Eyewitnesses tell NME.COM how assailant evaded security
Details of how the Oasis attacker managed to get onstage and push Noel Gallagher over during a gig have begun to emerge.
As previously reported, the Oasis guitarist was pushed to the floor during their set at the V Festival in Toronto on Sunday (September 7).
According to Virgin spokesperson Nathan Rosenberg, the invader - identified as 47-year-old Daniel Sullivan - gained access to the stage by evading security, and was not someone with a backstage pass.
"This person seems to have found a hole in somewhere near the stage area and crawled on the stage," he told The Ampersand in a video interview. "Security guards are now looking at how that took place and we're looking at that as well to make sure that it never happens again."
Emailing NME.COM, fans "Derek and Adi" revealed they had seen the man moments before he got onstage.
"We saw the attacker run from the main crowd and run past security to the entrance to the stage," they wrote. "He ran up the stairs right past everyone and pushed Noel over. He literally made a break for it and made it all the way onto the stage. As soon as he was onstage we witnessed at least five police officers run after him onto the stage. Shortly after we saw several police taking him down the stairs and out of our view."
Meanwhile, Oasis fans have responded to the attack by issuing 'wanted: dead or alive' calls on Sullivan, even going as far as printing his home address, phone number and a map of where he lives on various fan forums.
Following an incident during Oasis' performance at the Virgin Festival in Toronto, when Noel was attacked by a stage invader Oasis are regrettably being forced to announce that tonight's show in London, Ontario cannot go ahead as planned.
Noel fell heavily on to his monitor speakers when he was pushed suddenly from behind by his attacker and suffered bruising to his ribs and hip. He was examined in a local hospital after the band's performance and has been advised to rest. Unfortunately, despite resting up yesterday, the extent of his injuries mean he will not be able to perform tonight. The band are very keen to complete their Canadian tour and the final London, Ontario show will now be rescheduled to Monday the 15th December. Ticket holders are asked to retain their tickets which will be valid for the new date. Refunds for those unable to attend can be made at point of ticket purchase.
The new album doesn’t hit the shelves until 6th October, but Oasis fans across the world are set to get an exclusive preview of ‘Dig Out Your Soul’, in a groundbreaking partnership between Big Brother Recordings and music magazine NME supported by Arts Council England.
The band have teamed up with NME in a musical first, which will see the magazine release the sheet music and lyrics to three brand new album tracks – ‘Bag It Up’, ’The Turning' and ‘(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady’ in an exclusive companion disc give-away.
Packaged as an official collectable item featuring a unique Big Brother Recordings catalogue number, the Oasis ‘NME Dig Out Your Soul Songbook’ will be free with NME’s September 17th issue and will also include a CD-Rom packed full of exclusive content and artwork.
The songbook will invite fans to play the as-yet unheard tracks themselves by filming their efforts and uploading them to a dedicated microsite housed at www.oasisinet.com/digoutyoursoulsongs. This radical move adds a new dimension to the ‘free music’ debate and encourages all you die hard fans out there to pick up your instruments!
Noel Gallagher of Oasis said, “The gift of music is very special... and anything that can bring music into a kid’s life is an incredible thing.”
You, the fans, are encouraged to interpret the new tracks in your own personal style on whichever instruments you please and Big Brother Recordings have put together a very special prize for the best entry. A lucky winner will be personally chosen by the band and will win a unique VIP experience to the Oasis gig of their choice anywhere in the world, including travel and accommodation.
Conor McNicholas, NME Editor said: “We are ecstatic that NME has been able to work with Oasis to give our readers the very first taste of ‘Dig Out Your Soul’. The songbook really does mark a world first in including fans in the excitement of a new album release. With Arts Council England on board helping kids pick up instruments, this covermount could inspire and enable a new generation of Gallaghers right across the country.”
The Oasis 'NME Dig Out Your Soul Songbook' is backed by the Arts Council England’s Take it away scheme which has given out £6m worth of interest free loans to budding musicians over the last 12 months.
Mary-Alice Stack, who manages Take it Away at Arts Council England, said:
“Take it away is about helping people to get started learning and playing musical instruments of all kinds. We’re delighted to be involved with this songbook and competition, because we’re sure it will do just that.
“Along with aspiring Noels and Liams, we hope that the opportunity to perform these songs might well turn up a would-be Vanessa Mae or Seth Lakeman for the next generation."
A Canadian man was charged Monday for allegedly attacking Oasis rocker Noel Gallagher at a Toronto concert, authorities said.
The British band was midway through its headlining set at the Virgin Festival on Toronto's Olympic Island on Sunday night when a man rushed the band from the back of the stage. The man pushed Gallagher, causing him to fall on his speakers during their 1995 hit "Morning Glory".
Security personnel quickly apprehended Daniel Sullivan, 47, from Pickering, Ontario. Police said Monday that he was charged with assault.
"Everyone was shocked. The fan came out of nowhere__no one even saw him run on stage, people just saw Noel fall and then people started yelling," said concertgoer Twyla DeMello.
The band members promptly left the stage and the lights came on, leaving fans confused. Minutes later, the Gallagher brothers and band returned to resume their set, performing their hits "Don't Look Back in Anger" and "Wonderwall", along with three other songs before finishing with the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus".
Toronto police Const. Tony Vella said Sullivan was released from custody on a promise to appear in court on Oct. 24.
Oasis, which has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, are scheduled to play in London, Ontario, on Tuesday.
Oasis headlined the two-day festival which drew 40,000 music fans to see acts such as Foo Fighters, Paul Weller, Stereophonics and Bloc Party.
Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group chairman, and the man behind the festival, attended the weekend events.
The festival began in 1996 in the United Kingdom, and now also plays in the United States and Australia. It was the third Virgin Festival show in Toronto.
Matt Bowman, frontman for UK press darlings and fellow Virgin Festival performers the Pigeon Detectives, claims he was "just bang in front of Noel" when the attacker came at the elder Gallagher.
"It looked like [Noel] was in quite a lot of pain," according to Bowman. "It was pretty shit-cheap shot-- just from the back, and Noel didn't expect it coming. It certainly wiped him out."
Bowman described himself and his bandmates as being "literally dumbstruck" by the proceedings. "I mean, we had never seen anything like it...it put quite a damper on the mood."
Wembley Arena is giving 1 lucky Nowmagazine.co.uk reader the chance to win 1 pair of tickets to see Oasis live on 16 October!
Oasis returns to Wembley Arena for the first time in 11 years and they sold out their 2 autumn shows in just minutes!
'The Shock Of The Lightning', released on 29 September, is taken from their eagerly awaited 7th studio album 'Dig Out Your Soul' which is set for release on 6 October. Noel Gallagher describes the single as one of the band's most instant songs 'because it was written dead fast. And recorded dead fast. It's basically the demo. And it has retained its energy. And there's a lot to be said for that, I think. The first time you record something is always the best.'
Legendary for their live performances, this is certain to be the hottest ticket of 2008.
Band seeks cover versions in sheet music giveaway Arts Council scheme to inspire new artists
More unkind critics might suggest it will result in their most radical musical leap in years, while for others it will be final proof of the extent to which they have inspired a generation of new artists.
Unused as they may be to furthering arts policy aims, Oasis have teamed up with the Arts Council and the NME to encourage aspiring young musicians to pick up instruments.
Instead of giving away downloads to promote an upcoming album, as Coldplay and the Streets have done, or giving away a whole album to increase ticket sales, as Prince did, Oasis will give away a DVD and book featuring the sheet music and lyrics to three new songs with music weekly NME. The idea is aimed at promoting the Arts Council's Take It Away scheme, which provides interest free loans for musical instruments.
Readers will be asked to reinterpret Bag It Up, The Turning and (Get Off Your) High Horse Lady from the group's seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, which is released next month, without having heard them first. Guitarist Noel Gallagher, who has argued that giving music away for nothing devalues it, said: "The gift of music is very special ... and anything that can bring music into a kid's life is an incredible thing."
Aspiring young musicians will be asked to submit their own versions to a special website, with the winning entry able to travel to an Oasis gig anywhere in the world. In just over a year the Arts Council scheme has delivered £6m worth of loans to more than 10,000 people. Mary-Alice Stack, manager of Take It Away, said it was "a way of inspiring individuals to develop their musical talents and interests".
Oasis recently embarked on a new world tour to promote the album, the first leg of which was disrupted on Sunday night when Noel Gallagher was attacked by a man who invaded the stage midway through their headlining set at the V festival in Toronto. The assailant was wrestled to the floor by security. The band left the stage before later returning to finish their set. The unnamed assailant was arrested.
NME editor Conor McNicholas said Oasis had been successful in constantly refreshing their fanbase in the 14 years since they released their debut album: "Oasis remain a touchstone. Their songs are timeless." He said a combination of new technology and groups like the Libertines who had broken down the barrier between band and fans had increased the proportion of NME's readership who played as well as listened to music.
Emma Greengrass, of Oasis's label imprint Big Brother Recordings, said that as soon as the band's new single, The Shock of the Lightning, was premiered on the radio fans began uploading their own renditions of the song on YouTube.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with. I hope that there are some quieter versions and some interesting variations," she said. The DVD will be given away free with next week's issue of the NME, which has expanded to become a multimedia brand with its own radio station and TV channel.
Rumoured Paul Weller spot dropped after Noel assault
A strongly-rumoured collaboration between Oasis and Paul Weller at the Canadian V Festival may have been ruined by the onstage assault on Noel Gallagher on Sunday (September 7).
The guitarist was pushed to the ground by an intruder during his band's set, forcing the group to leave the stage for nearly ten minutes.
Although Oasis returned to finish the show, according to a statement the guitarist was later "taken to hospital after the show to be examined for a suspected fractured rib and ligament damage. The assailant was detained in police custody and will be charged with assault".
However, according to a source at the festival, Weller - who was also on the bill - had been due to join the band on 'Champagne Supernova', a track he originally guested on when it appeared on the band's 1995 album '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?'.
"There was a rumour going around the festival that Weller was going to play the solo on the song, like he does on record, all day," the source told NME.COM. "However, just before the band played their last song they all huddled together, there was a bit of a discussion and then they launched into set closer 'I Am The Walrus'.
"Afterwards, there was talk that the band had to cut the song due to time, and that meant no Weller."
Whether Weller was due to guest or not, suggestions that the song was cut do appear to be backed up by the fact that when Oasis kicked off their world tour in Seattle 'Champagne Supernova' was the song that immediately preceded the set closer.
Oasis band member Noel Gallagher was allegedly assaulted while performing on stage at the Virgin Festival on Toronto Island on Sunday night.
Toronto Police Const. Wendy Drummond told CTV.ca a 47-year-old man from Pickering has been charged with assault in connection with the incident.
A fan captured the incident on video and posted the footage on YouTube.
In the clip, a man appears from the side or the rear of the stage as Noel and Liam Gallagher perform their hit "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?"
The man runs behind Liam towards Noel, who is playing guitar and singing at the right side of the stage, and appears to push him from behind, knocking him to the floor.
The attacker then appears to try and jump into the crowd, but is caught by security guards who drag him back onto stage and towards the rear.
Liam then tries to jump into the fray, cocking his fist as if in readiness to punch the attacker as he is being dragged away, but doesn't deliver the blow.
The rest of the band immediately put down their instruments and leave the stage as the house lights come on.
After about five minutes passed, Noel returned to the stage and played a song for the 25,000 fans. Liam also later returned to join in a performance of "Wonderwall."
The band then closed the show with a cover of The Beatles' "I Am The Walrus."
Drummond said the accused, whose name has not been released, will appear in Toronto's Old City Hall courthouse, room 111, at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24.
Oasis', Noel Gallagher was attacked by an unidentified man during the band's show in Toronto last night. While Noel and the band were performing 'Morning Glory', the assailant ran on from the back of the stage and pushed Noel from behind, who fell heavily on to his monitor speakers.
Despite his injuries, Noel returned to the stage a few minutes later to complete the band's set but was taken to hospital after the show to be examined for a suspected fractured rib and ligament damage. The assailant was detained in police custody and will be charged with assault.
No decision has been made regarding Tuesday's concert in London, Ontario, but fans are urged to keep checking the band's web site Oasisinet.com and local media for updates.
Fans who successfully applied for tickets to Oasis' show at Terminal 5 in New York this Friday are reminded that they only have until midnight tonight (Monday 8th September) New York time to purchase tickets.
Successful applicants will have received an email from oasisinet.com with instructions on how to purchase tickets. If you are one of those who applied you should check the email account you registered with, including the junk mail folder and if you've received the email follow the instructions promptly to avoid disappointment.
Oasisinet is pleased to give you another insight into the band's recording and writing process with a clip about 'I'm Outta Time' from the forthcoming 'Dig Out Your Soul' album.
Nathan Rosenberg, chief marketing officer for Virgin, just came out to give us the details of the attack on Noel Gallagher earlier this evening.
Apparently, the assailant came from underneath the stage before pushing the guitarist.
No motive was given.
In a statement, Rosenberg said: "(Oasis) understand sometimes these things happen."
Security is looking into how the breach happened to ensure it doesn't occur at future events.
Even though the band cut their set short, fans left in an orderly fashion.
Coo coo ca choo.
'Fucking in the Bushes' 'Rock 'N' Roll Star' 'Lyla' 'The Shock Of The Lightning' 'Cigarettes And Alcohol' 'The Meaning Of Soul' 'To Be Where There's Life' 'The Masterplan' 'Songbird' 'Slide Away' 'Morning Glory' (This is the song during which Noel got pushed, so it ended early) 'The Importance of Being Idle' 'Wonderwall' 'Supersonic' 'Don't Look Back In Anger' 'Falling Down' 'I Am The Walrus'
9:10pm - Oasis is running a bit late thanks to a delay that started back with Silversun Pickups ~5pm.
9:20pm - They start off their set with Rock 'N Roll Star and then bust out their new single Shock Of The Lightning as well as The Masterplan, Lyla and Slide Away.
9:55pm - Halfway through What's The Story Morning Glory, someone climbs up from backstage (which must have been quite the feat, considering that even "all access" wristbands were banned from the area during Oasis' set) and pushes Noel Gallagher from behind. He faceplants into one of the monitors and the rest of the band walks off stage. WTF. Concert over??
10:08pm - The band returns, seemingly unfazed by what just happened - absolutely no comment from Noel, who just busts out my favourite song that's got him on vocals, The Importance Of Being Idle. No plans to finish up What's The Story Morning Glory I guess. Next is Wonderwall, immediately followed by Supersonic.
10:20pm - Noel's now back on vocal duties, singing Don't Look Back In Anger with the help of about 10,000 fans.
10:27pm - Noel's singing again, and this time it's a new song, the one that's on Dig Out Your Soul called Falling Down and appears as a remix by The Chemical Brothers. F**k I love this song as a 'rock' version!!!!!
10:32pm - Wow, Liam just announced that this is the end of their set, which worries me cause it's 30 minutes earlier than anticipated (110 minute set was the plan). They're playing The Walrus (The Beatles cover), which is a known encore song of theirs. Maybe this is really it?
10:38pm - Oh boy, this may really be the end of the set. It wouldn't surprise me if a band that's already as temperamental as Oasis would end early because of the earlier accident. I guess this will be this year's "Flaming Lips Incident", except this time it was entirely a fan's fault. I'm gonna bet this is on YouTube later tonight!
In what a Virgin spokesperson called a "security breach", a man ran onstage during Oasis's show at Virgin Festival in Toronto Sunday night and crashed into guitarist Noel Gallagher, knocking him hard to the ground. The man, who entered from backstage, then appeared to clash with other Gallagher brother, Liam, before security rushed in and escorted him off stage in front of the shocked festival crowd.
The security spokesperson for Virgin, called Nathan, said that unnamed man evaded both Virgin and Oasis security personnel in his dash onstage. No reason was given for the rush, but Nathan pointed out that both brothers were fine, and Noel was joking backstage after the incident about how exciting things always happens when Oasis plays.
After a 15 minute pause, the band returned to the stage and finished the show, which included crowd-pleasers such as Don't Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall, new single The Shock Of The Lightning and the closer, a cover of The Beatles' I Am The Walrus.