Two members of rock band Oasis escaped serious injury when they were involved in a head-on car crash during their United States tour on Tuesday.

Noel Gallagher and guitarist Andy Bell were taken to hospital by ambulance and treated for shock, cuts and bruises after their taxi was hit by another vehicle in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Liam Gallagher was not in the taxi

Gallagher was sitting in the front of the taxi and suffered "heavy facial bruising" and seat-belt cuts, the band's official website said.

Keyboardist Jay Darlington, former member of UK band Kula Shaker who was recruited by Oasis for the tour, was also hurt.

"It was quite a big collision but the taxi did have air bags which cushioned the impact. But we understand they are all fine," a spokeswoman for the band said.

"Jay has got his hand strapped up but they don't think it is anything very serious. It's possibly something to do with the ligament."

The band cancelled Wednesday's concert in Indianapolis, and doctors have ordered the trio to rest for two days.

Thank God he was wearing a seat belt

Peggy Gallagher Noel's mum

It is not known whether the other dates on the three-week US tour will be affected.

Most of the injuries were caused by air bags and seat-belt burns, the website said.

Gallagher's mother Peggy said she heard about the crash from the TV, and that the trio were in the taxi going shopping after a gig.

"Thank God they are all right," she said. "Noel was taken to hospital, he was suffering from whiplash, but they are all fine.

Ex-Ride guitarist Andy Bell joined Oasis in 1999

"Liam was not with them, I assume he was probably in bed because it was after a gig.

"Noel was a bit shaken up because he has got seat-belt bruises but thank God he was wearing a seat belt."

Hospital doctors told the musicians to rest for 48 hours to let their prescribed medication take full effect.

Darlington will return to hospital on Wednesday for further treatment.

The band said the Indianapolis gig would be rescheduled for later in the year.

Setbacks

The next date on the tour is due to take place in Philadelphia on Friday.

Their spokeswoman said this would go ahead.

"Oasis are a band for whom the show always goes on, regardless of what they have been through," she said.

The US tour has already faced early setbacks after Noel lost his passport and his brother, singer Liam, was forced to retire from the first show because of voice problems.

Hampered

In 1995, a US tour was abandoned after a bassist walked out

The next year, Liam was late for the tour as he was househunting.

The tour was hampered by poor ticket sales, and Noel cancelled the final four shows, declaring he was sick of trying to break the US market.

Their latest album, Heathen Chemistry, is currently at number four in the UK album chart.