Gallagher defends under-fire comedian Brand

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has leaped to the defence of controversial MTV Video Music Award host Russell Brand, accusing his American critics of having double standards.

Brand attacked US president George Bush during his stint onstage at the Los Angeles bash, prompting outrage from viewers - many of whom had never heard of the British funnyman.

Gallagher - a regular guest on Brand's BBC radio show - insists the coiffured comedian was wasted on his critics.

He writes on the band's website blog: "Russell's caused a mild s**t-storm over here at the MTV awards. There was a phone-in on CNN. Some woman called in saying as an American she didn't like a British guy coming over here, insulting her commander-in-chief!!

"If Chris Rock, for example, says that kind of thing everybody laughs because they think they should, but if it's a man who's dressed up like a vampire's lamp-shade? Well? He was wasted on the shower of God-fearing, corporate hot-dogs anyway."