Liam Gallagher to give profits from Manchester solo gig to attack victims

Liam Gallagher has said he will donate profits from his Manchester gig to the families of victims of the terror attack on the city.

Announcing his first solo tour, the former Oasis singer revealed a string of shows, with the first taking place at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on Tuesday (30 May)

The money raised will be donated to the Manchester Evening News' British Red Cross appeal, set up to help relatives of those affected by the tragedy.

"I just knew I had to. I'm not in it for the money," Gallagher told the Manchester paper.

"The gig was going to happen anyway and we all have to do what we can.

"I want to try and help pick people up. People like me, doing what we do, it's our duty to give people a good time."

In an interview to Sky News, Manchester punk rocker John Robb said he thought Gallagher's decision was "a really nice gesture".

"I know he's got a new album but it's still pretty cool that he's done this," he said.

"I know he doesn't live up here anymore, but if you live here even if you go somewhere else you're still very much part of it. And this is how Mancunians took the whole thing as a direct affront to them."

:: LIVE: Updates from the Manchester terror attack

Tweeting the morning after the attack, Gallagher said: "In total shock and absolutely devastated about what's gone down in MANCHESTER sending Love and Light to all the family's involved LG x."

Gallagher has also told the NME he will play Oasis songs at the first gig.

"Straight away. Some at the beginning, some in the middle and some at the end," he said.

His first solo album, As You Were, will be released in October and Gallagher has teamed up with Adele's producer to write his new songs.

"It is what it is, mate," he told the Evening Standard, when asked about getting Greg Kurstin to write his material.

"Ideally, you want to do it yourself, but I can't write those f****** big songs. I'm limited," he said

"I didn't write Live Forever but as soon as I sang it, I made it my own.

"I class myself as a rock'n'roll singer who writes the odd tune now and again. And that is it. I'm not going out saying I'm Bob Dylan."

Gallagher's first solo jaunt also takes in shows in Dublin, London and Glasgow.