RUMOURS are rife that former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown will be one of the support acts at Oasis' gig at the Rose Bowl near Southampton on July 6.

Brown's last album, Solarized, was released in September last year. In July he plays outdoor gigs at Thetford Forest in Norfolk and the Delamere Forest in Cheshire.

The "Madchester" legend rose to fame in the late 1980s with The Stone Roses, whose self-titled debut album is regarded by many as one of the best British records of all time.

Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher was a huge fan of the band and many of his songs are heavily influenced by the Roses' psychedelic indie hymns.

The band split in the mid-90s and since then Brown has enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist.

The 35,000 tickets for Oasis' gig at the Rose Bowl, home of Hampshire Cricket, sold out within weeks of going on sale.

Noel has only hinted at the bands that will support them, promising some "big acts".

An announcement on just who those bands will be is expected in the next couple of months.