Noel Gallagher Leaves Oasis For The Third Time

With the band midway through its current world tour, songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher has walked out on Oasis. The band announced Gallagher's departure on Tuesday (5/23), confirming a story printed in the U.K. tabloid the Mirror.

A statement posted on the band's official website said that Gallagher "decided to quit overseas touring with Oasis, with immediate effect, but intends to perform with the band for the scheduled U.K. dates later this summer."

The Mirror article, quoting unnamed sources close to the band, blamed Gallagher's exit on his brother Liam's "constant boozing." One source told the Mirror: "No one really knows what is going on. Noel walked out on Sunday vowing never to return and it doesn't look like he's coming back for the gig in Paris tonight (5/23)."

Tuesday night's Paris show, as well as the next three French dates--in Rennes (5/25), Clermont Ferrand (5/27) and Amneville (5/28)--are also cancelled. In the statement, the band said it is confident that it can be back on schedule by May 30 for its show in Milan, Italy. Guitarist Matt Deighton, who recently performed with Paul Weller, has replaced Gallagher.

Gallagher's latest walkout from the volatile group is his third. The first was in 1994, when the band was scheduled to tour Japan and America following the release of its debut EP "Definitely Maybe"; he was persuaded to come back weeks later. The second was in 1995, when the band was recording its second album. That departure was prompted after Noel was "attacked" by a "drunken Liam," according to reports in the Mirror.