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We Are Manchester: Tearful Noel Gallagher reopens Manchester Arena, performs 'Don't Look Back in Anger'

Liam Gallagher called his brother's appearance a 'PR stunt'

Jack Shepherd
Sunday 10 September 2017 09:35 BST
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Noel Gallagher sheds a tear while performing headlining the 'We Are Manchester' benefit concert at Manchester Arena on September 9, 2017
Noel Gallagher sheds a tear while performing headlining the 'We Are Manchester' benefit concert at Manchester Arena on September 9, 2017 (Getty)

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Noel Gallagher was in tears playing the first Manchester Arena concert since 22 people were killed during a terror attack in May at the venue.

The former Oasis member headlined the We Are Manchester benefit concert, raising money for those affected by the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert.

For the special occasion, Gallagher played some of Oasis’s biggest hits, including ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Half the World Away’, and ’Champagne Supernova’.

To finish the eight-song set, the singer performed ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, a track that has been sung countless times by the people of Manchester in remembrance of those who died.

“Every time you sing, we win,” Gallagher told the audience. “So sing like you've never sang before.”

Video has since emerged online of the 14,000-strong crowd singing back the anthem — leading to Gallagher tearing up — which you can watch below.

Noel’s brother and former bandmate, Liam Gallagher, has since criticised the performance, writing on Twitter: “NG broke down in tears cmon you seriously ain't buying that he doesn't give a f**k”

He continued in another post: “Don't buy into his PR stunt he doesn't give a f**k if the same thing had have gone of in Edinburgh he'd been up there like a shot ahem.”

Liam previously played the One Love Manchester concert in June, calling out Noel after the performance.

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“Manchester id like to apologise for my brothers absence last night very disappointed,” he wrote on Twitter at the time. “Noels out of the f**king country weren't we all love get on a fucking plane and play your tunes for the kids you sad f**k.”

All profits from the We Are Manchester concert — which was hosted by comedian Russell Kane — went towards establishing a permanent memorial to the victims, which will be built by the new Manchester Memorial Fund.

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