True Tale Revealed Behind Gig ‘Attack’ On Noel Gallagher

It was a notorious gig riot, supposedly sparked by a punter who threw a punch at Noel Gallagher.

Yet today the Sunday Sun can reveal what really happened at that 1994 Oasis gig at the Riverside... Noel smacked himself in the face with a very expensive, borrowed guitar.

The revelation is made in Riverside: Newcastle’s Legendary Alternative Music Venue, a brand new book recounting its hedonistic history that was launched last night.
Whitley Bay publishers Tonto Books gave the Sunday Sun a sneak peek at the book, penned by Hazel Plater and Carl Taylor with help from former workers, fans and experts.

The Daily Mail headlines described Oasis’ August 9 1994 gig as ‘An Orgy of Violence’ and our sister paper other papers reported that Noel needed stitches.

Yet in the book, Riverside security man Mal Wallace claims any injuries Noel suffered were accidentally self-inflicted because the fan didn’t touch him.

Mal Wallace said: “The kid ran in behind me and clambered on stage. I turned and grabbed the trouser leg of his jeans. He started to fall towards the pillar on the stage where Noel Gallagher was standing. He put his hands up to grab the pillar and Noel Gallagher lifted the neck of his guitar as the kid was heading towards him and hit himself in the eye with the headstock of his own guitar! All hell broke loose.”

An industry insider claims the gig then ended immediately because Noel realised the guitar – a loaned 1960s Gibson Les Paul Custom – had been damaged.

The source said: “In the mid-90s it was worth a five-figure sum even without its music history. And it wasn’t his, it was Johnny Marr’s. And Johnny bought it from Pete Townshend. These days you could sell it and buy a couple of houses. “Noel freaked out so much when it was damaged that the show was over within moments.”

Riverside: Newcastle’s Legendary Alternative Music Venue is published by Tonto Books, priced £9.99 (paperback), £12.99 (hardback) and on sale at book stores and on www.tontobooks.co.uk

Source: www.sundaysun.co.uk