Noel Gallagher Quits Oasis

08/31/09 11:36am

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Oasis singer/guitarist Noel Gallagher has quit the band for the second time after a reportedly violent altercation in Paris, France with his brother, singer/guitarist Liam Gallagher, placing the band's future in serious doubt.

Gallagher announced he had left Oasis on Friday night just after the band had cancelled their appearance at Paris' Rock En Seine festival.

"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight," Gallagher said in a statement on the band's official website. "People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."

According to Britain's The Sun tabloid, Liam Gallagher had spent the band's recent tour "drinking heavily" — to the point of showing up for shows tanked — and "regularly got very abusive and personal" with Noel Gallagher. A source told the tabloid people were frightened to be around Liam Gallagher.

Liam Gallagher showed up to the Paris show drunk, according to The Sun, which reports Noel then confronted his brother about his "unprofessional" behaviour. Liam reportedly "exploded in rage" and began making less than polite comments about Noel's children.

Liam is said to have then thrown his acoustic guitar at Noel, who caught it, stomped on it, smashed it to bits and then left.

Noel elaborated on leaving the band on Saturday afternoon, when he made another posting on the Oasis website.

"The details [of my leaving the band] are not important and of too great a number to list," Noel wrote. "But I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable. And the lack of support and understanding from my management and bandmates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.

"I would like firstly to offer my apologies to them kids in Paris who'd paid money and waited all day to see us only to be let down AGAIN by the band. Apologies are probably not enough, I know, but I'm afraid it's all I've got.

Oasis were forced to cancel their appearance at last weekend's V Festival in Chelmsford, England, because Liam was reportedly ill with viral laryngitis. Tabloids were rife with speculation that it was to be Oasis' final U.K. gig, which Liam denied.

"While I'm on the subject, I'd like to say [sorry] to the good people of V Festival that experienced the same thing," Noel continued. "Again, I can only apologise — although I don't know why, it was nothing to do with me. I was match-fit and ready to be brilliant. Alas, other people in the group weren't up to it.

"In closing I would like to thank all the Oasis fans, all over the world. The last 18 years have been truly, truly amazing (and I hate the word, but today is the one time I'll deem it appropriate. A dream come true. I take with me glorious memories.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a family and a football team to indulge. I'll see you somewhere down the road. It's been a fuckin' pleasure."

Liam has not yet responded to his brother's comments. It's not known whether Oasis will continue without Noel, who wrote most of the band's songs.

Noel previously left Oasis in 2000 after Liam reportedly made a derogatory comment about Meg Matthews, who was then Noel's wife, and insinuated Anais Gallagher, Noel's daughter, was an illegitimate child. That resulted in a fight, after which Noel walked out of the tour. He returned for some British and Irish shows later that year.

Although the Gallagher brothers are infamous for their bickering and physical fights, things have been icy and tense between them for the last year or so. Noel announced he had plans to release a solo album earlier this year, to his brother's consternation.

Noel also said Oasis would go on hiatus after the end of the tour behind last year's Dig Out Your Soul, which Liam also protested loudly about.

Things had gotten particularly tense over the last few weeks, when tabloids reported last week that the Gallaghers were not speaking to each other.