Paul Arthurs

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Lore & Background

Arthurs earned the lifelong nickname "Bonehead" at age eight after his parents insisted on very short haircuts; only his mum and dad ever called him Paul. He learned guitar by borrowing his older brother's model, left school in 1981 to work as a plasterer, and started his first band, Pleasure and Pain, in 1984. In the late 1980s, while working as a building contractor, he co-founded the Rain with Paul McGuigan, Tony McCarroll, and Chris Hutton. When Hutton was sacked as vocalist, Liam Gallagher replaced him and suggested the band change their name to Oasis. Arthurs and Liam teamed up as songwriters, producing songs like "Life in Vain" and "Reminisce," but the band remained unsuccessful until Liam encouraged his brother Noel to join. Noel's first two songs for the band were "Live Forever" and "Columbia" (or "Shakermaker" depending on the source, but definitely not "All Around the World," which was written later).

In Their Own Story

Arthurs once told Noel, 'I'll do the rhythm, mate.' Noel replied, 'I'm doing these bits. You just do the barre chords.' And no one could do those barre chords or rhythm better than him. He also played keyboards—piano, Mellotron, melodica, and Hammond organ—on (What's the Story) Morning Glory? In late 1995, bassist Paul McGuigan briefly left Oasis due to nervous exhaustion, and his replacement Scott McLeod quit after a handful of gigs on an American tour leg, forcing Oasis to play as a quartet with Arthurs on bass for their 19 October 1995 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Arthurs was originally meant to sing lead vocals on "Bonehead's Bank Holiday," but he went to the pub to loosen up, returned too intoxicated to perform, and Noel's guide vocal remained on the released version, with drunken studio chatter from Arthurs and Liam mixed throughout.

Reader's Guide

Arthurs left Oasis in 1999 during the recording of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, officially saying he wanted to spend more time with his young family. He later explained, 'Aside from the band, everyone had their own little thing they had to deal with, but no time to deal with it, which sort of made for an atmosphere that wasn't fun anymore.' Noel Gallagher initially downplayed the departure, saying 'it's hardly Paul McCartney leaving the Beatles,' though he later respected Arthurs's decision as a family man. Arthurs was replaced by Gem Archer. In 2024, it was announced that Arthurs would rejoin Oasis for their 2025 tour. After Oasis, he formed Moondog One in 2001 with Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce of the Smiths, recording several tracks before dissolving. In May 2013, the duo Parlour Flames (Arthurs and Vinny Peculiar) released their eponymous album, Arthurs's first since leaving Oasis. In 2014, he started Phoneys & the Freaks with Alex Lipinski, releasing an eponymous EP on Cherry Red Records. He performed with Beady Eye in 2013 and 2014, filling in for Gem Archer after a head injury, and played guitar on "Bold" and keyboard on "For What It's Worth" on Liam Gallagher's solo album As You Were. He appeared in Gallagher's live backing band from 2017 to 2024, beginning at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. On 22 May 2018, he performed with Gallagher at London Stadium supporting the Rolling Stones. In November 2019, he joined Gallagher to perform Oasis songs during the Why Me, Why Not shows, usually 10 or 11 songs per set. In 2020, he continued touring with Gallagher and joined a virtual reality concert on 5 December 2020 called "Down by the River Thames." From 27 to 29 August 2021, he played Gallagher's headlining set at Reading & Leeds Festivals. After a health scare, he bowed out of Liam's 2022 and 2023 tours but returned in 2024.

Did You Know?

• Arthurs earned the nickname 'Bonehead' at age eight because his parents insisted on very short haircuts; only his mum and dad ever called him Paul.
• He played bass for Oasis on their 19 October 1995 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman after original bassist Paul McGuigan had left and his replacement Scott McLeod quit shortly after the show.
• Arthurs was originally meant to sing lead on 'Bonehead's Bank Holiday,' but he went to the pub beforehand, returned too drunk to perform, and Noel's guide vocal stayed on the final track.
• His 1982 Japanese-made Epiphone Riviera is visible propped against the back wall on the cover of Definitely Maybe, which was shot in the living room of the band's manager at the time.
• Arthurs is a Manchester United fan, unlike the Gallagher brothers and Paul McGuigan, who support Manchester City.

Manchester Roots and Musical Origins

Paul Benjamin Arthurs was born in 1965 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Manchester, the son of Irish Catholic parents. He grew up in Longsight until his family moved to Levenshulme when he was nine. He attended St. Peter's Roman Catholic Grammar School in Prestwich. He earned the lifelong nickname "Bonehead" at age eight after his parents insisted he get very short haircuts. 'It was only my mum and dad throughout my life, really, that called me Paul,' Arthurs said. As a youth, he took lessons on piano and accordion, and learned guitar by borrowing his older brother's model. He left school in 1981 to work as a plasterer, and started his first band, Pleasure and Pain, in 1984. In the late 1980s, while working as a building contractor, he started the Rain with friends Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan, Tony McCarroll, and Chris Hutton.

The Oasis Years: Rhythm and Resilience

As co-founder and rhythm guitarist of Oasis, Arthurs played from the band's inception in 1991 until his departure in 1999. He described his role: 'I always used to say to Noel, "I'll do the rhythm, mate." He'd say, "I'm doing these bits. You just do the barre chords." And no one could do those barre chords or rhythm better than me.' He also played keyboards—piano, Mellotron, melodica, and Hammond organ—on (What's the Story) Morning Glory? In late 1995, bassist Paul McGuigan briefly left Oasis due to nervous exhaustion; replacement Scott McLeod quit after a handful of gigs on an American tour leg, forcing Oasis to play as a quartet with Arthurs on bass for their 19 October 1995 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Arthurs was originally meant to sing lead vocals on 'Bonehead's Bank Holiday,' but he went to the pub to loosen up, returned too intoxicated to perform, and Noel's guide vocal remained on the released version, with drunken studio chatter from Arthurs and Liam mixed throughout. He left the band in 1999 during the recording of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, officially to spend more time with his young family. 'Aside from the band, everyone had their own little thing they had to deal with, but no time to deal with it, which sort of made for an atmosphere that wasn't fun anymore,' he said. Noel Gallagher initially downplayed the departure, saying 'it's hardly Paul McCartney leaving the Beatles,' though he later respected Arthurs's decision as a family man. Arthurs was replaced by Gem Archer. In 2024, it was announced that Arthurs would rejoin Oasis for their 2025 tour.

Post-Oasis Ventures and Collaborations

In 2001, Arthurs formed Moondog One with Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce of the Smiths, recording several studio tracks before dissolving. In May 2013, the duo of Arthurs and Vinny Peculiar (Alan Wilkes), dubbed Parlour Flames, released their eponymous album, Arthurs's first since leaving Oasis. Guest musicians included percussionist Che Beresford, brass-player Bob Marsh from Badly Drawn Boy, and Anna Zweck from Samson & Delilah on flute and backing vocals. Arthurs followed with a new group called Phoneys & the Freaks, started in 2014 with singer/songwriter Alex Lipinski. Their eponymous EP was released in 2014 on Cherry Red Records. In 2013 and 2014, Arthurs performed with Oasis offshoot Beady Eye, filling in for Gem Archer, who had suffered a head injury. This led to reuniting with Liam Gallagher, playing guitar on 'Bold' and keyboard on 'For What It's Worth' on Gallagher's solo album As You Were. He appeared in Gallagher's live backing band from 2017 to 2024, beginning with Gallagher's debut performance at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. On 22 May 2018, he performed with Gallagher at London Stadium as part of Gallagher's support slot for the Rolling Stones. In November 2019, he joined Gallagher to perform Oasis songs during Gallagher's UK and Ireland Why Me, Why Not shows, usually 10 or 11 songs per set. In 2020, he continued to tour with Gallagher, later joining him for a virtual reality concert on 5 December 2020 called 'Down by the River Thames.' From 27 to 29 August 2021, he joined Gallagher to perform his set headlining Reading & Leeds Festivals, playing songs from Gallagher's solo career and Oasis songs. Following a health scare, he bowed out of Liam's 2022 and 2023 tours, but returned in 2024.

Personal Challenges and Enduring Legacy

Arthurs and his wife Kate are the parents of a daughter and a son. Unlike the Gallagher brothers and McGuigan who are Manchester City supporters, Arthurs is a Manchester United fan. On 26 April 2022, Arthurs said he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer and could not join Liam Gallagher on his tour so that he could undergo treatment. On 29 September, Arthurs said he was cancer-free. In October 2025, Arthurs announced he was pulling out of the Asian and Australian legs of the Oasis Live '25 Tour to undergo treatment following a diagnosis of prostate cancer earlier in the year. His iconic 1982 Japanese-made Epiphone Riviera was used on every Oasis recording and gig throughout his tenure in the band, and is visible propped up against the back wall on the cover of Definitely Maybe, which was shot in his living room.

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