Oasis stars hurt in crash

The rock star Noel Gallagher suffered cuts and heavy bruising after he and two other members of Oasis were in a head-on car smash in the US.

The band's touring keyboard player Jay Darlington was left with an injury to his hand which had to be strapped up. Bass player Andy Bell was also hurt.

All three were taken to hospital by ambulance yesterday after their taxi, travelling to a show, collided head-on with another vehicle in Indianapolis.

The trio were treated for shock, cuts and bruises after the accident in the city.

Darlington - formerly of chart act Kula Shaker - has been told to return to hospital today for further treatment.

Noel, whose brother Liam was not in the taxi, was in the front seat of the car, and suffered "heavy facial bruising and seat belt cuts", a statement said.

The band's show at the city's Murat Theater had to be postponed because none of the injured members felt well enough to perform.

They have now been ordered by doctors to rest for 48 hours to let medication take effect.

A spokeswoman for the band said: "Everyone seems to be absolutely fine. Jay has got his hand strapped up but they don't think it is anything very serious. It's possibly something to do with the ligament.

"It was quite a big collision but the taxi did have air bags which cushioned the impact. But we understand they are all fine.

"It happened before a show so obviously that had to be cancelled. We have no other information about the accident at the moment."

Gallagher's mother Peggy said: "Thank God they are all right.

"Noel was taken to hospital, he was suffering from whiplash, but they are all fine.

"Noel was a bit shaken up because he has got seat belt bruises but thank God he was wearing a seat belt.

"Liam was not with them, I assume he was probably in bed."

Peggy, speaking from her home in Burnage, Manchester, said she heard about the crash this morning.

"I was making a cup of tea and it came up on the television."

The accident is the latest setback for the band in the US. They have failed to repeat the success they have achieved at home, although they did make strides last year on a co-headline tour with the Black Crowes.

A US tour in 1996 had to be scrapped after Noel temporarily walked out of the band after a bust-up with Liam.

There had been setbacks even before the band began the tour in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.

Noel lost his passport and it was only the speed of the US Embassy in getting him a new working visa on his spare document which allowed him to travel out on time.

Then Liam's voice gave out just four songs into the first show. Noel had to step in to sing the two-hour set to the 3,000-strong crowd at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater.

The voice problems were thought to be a result of the long flight to Florida.