As rock legend has it, Noel Gallagher's cherry red Gibson ES-355 guitar was damaged in a backstage fight with brother Liam Gallagher at Paris's Rock en Seine festival in August 2009 — and that pivotal blowout was the straw that broke Oasis's back, ultimately prompting the band's dissolution. The instrumental instrument, which was restored in 2011, has just sold at auction for over $400,000 USD [via The Guardian].
The historic — biblical, even — row took place towards the end of Oasis's year-long world tour in support of Dig Out Your Soul. Famously, though on the festival bill, the crowd was told that the band would not be appearing after a yelling match ensued backstage.
Among other things that got him sued, at a 2011 press conference, Noel accused Liam of picking up a plum and throwing it across the dressing room backstage that day. He reportedly went on to bring in the guitar and "started wielding it like an axe," violently swinging it around and nearly hitting Noel in the face. "It ended up on the floor," he said, "and I put it out of its misery."
Their manager went on to issue a statement that the Britpop outfit "does not exist anymore," with Noel later announcing his departure from the band, by virtue of being unable to continue working with his brother.
It was "a cult moment" in music history, according to Jonathan Berg, guitar expert and co-founder of the auction-holding Artpèges gallery in France's capital city.
"Things had been brewing for a while between the two brothers," Berg said. "It exploded backstage, one of Noel's guitars got broken and that led to the group breaking up." This particular Gibson ES-355 axe was played throughout that 2009 tour, as well as ironically having been featured in the music video for "Don't Look Back in Anger."
The guitar was restored in 2011 and became a staple in Noel's rotation with High Flying Birds. It was put up for auction with a certificate inscribed "Peace, love and bananas" by the musician — the same sign-off he used in a 2004 letter to NME about the future of Oasis.
As we reminisce on significant sibling squabbles, revisit the instrument's shining moment in the "Don't Look Back in Anger" video below.
The bickering British brothers have continued to be active in their solo musical pursuits (and on Twitter), with Noel recently getting high and writing a song about Moby-Dick for his new album and Liam's forthcoming LP C'MON YOU KNOW landing later this month.
The historic — biblical, even — row took place towards the end of Oasis's year-long world tour in support of Dig Out Your Soul. Famously, though on the festival bill, the crowd was told that the band would not be appearing after a yelling match ensued backstage.
Among other things that got him sued, at a 2011 press conference, Noel accused Liam of picking up a plum and throwing it across the dressing room backstage that day. He reportedly went on to bring in the guitar and "started wielding it like an axe," violently swinging it around and nearly hitting Noel in the face. "It ended up on the floor," he said, "and I put it out of its misery."
Their manager went on to issue a statement that the Britpop outfit "does not exist anymore," with Noel later announcing his departure from the band, by virtue of being unable to continue working with his brother.
It was "a cult moment" in music history, according to Jonathan Berg, guitar expert and co-founder of the auction-holding Artpèges gallery in France's capital city.
"Things had been brewing for a while between the two brothers," Berg said. "It exploded backstage, one of Noel's guitars got broken and that led to the group breaking up." This particular Gibson ES-355 axe was played throughout that 2009 tour, as well as ironically having been featured in the music video for "Don't Look Back in Anger."
The guitar was restored in 2011 and became a staple in Noel's rotation with High Flying Birds. It was put up for auction with a certificate inscribed "Peace, love and bananas" by the musician — the same sign-off he used in a 2004 letter to NME about the future of Oasis.
As we reminisce on significant sibling squabbles, revisit the instrument's shining moment in the "Don't Look Back in Anger" video below.
The bickering British brothers have continued to be active in their solo musical pursuits (and on Twitter), with Noel recently getting high and writing a song about Moby-Dick for his new album and Liam's forthcoming LP C'MON YOU KNOW landing later this month.