9.00am on Saturday the 2nd March through the Oasis Lo-Call ticket line 08708 300300 and over the internet via www.oasisinet.com. Tickets will be limited to 6 per person. Fans wishing to purchase tickets via the internet should bookmark the Oasisinet homepage and return to it on Saturday the 2nd at 9.00am for a link to the ticket purchase page. Due to anticipated high demand the following ticket agencies will also be selling tickets: Stargreen 020 7734 8932, First Call 0870 840 1111 and Picadilly 0870 444 5556. Check national press for more information.

On 15th April 2002 Oasis will release their first single in nearly two years. Entitled 'The Hindu Times', it is the first song to be heard from the band's forthcoming fifth studio album. 'The Hindu Times' was debuted live on last year's 'Ten Years Of Noise And Confusion' tour, and also played recently at Oasis' shows at the Royal Albert Hall and Watford Colosseum. "Tonight Oasis are back with us and all is well with the world. On this form no-one can touch 'em and their heathen chemistry." (NME) Oasis are currently putting the finishing touches to the album, as yet untitled, for a release in July. As previously revealed, Oasis will headline the Coachella Festival, in Palm Springs, on April 28th. Plans are also being finalised for a world tour to support the album. Details will be announced soon.

OASIS have revealed that their long awaited new single will be 'THE HINDU TIMES'. It is released on April 15.

'The Hindu Times' was debuted during last year's 10th anniversary Noise & Confusion tour. It got another airing at the recent charity gig at London's Royal Albert Hall and the warm-up date at Watford Coliseum.

The single will be Oasis' first since 'Sunday Morning Call', almost two years previously. As NME.COM revealed two weeks ago, Oasis' fifth album is finished and will be released in July. There are also plans for a world tour around the release of the album, and Oasis are already confirmed to headline Coachella Festival in Palm Springs, California on April 28.

'The Hindu Times' is an upbeat rock song, featuring some of Noel Gallagher's most direct and defiant sounding lyrics since Oasis' debut album 'Definitely Maybe'. The song includes the lines 'I get up when I'm down/ I can't swim but my soul won't drown/ I do believe I've got flare/ I got speed and I walk on air.' The chorus is: 'Cos God give me a soul/ In your rock 'n' roll band/ I can get so high I just can't feel it.'

Oasis have yet to confirm the album's title, despite earlier reports that it would be called 'Heathen Chemistry'. Other songs set for inclusion on the album include 'Hung In A Bad Place', which Oasis played at their recent gigs, as well as 'Better Man' and 'Force Of Nature' which they recorded for a German TV show in Berlin on February 10.

Oasis fans can get a preview of 'Force Of Nature', as a version sung by Noel features on the 2000 British gangster movie 'Love, Honour & Obey'.

Noel Gallagher has donated a rare piece of artwork to an anti-landmine charity. The signed limited edition Oasis poster is one of many celebrity items donated to Mine Aid, a campaign organised by the Manchester based Mine Action Group (MAG).

According to the charity, Gallagher made the contribution when he was unable to perform at a fund-raising concert. It will now be displayed in an exhibition before it is auctioned later in the year.

A spokesperson for the charity told the BBC: "It was a gift that we could auction and raise some money from that still meant that they were helping us in a way."

Other musicians including Bill Wyman, Badly Drawn Boy, Elbow and the Doves are said to have made similar donations to the cause. The MAG estimate that they have so far raised over ’35,000 through music related events.

OASIS guitarist NOEL GALLAGHER has told NME the music scene in 2002 is the best it has been "for years".

Speaking in this week's issue of NME, Gallagher said the current plan is to release two singles before the album, which has been given a working title of 'Heathen Chemistry', later this year. However, nothing has yet been scheduled.

Elsewhere, Gallagher enthused about the blossoming music scene, saying he has a better feeling about Oasis than any time in the last six years. He commented: "This is the best time in music for years. If I was a kid right now, I'd be so excited. I've heard about six brilliant albums in the last few months that are better than anything that's been out in the last six years." Gallagher cited records by Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Hives as his personal favourites. He has previously told NME.COM that he considers The Strokes one of the best bands in the world.

Speaking about how Oasis fit into the current music scene on the eve of the release of their fifth studio album, he said: "(The new album) is good. It's very hard for me to describe. It's not a massive departure. It's still Oasis, we're still a rock'n'roll band. But I reckon if we were a new band and this was our first album people would be pretty blown away."
For more, see this week's NME, out nationwide now.

According NME (9 Feb), Top 5 festival earners are

1. Robbie Williams (£1million +)
2. Oasis (£700,000 - £1million)
3. U2 (£750,000)
4. Linkin Park (£700,000)
5. Prodigy (£250,000)

estimated earnings per night.

U2 and Oasis are lining-up a 30-date joint European tour for this Summer, according to reports. The rock heavyweights will apparently join forces on a monumental double-header in July and August. Speculation in Sweden also suggest that Swedish rock pantomime The Hives have been asked to join the tour. However, it is believed they have had to decline, because of prior commitments. Despite the length of the tour and number of dates, it is claimed the shows will not call at England or Ireland. A further announcement is expected in the near future.

OASIS debuted two new songs on last night (February 10) at a gig for a German TV show. The band recorded the gig for Berlin TV show '2/Nite' for broadcast in April. The new songs were 'Force Of Nature', sung by Noel, and 'Better Man' sung - and believed to be written - by Liam.

Oasis are also confirmed to headline the Coachella Festival in California on April 28, along with Foo Fighters, Prodigy and Bjork. This has led to suggestions that the new album may now appear as soon as May. Big Brother Records confirmed that an announcement will be made on March 11. There has also been Internet speculation that Oasis will tour Europe with U2.

There is an interview with Noel Gallagher in this week's NME, in shops in London tomorrow (February 12) and throughout the UK from Wednesday.

Meanwhile Noel Gallagher joined Paul Weller onstage on Saturday (February 9) at the latter's London Royal Albert Hall show. The pals ran through a version of Oasis' 'One Way Road'.

Oasis are confirmed to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 28th, 2002. The 2-day festival takes place at The Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, near Joshua Tree National Monument. Other bands performing on the 28th include Foo Fighters and The Prodigy.

Tickets go on-sale March 2nd, they are $65 advanced purchase, plus booking fee and parking.

Stay turned for more information.

OASIS are to play a live show in GERMANY this weekend for local television. The group, who performed two dates in the UK this week, most recently at the London Royal Albert Hall (February 6), will record an 80-minute set in Berlin for a local television programme titled '2/nite'.

A competition to win tickets is currently being hosted on the band's official website, www.oasisinet.com.

Whatever is used for TV advert in Japan. The product is Sony's computer "VAIO X". This is their first commercial tie-up in the world. This TVCM is now on air nationwide in Japan.

RICHARD ASHCROFT was the surprise special guest at OASIS' charity concert at the LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL last night (February 6). The former Verve vocalist performed a 20 minute acoustic set at the event, which was staged in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Ashcroft performed a number of songs from his Verve days, including 'Lucky Man' and lengthy closer 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', as well as an aborted attempt at the group's 1995 single 'History'. Two new, untitled songs were also played for the first time, with the second also being aborted halfway through.

A fan told NME.COM: "He looked unrehearsed to be honest. I was hoping for some kind of reunion with Vervedrummer Pete Salisbury, who was drumming with (first support band) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club but it wasn't to be. It was good to hear the new songs though."

Later in the evening, Oasis were joined by Paul Weller, who played keyboards on their classic single 'Don't Look Back In Anger'. Otherwise, their set was identical to the previous evening's show at the Watford Coliseum (February 5).

The full set was:

Fuckin' In the Bushes

Go Let It Out

Columbia

Morning Glory

Acquiesce

Supersonic

Fade Away

The Hindu Times

Gas Panic!

Cigarettes & Alcohol

Live Forever

Hung In A Bad Place

Slide Away

She's Electric

Champagne Supernova

Rock 'N' Roll Star

Don't Look Back In Anger

I Am The Walrus

LIAM GALLAGHER will be the best songwriter in Britain in five years time, claims the star's brother and current songwriter NOEL. Speaking as Oasis prepare to play London's Royal Albert Hall tonight (February 6) in a benefit show for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Noel reiterated his claim that songs written by Liam on Oasis' forthcoming album were great.

"You'll be amazed," he said, "and anybody that hears them will gasp. They're that good. Two of them are astonishing and one's really, really good." He added: "In five years time without a doubt he'll be the best songwriter in the country."

Gallagher said little else about the new album, which as NME.COM revealed yesterday (February 5) was finished and set for a summer release, except he confirmed he had written a song for new girlfriend Sara McDonald called 'She's Love'.

The Oasis mainman also revealed that like the majority of the country he too is caught up in 'Pop Idol' fever admitting he "avidly" watches every Saturday evening show. He is tipping Gareth Gates to sneak it over William Young on Saturday's final show. "I think the guy with the stammer will win it for the fact that he's got a stammer," he told the London Evening Standard, "but I haven't seen [any of the wannabes] who were any good."

OASIS played their first UK gig since last years 'TEN YEARS OF NOISE AND CONFUSION' shows last night (February 5) in WATFORD. With reports that the band have finally finished their new album, reputedly called 'Heathen Chemistry' reaching the press, expectation was high that the band would use this show at the Watford Coliseum, a warm-up for tonight's London Royal Albert Hall charity event (February 6) as a chance to try out some more new material.

Alas, after starting with a host of oldies including 'Go Let It Out', 'Columbia', 'Morning Glory' and 'Acquiesce', it became clear the band would simply be repeating the set they played at their anniversary shows. The two new songs remain. 'Hindu Times', with its epic chorus of "God Gave Me Soul/ He Gave Me Rock'n'Roll", is Oasis with more than a hint of Kiss, whilst Gem Archer's 'Hung In A Bad Place' is the Stooges 'No Fun' updated.

Vocalist Liam Gallagher, wearing a white parka throughout, barely said a single word all night, whilst the one time his brother Noel spoke was to berate the audience, demanding: "What the fuck are we doing in Watford? Does it only get interesting here when Man City come to play?"

The band ended, predictably, with a flurry of old favourites including 'Champagne Supernova', 'Rock'n'Roll Star' and a cover of The Beatles' 'I Am The Walrus'.

After months of rumours about its whereabouts, OASIS have finally finished their new album, NME.COM can announce. The Gallaghers celebrated completing the album last Wednesday (January 30) with a family dinner at London's famous Ivy restaurant in Covent Garden. Oasis' spokeswoman exclusively revealed: "The album is finished, they are just tweaking around with it. I spoke to Noel this morning and he is very pleased with it." A summer release is now likely, scuppering Internet reports the album, reportedly titled 'Heathen Chemistry', would be out in May.

For more, see this week's NME, out in London today (February 5), and nationwide tomorrow.