May 5, 2000 – Liam Gallagher took time out from Oasis's current tour of America to pay tribute to tragic rocker Ian Dury.

Liam visited Bar Noir in Philadelphia and gave an impromptu poetry performance in memory of the "hit me with your rhythm stick" singer, who died of cancer March 27.

Liam and the band's drummer Alan White interrupted the freestyling band playing in the bar to ask if they could perform the verse as a way of saying thank you to Dury.

Bar Noir band booker Tim Bowen says, "It was really touching to see Liam on stage paying tribute like that. He spoke well of Ian and just wanted to pay tribute.

"Then he sang a made-up song about a blue hat. I'm not sure about the significance, but it was really cool.

"Both Liam and Alan were surprisingly well behaved and stayed here until 4am listening to the freestyling, the music and the poetry.

"In the end we had to kick them out because they wouldn't leave, they were enjoying themselves so much."

Oasis have promised to perform in the tiny bar in Philadelphia for free – because they love the atmosphere there so much.

Now they've begged the owners to let them come back with the rest of their band in the autumn.

Tim Bowen, band booker of the underground music bar, says, "They were really wonderful and Alan asked if when they come back to Philly in September, Oasis could perform here.

"I said that we give bands one hundred dollars for a gig, but he said they wanted to do it for free.

"This bar is tiny, so not many people will be able to watch it, but we can't wait for them to come back, they seem really excited about it."