Oasis pay heartfelt tribute to pal Ricky Hatton at London Wembley reunion gig

Ricky was a huge Manchester City fan and when fellow Blues played Live Forever Noel Gallagher was seen turning to look at the screen as the final bars of the Britpop hit played out

Oasis paid an emotional tribute to their pal Ricky Hatton as they returned to London’s Wembley Stadium by projecting his image onto screens behind them as they performed.

The band’s salute to The Hitman, who died earlier this month aged 46, took place on Saturday when they played Live Forever. Guitarist Noel Gallagher was seen turning to look at the screen as the final bars of the Britpop hit played out.

It comes after Noel paid tribute to fellow Mancunian Ricky, who was a huge Oasis fan, in the aftermath of his death, saying he was a “lovely, lovely lad”. He added: “One of the lads. He was one of us.”

The Don’t Look Back In Anger hitmaker explained he saw the late boxer at the band’s reunion gigs in Heaton park gigs in Manchester earlier this year and he “was on standard Ricky form”. He said: “He was wisecracking with everyone, he was having a drink, he was great.”

The band’s nod to the late former world boxing champion comes after it made similar tributes to late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and Liverpool star Diogo Jota during the same song at previous gigs on their world reunion tour this summer.

The boxer, who was also a Manchester City fan, spoke about his love of the club and the band in 2009, saying: “I have always been a massive Oasis fan. After my family, boxing and City the other passion in my life is Oasis.”

In November 2008, Liam and Noel accompanied Ricky into the ring to carry his championship belts before his victory over Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas. In January Ricky fondly discussed his friendship with the Gallagher brothers and his victory over Juan Lazcano to retain his IBO and The Ring light welterweight titles at City’s ground.

He said: “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a boxing world champion, support Man City and listen to Oasis. But I became a four-time world champion in two weight classes, ended up boxing at the Etihad Stadium (Manchester City’s ground) in front of 55,000 people, and became mates with Noel and Liam Gallagher over the years.”

The Daily Star and the Manchester Evening News have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for suicide prevention charities Andy’s Man Club and Calm which Ricky supported.