Pitchfork

Okay, we admit it. Upon first viewing the YouTube clip of Noel Gallagher getting knocked on his ass by an unnamed assailant during last night's Oasis set at the Virgin Festival, we LOL'd. Kind of a lot. Perhaps we even felt a smidgen of schadenfreude, too. But it would seem those reactions were a bit premature. According to a message just posted to their website, Oasis are taking the matter very seriously.

In addition to providing perspective on what happened, the Oasis statement reveals a couple significant details surrounding the incident: 1. Although Noel Gallagher returned to perform after getting knocked over, he was taken to a hospital following the show and examined for "a suspected fractured rib and ligament damage," and 2. The assailant was detained by police and "will be charged with assault."

UPDATE: According to the Toronto Star, the attacker is 47-year-old Daniel Sullivan.

What's more, presumably due to Noel's injuries, it's not clear yet whether Oasis will perform as scheduled in London, Ontario tomorrow night (September 9).

Here's that statement in full:

Oasis' Noel Gallagher was attacked by an unidentified man during the band's show in Toronto last night. While Noel and the band were performing "Morning Glory", the assailant ran on from the back of the stage and pushed Noel from behind, who fell heavily on to his monitor speakers.

Despite his injuries, Noel returned to the stage a few minutes later to complete the band's set but was taken to hospital after the show to be examined for a suspected fractured rib and ligament damage. The assailant was detained in police custody and will be charged with assault.

No decision has been made regarding Tuesday's concert in London, Ontario, but fans are urged to keep checking the band's web site Oasisinet.com and local media for updates.

As if all that weren't bad enough, NME.com reports that former Jam frontman Paul Weller was rumored to appear with Oasis at Virgin Festival to play his part in "Champagne Supernova", but that the assault incident dashed those plans.

Pitchfork also talked to Matt Bowman, frontman for UK press darlings and fellow Virgin Festival performers the Pigeon Detectives, who claims he was "just bang in front of Noel" when the attacker came at the elder Gallagher.

"It looked like [Noel] was in quite a lot of pain," according to Bowman. "It was pretty shit-cheap shot-- just from the back, and Noel didn't expect it coming. It certainly wiped him out."

Bowman described himself and his bandmates as being "literally dumbstruck" by the proceedings. "I mean, we had never seen anything like it...it put quite a damper on the mood."

Bowman also shared a rare Pigeon Detectives B-side with us. It's called "Get the Message" and it's available for download below.

Oasis:

09-09 London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
09-12 New York, NY - Terminal 5
09-27 Bodelva, England - Eden Project
10-07 Liverpool, England - Echo Arena
10-08 Liverpool, England - Echo Arena
10-10 Sheffield, England - Arena
10-11 Sheffield, England - Arena
10-13 Birmingham, England - NIA
10-14 Birmingham, England - NIA
10-16 London, England - Wembley Arena
10-17 London, England - Wembley Arena
10-20 Bournemouth, England - BIC
10-21 Bournemouth, England - BIC
10-23 Cardiff, Wales - International Arena
10-24 Cardiff, Wales - International Arena
10-29 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Odyssey Arena
10-30 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Odyssey Arena
11-01 Aberdeen, Scotland - Exhibition Centre
11-02 Aberdeen, Scotland - Exhibition Centre
11-04 Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
11-05 Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
11-26 Mexico City, Mexico - Sports Palace
11-28 Guadalajara, Mexico - VFG Arena
11-29 Monterrey, Mexico - Arena Monterrey