The Sweetest Pea

LAST night Liam Gallagher of controversial chart-toppers Oasis gave me his explanation of the news which disappointed many Manchester fans -- that the rockers from Burnage have pulled out of their huge gig supporting REM at the Alfred McAlpine stadium at Huddersfield, tonight and tomorrow. The heart-throb with attitude, who fronts the meteoric Manchester band, has already taken by storm open air festivals at Glastonbury, Scotland's Irving Beach, and Roskilde in Denmark this summer. And last night he was at the Hacienda club for the launch of Anthony Wilson's new record label, Factory Too. Saturday's line-up seemed an exciting prospect, but Liam cited recording commitments as the reason for the Manchester combo's late pull-out. "We've just got to do our own thing," said Liam. "We have to write some more songs for our new album." Yet the album, the eagerly-awaited follow-up to their runaway debut, was officially announced as being finished two weeks ago. The band recently turned down the chance to tour with the rock legend David Bowie, reportedly calling "an old git". There were no hard feelings last night from Liam's Hacienda hosts, who also run the Dry bar -- from which he was ejected after a fracas in March in which he was punched on the hooter. In the club, Liam chatted politely with fans, and generally behaved like the pussycat he really is. Now the Premier League has given the green light to 30-year-old Tony's idea, which becomes reality from August 18, the day before the new season begins. "Football fans around the world, for the price of a local phone call, can read match programmes, hear interviews with the players, and buy tickets and merchandising -- and could even be able to view match highlights," says Tony. Sponsorship of the various club's Internet "sites" will provide this revenue. Tony says that 8,000 Internet "surfers" have already accessed his web site in one week -- before it has gone officially on-line. Premier League spokeswoman Deborah Bailey confirms that the soccer body has given Tony's company the go-ahead to set up Internet sites for individual clubs. Tony, from Shaw Heath, Stockport, comes to prominence as the spokesman for the Forward With Franny campaign, in which fans backed the explayers bid to take over the club. Tony is also a pal of chart-topping rockers Oasis, and has organized a photo-shoot of the lads in City's new kit. He tells me that Noel Gallagher of City fans Oasis reported hundreds of Japanese girls wearing City shirts at the band's sell-out shows in the far east. The mind boggles…

THE Government's Divorce Referendum was given a welcome boost last week with the news that Bob Geldof has lost two stone since his separation from Paula Yates. This link between weight loss and marital breakdown should prove a strong selling point for John Bruton. While Bob has been wallowing in self (aided) pity at the loss of his loved one Paula to Michael Hutchence, the fourth player in the eternal quadrangle has eschewed the sympathy vote in favour of that infinitely more satisfying stalwart…revenge. The girl after my own heart is Hutchence's old flame, Supermodel Helena Christiansen. Helena is a devious diva from whom Bob could learn that getting sympathy is nothing compared to getting even. The catwalk queen has hit her rival where it hurts most -- in the libido. Before pointing her implants in Michael Hutchence's direction, it seems Paula had a massive but unrequited crush on wild rock star Liam Gallagher of Oasis fame. Paula spent ages trailing the band and batting the baby blues in Liam's direction, to no avail, before giving up the ghost. Now the ghost is back to haunt her, dangling on the arm of -- you guessed it -- Helena Christiansen. If revenge is sweet, Helena must have cornered the whole market in saccharine. She and Liam were inseparable at the Paris couture shows. When not backstage giving hands-on help in her dressing room, Liam was seated in the front row drooling at his darling. No doubt Helena will repay the compliment toady when Oasis take the stage at Slane as the warm-up for REM. Paula has to realise that you can't lay all the ghosts.

BANTERING brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher of Manchester band Oasis have been recorded disagreeing on the set list between songs...on an official live CD which has surfaced in London record shops. Oasis Live was released by Epic Records in America and features an entire set by the band from the Chicago Cabaret Metro Theatre last October.