GALLAGHER: ‘INTIMIDATION FORCED ME TO QUIT’
NOEL GALLAGHER walked away from OASIS after suffering “intolerable” and “violent” intimidation towards members of his family.
The guitarist quit the British band on Friday (28Aug09) after a furious bust-up with his singer brother Liam backstage at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris, France.
He initially issued a statement telling fans he could no longer work with Liam, after a string of recent disagreements between the pair.
Now the Wonderwall hitmaker has elaborated further on the reasons for the split – insisting he was “forced” to leave the band after his management refused to support him.
In a statement on the official Oasis website, Gallagher writes, “As of last Friday the 28th August, I have been forced to leave the Manchester rock’n’roll pop group Oasis.
“The details are not important and of too great a number to list. 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 band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.”
Gallagher apologised to fans for the cancelled Rock en Seine set, and also for the band’s axed headline slot at the V Festival in Chelmsford, England on Sunday (23Aug09) – blamed, at the time, on Liam’s throat virus.
The guitarist adds, “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 that word, but today is the one time I’ll deem it appropriate). A dream come true. I take with me glorious memories.”