September 8, 2008 15:04

Eyewitnesses speak after Noel Gallagher V Festival attack

'Noel just fell to his knees, his guitar made a big thud'

Photo Gallery: Oasis

The man who attacked Oasis' Noel Gallagher during their performance at last night's (September 7) Canadian V Festival is alleged to have climbed up from under the stage, it has emerged.

As previously reported, the Oasis guitarist was pushed to the floor by an intruder while the band played 'Morning Glory' at the Toronto event.

Speaking to NME.COM, an eyewitness who was very close to the front while the band played, said there was no way the attacker could have been watching from the side of the stage.

"There weren't really any guests on the side of the stage, it looked like they closed the stage off," they explained. "Members of Stereophonics were watching on the left and the right was mainly crew. In fact, when the guy first appeared I thought he was a guitar tech."

The fan explained that Noel was caught entirely by surprise.

"Noel was soloing when the guy bounded over to him and pushed him in the back. He just fell to his knees and dropped his guitar which made a big thud on the PA. The guy then tried to take a swipe at Liam Galllagher before Oasis' security grappled the man and pulled him away."

After a pause of around eight minutes, the Manchester band returned to the stage to finish the song, with the eyewitness explaining that the incident not only ruined the gig, but had clearly affected Oasis' leader.

"It really knocked the momentum out of the show, and looking at Noel you could tell he was really pissed off. Initially when they came back on Liam tried to grab the microphone and say something, but Noel went over to him and told him to get on with the gig. He just finished the show like a pro, but you could see from his body language the incident had really shook him up.

"They ended with 'I Am The Walrus' but Noel didn't even finish the song. Normally he's the last off the stage, but towards the end he just put down his guitar and walked off the stage leaving Liam to say the thank yous."

According to the fan, Noel was not alone in being upset by the incident.

"The Youtube footage (see below) doesn't really convey how shocked everyone there was," they explained. "People were just asking each other in disbelief 'did Oasis just get attacked onstage?'. People were just genuinely shocked by it."

Oasis' spokesperson later confirmed that the guitarist "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."

Meanwhile, Nathan Rosenberg, chief marketing officer for Virgin, told Canoe Jam! Music after the incident that "[Oasis] understand sometimes these things happen."

Were you at the gig? Send your eyewitness accounts, pictures and video footage to news@nme.com now.