Liam Gallagher hit out after reports council leaders said their supporters were “drunk”, “fat” and “old” ahead of their Scottish shows this week. But Edinburgh’s Council leader Jane Meagher said “at no point” did council leaders “use any of the language quoted”.
A council boss said Liam Gallagher had “every right” to Look Back In Anger after hearing jibes about Oasis fans. The musician hit out after claims officials in Edinburgh labelled the band’s supporters “drunk”, “fat” and “old” in safety briefings.
Reports warned many of the 200,000 fans attending three reunion shows at Murrayfield Stadium were “rowdy”, “middle-aged men” who “take up more room” and will drink to “medium to high intoxication”. But Edinburgh’s Council leader Jane Meagher has hit back and said that “at no point” did council leaders “use any of the language quoted”.
This week a fuming Liam branded them “slags” and demanded an apology on stage. He said: “£3bn we’ve brought into this city over the past five days. And that’s between you and us. You won’t see f*** all, because they’ll rob it and spread it among their posh ugly mates.”
But Cllr Meagher said: “I think Liam Gallagher had every right to be annoyed by what he read – I would be too. But to be absolutely clear, at no point did Council officers use any of the language quoted and I’m frustrated that we’re discussing this instead of focusing on the huge success of the concerts.
“We were delighted to welcome the band and their fans to the city and will happily do so again. Our staff – many of whom are Oasis fans themselves – have worked day and night to help make the concerts the success that they were, and, judging by the feedback I’ve received, has been greatly appreciated by concert-goers and residents.
“I’d like to thank all those who attended the shows for their consideration and respect for one another, and for all those living in the area, helping to make this the fun and enjoyable experience that it was. It’s clear that the many thousands of people who flocked to Murrayfield to catch Oasis’s spectacular and highly anticipated reunion shows had a great time – and I want to congratulate the band on their triumphant return to the city.”
The council briefing documents in June reportedly showed officials warning that “middle-aged men take up more room, consider this when working out occupancy” and detailed “concern about crowds of Oasis on weekends as they are already rowdy and the tone of the band”. One document also suggested there would be “medium to high intoxication” at the concert, and to expect a “substantial amount of older fans”, but added there had been “minimal arrests” at recent events involving either of the Gallagher brothers.
