Fractious Gallagher brothers to reunite in Oasis documentary

Noel (left)) and Liam Gallagher from the popular 1990s Britpop band Oasis. BBC WORLD

LONDON (AFP) - Feuding British rockstars Noel Gallagher and his younger brother Liam are to unite onscreen for a documentary on their once hugely successful band Oasis, which split acrimoniously in 2009.

The film, due out next year, will trace the history of the band from its beginnings in 1991, including the phenomenal success of debut album Definitely Maybe and follow up (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Film distributor Independent on Wednesday said the as yet untitled film would be directed by Mat Whitecross and produced by James Gay-Rees, whose documentary this year about late singer Amy Winehouse garnered plaudits.

Considered pioneers of the Britpop sound - typically guitar-based pop and rock music with a British sensibility - Oasis enjoyed enormous success in the 1990s and sold some 70 million records.

Whitecross, winner of a Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear award in 2006 for his film The Road To Guantanamo, is a music industry veteran, having directed several videos for Coldplay and a biopic on British rocker Ian Dury.

The film-makers will have access to the archives of Oasis' record label, Big Brother Recordings.

After the band's demise, Liam formed and fronted a new group, Beady Eye, which disbanded after releasing two albums.

Noel has embarked on a solo career under the name Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

Relations between the two brothers remain turbulent.

"I haven't seen him for about five months but we text quite a lot," Noel told AFP in February.

"It's usually him insulting me."

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