Noel Gallagher faces backlash from fans for announcing former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan as his High Flying Birds tour support act

Noel Gallagher has faced backlash from fans after announcing former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan is to join him on his arena tour.

Singer Tom, 42, was sacked from his band after he was convicted of attacking his now wife Vikki Ager in 2020.

And High Flying Birds frontman Noel, 56, has come under fire from ticket-holders to his upcoming gigs, with some devotees insisting they would no longer be going to the concerts if Tom was the support act.

Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: ‘Put my ticket up for sale! Tom Meighan is absolutely despicable & disappointed Noel would have someone like him as his support.’

Another shocked fan remarked: ‘What on earth is he doing having Tom Meighan as his support?’

Controversial? Noel Gallagher, 56, has faced backlash from fans after announcing former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan, 42, is to join him on his arena tour (Noel pictured last week)

Troubles: Singer Tom was sacked from his band after he was convicted of attacking his now wife Vikki Ager in 2020 (Tom pictured last week)

Someone else posted: ‘Noel Gallagher loves picking problematic supports. Primal Scream and now Tom Meighan.’

‘That scumbag Tom Meighan being able to just walk straight back into being a pretty successful musician after what he did is f***ing sick,’ exclaimed another person, while someone else tweeted: ‘Tom Meighan… Noel really is a k**b. Boring tunes as well.’

Despite troubles in his personal life, Tom has achieved success in the music industry having had six number one albums and four top 10 singles with Kasabian.

A source told The Sun: ‘Noel taking on Tom is a big deal and it has got a lot of people talking.

‘Liam is incredibly close pals with Serge, who openly dismissed his relationship with Tom after he assaulted Vicki.

‘Some have said it feels like Noel’s decision to get Tom on board could be taken as a slight towards Liam.

‘It’s not gone down well with a lot of fans but there are people out there who have forgiven Tom and want to move on.

‘Noel would have known there would be a backlash but he’s clearly standing his ground.’

The end: Prior to his court appearance, Kasabian put out a statement on their Facebook page saying Tom was leaving due to ‘personal issues’ (L-R band members Ian Matthews, Sergio Pizzorno, Tom Meighan and Chris Edwards pictured in 2019)

Views: Some of Noel’s devotees insisted they would no longer be going to the concerts if Tom was the support act

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Noel and Tom for comment.

Tom pleaded guilty to beating Vikki in their back garden on April 9 2020. A judge sentenced him to 200 hours unpaid work, after hearing his then ‘girlfriend wanted him back’.

Tom married his partner Vikki in 2021, one year after pleading guilty to attacking her.

The couple tied the knot at Harbourgh Registry Office in Leicester in July 2021 and released a statement reading: ‘Tom has worked so hard on himself, his health, family unit and his relationship with Vicki over the past year.’

Prior to his court appearance, Kasabian put out a statement on their Facebook page saying Tom was leaving due to ‘personal issues’ and saying they would ‘not be commenting further’.

They later said they had ‘no choice’ but to ask him to leave and branded the incident ‘totally unacceptable’. They also accused him of ‘misleading fans’ in his statement.

Proving to have worked on their relationship, the couple tied the knot with the full statement reading: ‘We are pleased to share the news that on Tuesday the 13th July 2021, Tom Meighan and Vikki Ager were married at Market Harbourgh Registry Office, Leicester.

‘It was an intimate affair, in accordance with the latest Covid-19 guidelines, with the couple becoming husband and wife surrounded by their children, family and a few close friends.

Forgiven: In 2021, Tom married his partner Vikki Ager, one year after pleading guilty to attacking her

‘Tom has worked so hard on himself, his health, family unit and his relationship with Vicki over the past year. They are very much in love and looking forward to sharing the rest of their lives together’.

Noel has previously spoken out about the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his violent, alcoholic father.

The star developed a stammer as a result of the beatings he got from his Irish father Thomas, and said he doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes which scarred his ‘horrific’ childhood.

The pair have reportedly not spoken in more than two decades. 

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