Oasis star sacked by band

OASIS drummer Alan White has been sacked in a shock move by the band.

White has been with the group since 1995.

It is not known officially why he has been suddenly dumped by his fellow band members, but there have reportedly been claims by the rest of Oasis - Noel and Liam Gallagher, Andy Bell and Gem Archer - that he has not been pulling his weight.

Earlier this week, a national newspaper reported that he had been suffering from a bout of tendonitis, a painful condition that occurs when the finger tendons are strained, but the band remain tip-lipped on the subject.

Oasis have stunned fans by saying that White will not be replaced by another drummer, fuelling rumours about the type of music to be featured on their next studio album, being made with techno-dub duo Richard Fearless and Steve Hillier, from Death in Las Vegas.

And there are hints that Noel might do some drumming as well as singing.

It is not the first time that the Manchester band have sacked their drummer.

Original band member Tony McCarroll was ousted following the band's debut hit album Definitely Maybe.

At the time, White was auditioning with a band on Creation records and he was recommended to Noel Gallagher after McCarroll was sacked.

Days later, White was signed by the Gallaghers in a Camden pub and he played on Top Of The Pops for the first time shortly afterwards.

The Gallagher brothers are the only original members left in the line-up, as bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs left in 1999.

A spokesman for the band said: "Alan White has been asked to leave by the other band members. There are no plans to replace Alan.

"The band's recording schedule remains unaffected - they are currently about to record another album working with Death in Las Vegas."