Noel, Wife Speak Out on Split

September 7 -- Following the disclosure Tuesday that Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher and his wife, Meg Matthews, were separating, the couple issued a joint statement today attacking a U.K. paper for running a story alleging that they are fighting over custody of their 8-month-old daughter.

The statement reads:

As was clearly stated in the press release issued by Noel's management earlier this week, we have very regrettably, after much thought and discussion, decided to separate for the time being. We would like to repeat that this is all that has been decided at this time.

We wish to make it clear that we have made absolutely no final arrangements regarding our relationship, nor did we ever sign a prenuptial agreement. In particular, the story printed in The Mirror today that we are fighting over custody of Anais and that either of us have ever questioned the fitness of the other to be a parent is totally untrue and deeply offensive to both of us.

For the sake of Anais in particular, we would ask the press to have the common decency and respect to let us continue to sort out our problems in private, as we have done until now.

Gallagher, 33, and Matthews, 34, were married in 1997 in Las Vegas. Their daughter, Anais, was born in January. In their statement Tuesday, the couple said they had simply "drifted apart."

The guitarist's brother, Liam Gallagher, lead singer of Oasis, split from his wife, actress Patsy Kensit, in July.