Liam Gallagher Hits Back at Shocking Council Accusations—What Was Really Said About His Fans?

Ever notice how the mere mention of Oasis brings out the philosopher in all of us—or at the very least, a pint and a spirited debate about the best Britpop bangers? Well, here’s one for the books: as excitement for Oasis’s much-hyped reunion tour hits fever pitch (seriously, people are dusting off parkas and prepping their vocal cords for “Wonderwall” as we speak), the legendary Liam Gallagher found himself defending the band’s loyal followers from a rather backhanded swipe by Edinburgh Council—who, with all the subtlety of a flying tambourine at a rowdy gig, allegedly labeled Oasis fans as “fat, drunk and lairy.”

Really, have we reached the point where going to see your favorite band live triggers a citywide BMI panic? Talk about adding a few extra pounds to the weight of expectations. Anyway, Liam’s never been one to hold his tongue—especially on Twitter—and watching him wade into this kerfuffle feels like a British rock soap opera scripted by social media strategists. As ticket issues rage and the city gears up for the sonic onslaught, one can’t help but wonder: is this all just a prelude to the most memorable encore in Scottish concert history—or just another day in the chaotic symphony of the internet age? Grab your popcorn—this is bound to get interesting. LEARN MORE

Liam Gallagher has taken to social media to defend his fans after a local council allegedly described Oasis fans as ‘fat, drunk and lairy’.

Excitement is building ahead of this summer’s Oasis tour, which sees Liam and Noel finally reunite on stage.

Liam has long had a big presence on social media, in particular Twitter, and took to the site earlier this year to reassure fans who questioned ticket prices, after the length of the set list was revealed.

Although ticket issues have proven to be the biggest talking point since the reunion tour was first confirmed, Edinburgh Council officials have now landed themselves in hot water after some of their alleged comments ahead of the performance at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in August.

A freedom of information request to the council revealed that the local authority is ‘concerned about the safety of the Fringe and its performers. Many performers are considering not attending for that weekend. There is concern about crowds… as they are already rowdy… and the tone of the band.’

One of Oasis’ last performances in 2009 (Gie Knaeps/Getty Images)

There was also seemingly a dig at the weight of anyone attending, which read: “Middle-aged men take up more room. Consider this when working out occupancy.”

Gallagher quickly got wind of it and was keen to defend his fans, writing on Twitter: “To the Edinburgh council I’ve heard what you said about OASIS fans and quite frankly your attitude f*****g stinks I’d leave town that day if I was any of you lot.”

And now, the council has now responded to the backlash.

In a statement to LADbible, Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Margaret Graham, said: “We’re very proud to host the biggest and best events in Edinburgh throughout the year, which bring in hundreds of millions of pounds to the local economy and provide unparalleled entertainment for our residents and visitors.

Liam Gallagher was quick to defend his fans (Simone Joyner/Getty Images)

“As with any major event which takes place in the city, we prepare extensively alongside our partners to ensure the safety and best possible experience of everyone involved – and Oasis are no different. No two events are the same in terms of requirements or planning and our multi-agency approach reflects this appropriately.

“We’re also working closely with residents in the local area to make sure these concerts pass off as smoothly as possible. Over the past few years, we’ve hosted many similar events and managed to strike the right balance between communicating well with residents and fulfilling the needs of major events and I have no doubt we can do so once again. We always look to learn lessons from previous years to update and improve on our plans.

“We’re all looking forward to seeing Oasis take to the stage this August and I’m sure that they’ll ‘live forever’ as some of the most memorable concerts ever performed at Murrayfield.”