Oasis The Hindu Times Song Guide: The 2002 Number One

The Hindu Times reached number one in the UK in April 2002, and it gave Oasis a sixth UK chart topper. The single launched the Heathen Chemistry campaign, and it ended a gap of almost two years since the previous Oasis single.

For context, our Heathen Chemistry album guide covers the record that The Hindu Times introduced. The album reached shops on 1 July 2002, and it also reached number one in the UK.

A comeback single with a fast guitar attack

First, Noel Gallagher wrote The Hindu Times, and Liam Gallagher sang lead vocals on the track. The song opens with a fast guitar riff, and it drives forward with a pace that recalled the band’s earlier work.

Next, the title came from a logo on a T-shirt that Noel Gallagher saw during a photo shoot. The name stuck while the track was still an instrumental, and it stayed once the finished song took shape.

Meanwhile, the single arrived on 15 April 2002, and it faced a chart battle with Gareth Gates at the top. NME reported first week sales of just over 116,000 copies, and those sales carried Oasis to number one.

Our Oasis members guide covers the band behind that return. The 2002 lineup mixed established members with newer faces, and the single showed that blend working at full speed.

Chart success at home and abroad

Then The Hindu Times stayed at number one in the UK for one week, and it became the sixth Oasis number one single. The chart win gave the album campaign a strong launch, and it rebuilt momentum after a quiet period.

In addition, the single also topped the charts in Canada, Italy, and Scotland, and it reached the top 10 in Ireland. That international spread showed Oasis still reaching large audiences well beyond their home market.

The chart result mattered because Heathen Chemistry followed a mixed reception for the previous album. A number one single answered doubts at once, and it set up the album release with real confidence.

Meanwhile, the album campaign went on to produce three more UK top five singles after The Hindu Times. That run showed depth beyond the lead single, and it kept Oasis on the charts through 2002 and into 2003.

A new chapter for the band

Next, Heathen Chemistry became the first Oasis album with major writing contributions beyond Noel Gallagher. Liam Gallagher contributed songs, and new members Gem Archer and Andy Bell each contributed a song as well.

Our Oasis albums guide places Heathen Chemistry in the middle of the band’s album story. The record kept the band at number one, and it showed a wider writing team taking shape.

In addition, The Hindu Times set the tone for that wider team without hiding the band’s guitar roots. The track sounded direct and loud, and it gave the new lineup a clear statement of intent.

The single also marked a return to a faster, harder sound after a slower period. Fans who wanted guitar driven Oasis found it here, and the chart result showed that many listeners agreed.

Why The Hindu Times still matters

For fans, The Hindu Times marks the moment Oasis proved they could still top the chart in a new decade. The sixth number one carried weight, and it opened a stronger album campaign than many critics had expected.

Still, the song sits outside the most played Oasis classics, and some fans know the album singles that followed it better. That lower profile makes the track a rewarding discovery, and its chart facts speak clearly on their own.

In short, The Hindu Times deserves a place beside the bigger number ones, and its comeback story earns it. Our Oasis setlist guide tracks new songs beside classics, and our Oasis lineup page covers the band today.

Only Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher are confirmed by name for Live ‘27, and that fact has not changed. The Live ‘27 shows sold out in the September 2026 ballot, and no general sale took place.

Noel Gallagher on stage. Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.