Man dies at Oasis gig in Wembley stadium after falling from upper tier of seating
Oasis dedicated Live Forever to “all the people who can’t be here tonight” during their Wembley Stadium gig on Sunday, after a fan fell to his death at the band’s concert on Saturday.
The touching moment came as the Manchester band brought to a close their first run of five gigs at the venue as part of their Live 25 tour.
A man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene at the stadium on Saturday after being “found with injuries consistent with a fall”.
Addressing fans on Sunday night after finishing Whatever, singer Liam Gallagher said: “This one’s for all the people who can’t be here tonight, but who are here if you know what I mean, and aren’t they looking lovely. Live Forever.”
The band then played the track of the same name.
The tribute came during a crowd-pleasing set packed with their biggest hits such as Cigarettes And Alcohol, Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back In Anger, with the group set to return to the national football stadium for two further dates in September.
Liam and Noel Gallagher arrived on stage hand-in-hand, opening with Hello, from their 1995 album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, prompting mass football terrace-style singalongs for an opening salvo of fan favourites that included Acquiesce, Some Might Say and Morning Glory.
Before Roll With It, Liam joked to the crowd that guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs wanted to sing Bonehead’s Bank Holiday, an album track from the original vinyl version of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
During 1994 standalone single Whatever, the band made a nod to their Beatles influence by including a snippet of Octopus’s Garden, from 1969’s Abbey Road album.
Before Half The World Away, Noel asked the crowd if there was anyone from Manchester in the crowd, receiving a number of boos. He replied: “None of you would be here if it wasn’t for the city of Manchester.”
The set climaxed with fireworks erupting over Wembley as the band played Champagne Supernova.
Before the final song, Liam told the crowd: “Nice one for putting up with us after all these years.”
The run of concerts has been the first time they have appeared together onstage at the London venue since July 12 2009, when they performed during the Dig Out Your Soul tour.
After the first part of their Wembley stint, the band will head to Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium followed by Dublin’s Croke Park.
The group will head to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America later in the year.
It’s thought the man plummeted from the upper tier on Saturday. It happened at about 10.20pm, and police say that officers on duty at the stadium went to his aid, as well as medics from the venue and the London Ambulance Service. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
An Oasis band statement said late on Sunday: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show last night. Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.”
The police statement said: "A man - aged in his 40s - was found with injuries consistent with a fall. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage.
"If you have any information that could help us to confirm what happened, please call 101."
The Daily Mail has reported an eye-witness saying: “It was horrendous. The guy fell from a balcony. Paramedics came rushing over. There was a lot of screaming and shouting. It was a big fall. God knows how it happened. It was so tragic. I don't know how on earth it happened. It was heartbreaking. He was only young.”
A spokesperson for Wembley Stadium said: “Wembley Stadium medics, the London Ambulance Service and the police attended to a concert-goer who was found with injuries consistent with a fall. Despite their efforts, the fan very sadly died. Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.
“The police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.”
Oasis have reformed this summer after 16 years, and so far have played shows in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and Manchester’s Heaton Park. Tonight is the last of the first five gigs at Wembley, before they move on to Edinburgh for three nights, returning to London in September.