Oasis Noel quits tour

Noel's walkout follows reports of friction with Liam (left)

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has walked out of the group's world tour, amid reports of a row with his brother Liam.

The group have cancelled a concert planned for Tuesday night in Paris, but are planning to continue the tour from next week with a replacement guitarist, Matt Deighton.

Noel is still planning to perform with the band for dates in the UK later this summer.

Noel's departure leaves Liam to lead the band

A spokesman said: "Matt and [existing guitarist] Gem Archer will share the guitar playing in the band.

"Unfortunately, working in the new guitarist will mean losing some of the French shows, but we're confident we'll hit the ground running with a great live show in Milan on 30 May."

Tuesday's edition of British tabloid The Mirror reported that Noel, 32, had walked out of the group because he was unhappy about brother Liam's behaviour.

The band show off their new line-up in autumn 1999

On Sunday, the group were due to play a concert at the Palacio de la Comunidad, Barcelona, but this was cancelled, with the band's management telling reporters that drummer Alan White was suffering from swollen tendons.

Oasis have been on tour since February, playing in the Far East and continental Europe. They have also spent more than a month playing in the US.

Since the group shot to fame in 1994, Noel and Liam, 27, have been notorious for their feuding.

In 1996, Noel walked out of the band after a row on their US tour after a row, flying back to the UK.

Singer Liam also missed a live performance for MTV in London, leaving Noel to fill in on vocals.

Last year, original members Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs and Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan left the group, saying they wanted to spend more time with their families.

September 1996: Noel Gallagher returns to London after walking out of a US tour

They were replaced by bassist Andy Bell - formerly of indie band Ride - and guitarist Gem Archer, of the group Heavy Stereo.

Stand-in guitarist Deighton has recently performed with former Jam frontman Paul Weller and the little-known band Mother Earth.

Oasis' UK dates include shows at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, Wembley Stadium in London and Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh in July.

They will also play festivals at Reading, Leeds and Glasgow at the end of August.

Gem Archer (right) will share some of Noel's guitar work with Matt Deighton

But as the group's songwriter and senior figure, Noel's decision to stay at home while the band are away from home will renew speculation about the future of Oasis.

Their first single in two years, Go Let It Out, went straight to number one in February, but this is no longer a rare achievement in the UK charts.

Standing On The Shoulder of Giants sold strongly when it was released three weeks later, and was, until last week, the second-biggest selling album of the year, behind Travis - a former Oasis support act.

But now it has been overtaken by Play, from US musician Moby - which was released many months earlier.

Asked about the reasons behind Noel's departure, the spokesman said: "There's nothing more to say."