Noel Gallagher last night quit the rock band Oasis claiming on the band�s website he could not go on working with brother Liam �a day longer.� The news came after the brothers reportedly had a fight backstage just before the Rock-en-Seine festival near Paris was due to begin last night.

Noel Gallagher last night quit the rock band Oasis claiming on the band's website he could not go on working with brother Liam "a day longer."

The news came after the brothers reportedly had a fight backstage just before the Rock-en-Seine festival near Paris was due to begin last night.

The band's European tour was cancelled and it was claimed the band did "not exist anymore" while bemused fans were told to await a full statement from Gallagher.

Shortly after 11pm, the star broke his silence. He wrote: "It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight. People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."

The band has been dogged by rumours of fights between the brothers and speculation denied by publicists that Noel planned a solo career.

Liam Gallagher had denied the rumours in an expletive filled denial at a gig at Wembley Stadium on July 11. He said then: "Let me tell you now, we're not splitting up."

The band, which formed in 1991, got their big break in May 1993 when they were talented spotted at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow by Alan McGee. It was claimed they were refused entry to the club, because they were not down to play a gig, but were eventually allowed in were signed to McGee's Creation Records four days later.

Definitely Maybe, the debut album, went straight to number one in September 1994, and the following April they had their first number one single, with Some Might Say. It led to a battle of the Britpop bands with rivals Blur for the coveted spot. Blur and Oasis released new singles on the same day, setting up that summer with Country House outsold Oasis's Roll with It.

But the Gallaghers' hard living reputation didn't stop them being invited to a Downing Street party by then Prime Minister by Tony Blair after his 1997 election victory.

Oasis fans tonight took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express their sadness.

PsychedelicAdam posted: "Noel Gallagher leaves Oasis? Gutted, no more Oasis then I guess, they were one of my favourite bands."