Noel Gallagher Quits Oasis

Lead guitarist and songwriter of Oasis, Noel Gallagher, has quit the band, according to a statement he posted Friday on the band's Web site, Reuters reports.

The announcement was posted shortly after the last-minute cancellation of Oasis's scheduled performance, Friday, at the Rock En Seine festival in Paris.

"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight," Gallagher wrote. "People will write and say what they like but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."

Liam Gallagher, Noel's brother and Oasis lead singer/guitarist, founded the band in 1991 with Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCaroll before Noel joined shortly thereafter, taking over as Oasis's lead songwriter.

The Gallagher brothers have remained in the band the longest. The other current members are guitarist/keyboardist Colin Archer, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Chris Sharrock.

Oasis has now cancelled performances scheduled for Saturday at the Rock Am See Festival in Konstanz, Germany and Sunday at the I-Day Festival in Milan, Italy.

The British band's most recent album, "Dig Out Your Soul," peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in October.