Oasis abandon show again

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ODEMIRA, Portugal -- British band Oasis walked off stage for the second time in two weeks after drummer Alan White was hit in the shoulder by a rock.

White was hit by a sharp stone despite an earlier warning by singer Liam Gallagher to the 35,000-strong crowd at the Sudvest Festival, in southern Portugal, not to throw objects.

The incident is the latest on the band's European tour, which has been dogged by controversy.

The band's publicists, Hall or Nothing, blamed the incident on "a small group of idiots."

"Had the rock hit Alan in the face he could have been seriously hurt. This kind of behaviour is utterly deplorable," the company said in a statement.

"It seems that this thuggish activity has been in a way encouraged by press reports in the past that have criticised the band for leaving the stage instead of condemning the behaviour of these dangerous hooligans."

Oasis were criticised by the organisers of a Swiss music festival after they stormed off the stage on July 26, claiming they had been pelted with bottles, cans and coins.

On that occasion, White was again hit, as was Liam Gallagher.

The organisers of the Paleo Festival, in Nyon, who denied that empty plastic bottles and water balloons came anywhere near the musicians, accused Gallagher's "arrogant and provocative attitude" for antagonising the crowd.

The latest incident involving Oasis comes after Gallagher's song-writing and guitar-playing brother Noel refused to play concerts outside Britain and Ireland after a reported punch-up between the long-battling siblings.

Earlier this month, an Oasis fan was seriously injured before one of the band's concerts in Scotland. The 17-year-old, from Glasgow, was attacked by up to 15 people.

The band's European tour has continued despite the announcement, last month, that Liam Gallagher's marriage to actress Patsy Kensit had collapsed. The couple have one son, Lennon Francis.

The band's remaining dates of the tour are the Sziget Fest, Hungary (August 8), Gijon Festival, Spain (August 23), Reading Festival, UK (August 25), Glasgow Green Festival, UK (August 26) and Leeds Festival, UK (August 28).

Reuters contributed to this report.

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