Oasis, Smashing Pumpkins Face Splits
By Stephen M. Silverman
09/14/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT
Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, 32, has quit the British group's world tour after bickering with brother Liam, 27, the BBC reports. Tuesday's concert in Paris was canceled, but the show will go on next Tuesday in Milan, with another guitarist picking up the slack for the elder Gallagher. In 1996, Noel quit the band's U.S. tour and for the band's taping of the MTV's "Uplugged," Liam refused to perform and left Noel to sing vocals. No reason for the recent rift has been announced, but it has been reported that Noel, who is now sober, is furious with Liam's continued shenanigans. An Oasis spokesperson said Noel was taking a leave only for the foreign concerts but was expected to be back with the group when it performs in the United Kingdom later this summer.
- In other rock news, rock band the Smashing Pumpkins will disband by the end of the year, singer/guitarist Billy Corgan, 33, announced on Los Angeles radio station KROQ yesterday. The group has been together for 11 years. "We felt that before we even started this album, we had come to the end of our, sort of, road -- emotionally, spiritually, musically," he explained on air.
