Pickering man guilty in attack on Oasis front man

Daniel Sullivan doesn't remember how he got backstage.

But the Pickering man, 48, admits he was drunk when he barrelled across the Toronto Island stage and shoved British rock star Noel Gallagher into a speaker, breaking three of the Oasis songwriter's ribs.

On Friday Mr. Sullivan pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm for the September 2008 attack, which was captured on video by several fans and has garnered worldwide attention on the Internet.

At the concert, the band had launched into its 1995 hit "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" when Sullivan sneaked by stage security, skipped over the electric cords and passed the drum kit to charge into the guitarist from behind.

He then turned and lunged at Mr. Gallagher's younger brother, singer Liam, but was tackled by three security guards.

The crowd of 25,000 cheered when the singer jabbed and kicked Sullivan while security dragged him offstage. He continued to struggle and scream as police arrested him backstage, court was told.

"(Mr. Sullivan) was intoxicated at the time. He doesn't remember how he got there," Crown attorney Ruth Kleinhenz said outside the courtroom.

Mr. Sullivan only recalls trying to climb over a fence before falling on his back, according to an agreed statement of facts.

The judge ordered a pre-sentence report for Mr. Sullivan to determine whether there are any extenuating circumstances that should affect his Feb. 5 sentencing.

In the moments after the tackle, the band stood stunned and Mr. Gallagher's guitar rang with feedback. Mr. Gallagher walked offstage, where he stayed for several minutes before returning to perform the last 20 minutes of the set.

The next day, he went to Toronto General Hospital for X-rays, where a doctor recommended he rest. He was reassessed two days later and told to cancel all performances until he was better.

The band cancelled five gigs.

The assault has earned Mr. Sullivan some minor fame online, where people have applauded his attack on the Gallagher brothers, who are often criticized as being arrogant, brutish and childish. The group disbanded in August after the siblings fought following a show in Paris.

One Facebook page calls for Mr. Sullivan to be crowned king of England.

"A true hero," one commenter posted. "I'd of (sic) finished the job though by smacking his loud mouthed pikey brother in the chops, you know, just for good measure."

The Crown initially charged Mr. Sullivan with aggravated assault because Mr. Gallagher suffered broken bones. However, Mr. Kleinhenz said they settled on the lesser offence of assault causing bodily harm because they "felt it was the appropriate charge."

Jesse McLean is a reporter with the Toronto Star