Wonderwall Not Enough to Stop Oasis Attack

Update

Wonderwall Not Enough to Stop Oasis Attack

Tue., Sep. 9, 2008 2:33 PM PDT by Gina Serpe

UPDATE: Oasis did end up canceling Tuesday's show in London, Ontario, to allow Noel Gallagher more time to recover from injuries he suffered Sunday night when a fan jumped him during the band's performance at the Virgin Festival in Toronto. They have rescheduled for Dec. 15. The band's show Friday in New York City is also in doubt.
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Never underestimate the determined vengeance of a Jay-Z fan.

Kidding aside, Oasis guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher was admitted to a hospital in Toronto Sunday night after a man rushed the stage and attacked the British rocker, leaving him with a possibly fractured rib and suspected ligament damage.

The incident took place at Toronto's 2008 V Festival, in the middle of the group's performance of "Morning Glory."

As caught on video, a man rushed up from the back of the stage and pushed a clearly unsuspecting Gallagher down onto his sound equipment.

The man then made a lunge toward Noel's bandmate and brother, Liam Gallagher, but is caught by security before he's able to make contact.

Liam Gallagher attempted to reciprocate the attack on his and his sibling's behalf, but was held back, and the assailant dragged offstage, before he could do so.

According to the band's official website, Noel "fell heavily onto his monitor speakers" as a result of the attack.

After the incident, the performance was halted and the stage cleared. About 15 minutes later, the band returned to the crowd of 25,000 to finish out their set, with the injured Gallagher telling the audience that the attack had added "a little excitement" to the night.

The musician was taken to the hospital immediately after the concert, one of the last on their now potentially truncated North American tour, and the attacker, a man in his 30s whose name has not been released, was taken into police custody and is expected to be charged with assault.

A festival spokesman called the incident a "security breach" and a spokesman for the band seemed exceedingly accepting of the event.

"Oasis understand sometimes these things happen," he said.

It has, in fact, happened before.

Back in 1994, Noel was punched in the face during a gig in Newcastle when a disgruntled fan jumped onstage. The night ended with a full-blown audience riot.

Just two dates ostensibly remain on Oasis' North American tour, with the next show scheduled to take place in London, Ontario, on Tuesday night. While the band has not yet cancelled the show, they have informed fans to keep tabs on their website, where they will announce any change of plans.

The leg officially wraps in New York on Friday before returning to the U.K.

(Originally published Sept. 8, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.)