Nearly a year ago exactly Noel Gallagher was assaulted on stage in Toronto by a middle-aged man with a yet unknown motive. The Oasis songwriter and guitarist was involved in another scuffle recently, one that is threatening to dissolve one of most successful British bands in rock history.
Late last week Oasis hastily cancelled a Paris gig after a reported “altercation” before the show. On the weekend, Noel issued a formal statement on the band’s website proclaiming he was officially quitting the Manchester Britpop group.
Noel citing a lack of “understanding by bandmates and management,” in the statement and didn’t put the finger squarely a brother Liam as he did in an earlier statement Friday saying he “simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.”
The altercation might not have been the straw on the camel, as rumours and speculation swirled earlier last weekend when Oasis cancelled a British V-Fest headlining gig. Liam blasted on his Twitter page to offset tabloid speculation that it was the last UK gig for the band.
This is all concerning news to Oasis fans to say the least, but at the same time we’re forced to ask ourselves, How serious do we take Noel’s threats? He’s left the group before, Liam’s left the group several times. Is it even plausible to consider they would never work again together?
It’s difficult not side with Noel on this acrimonious split. The Gallaghers were a terror in the 90s and lived up to their baddass reps to the fullest extent. But that’s over a decade ago and Noel has grown up and become a well-respected elder statesman of British rock n’ roll. Liam, meanwhile, hasn’t shown the slightest sign of personal development and continues to live up the asshole rock star image we’ve applauded him for for the last 15 years.
It was Liam’s booze fuelled shenanigans that reportedly led to the Paris showdown. You’d think that showing up wasted and late is something Noel would be accustomed to at this point, but apparently words were spoke and guitars were thrown.
It’s fairly preposterous to consider Oasis going on without Noel, the chief songwriter and spokesman for the group since Day One. Oasis could finish off tour commitment with a replacement guitarist, as they did when Noel abandoned the group in Spain 2000, but anything beyond that feels like a stretch.
But as I mentioned earlier, how serious is Noel when he says never again? The fact it’s family leads me to believe it can be worked out and will be worked because there’s too much riding on it. Then again, if you consider the Fogerty brothers, who essentially broke up Creedance Clearwater Revival, and never reconciled even as Tom lay on his death bed, it’s a remote possibility Gallaghers have built a hatred for each other so pure and vial vile that the damage is irreparable.
One bit of encouraging news, however, is Moms Gallagher is optimistic the boys can sort it out. Speaking to NME, she said “They’ve had fights before and got over it.” Indeed, but this appears to be a monster of a row.[rssbreak]
