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Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs

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Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs
Arthurs performing with Oasis in July 2025
Arthurs performing with Oasis in July 2025
Background information
Birth namePaul Benjamin Arthurs
Also known asBonehead
Born (1965-06-23) 23 June 1965 (age 60)
Manchester, England
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • keyboards
  • bass
Years active1991–present
Member ofOasis
Formerly of
  • Parlour Flames
  • Phoneys & the Freaks

Paul Benjamin "Bonehead" Arthurs (born 23 June 1965)[1][2] is an English musician. He is the co-founder and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Oasis. Arthurs played with the band from its inception in 1991 until his departure in 1999, rejoining in 2024 for their Oasis Live '25 Tour.

After Oasis, Arthurs formed Moondog One, released albums as part of two duos, Parlour Flames and Phoneys & the Freaks, and has toured with Oasis offshoot Beady Eye as well as bandmate Liam Gallagher's solo band.

Early life

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Arthurs was born in 1965 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Manchester,[3] the son of Irish Catholic parents.[4] He grew up in Longsight until his family moved to Levenshulme at age nine.[5] He went to St. Peter's Roman Catholic Grammar School in the nearby town of Prestwich.[6] He earned the lifelong nickname "Bonehead" at the age of 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.[7]

As a youth, Arthurs took lessons on piano and accordion, and learned guitar by borrowing his older brother's model.[8] He left school in 1981 to work as a plasterer,[9] and started his first band, Pleasure and Pain, in 1984.[10] In the late 1980s, while working as a building contractor, he started a band, the Rain, with his friends Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, Tony McCarroll, and Chris Hutton.[11]

Career

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Oasis

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When Hutton was sacked, he was replaced by Liam Gallagher, who suggested the band change their name to Oasis. Liam and Arthurs teamed up as songwriters, producing songs such as "Life in Vain", "Reminisce", "She Always Came Up Smiling", and "Take Me".[a][13] However, the band were still unsuccessful until Liam encouraged his brother Noel, who had just come back from travelling the world as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets, to join the band; the first two songs he presented to the band were "Live Forever" and "All Around the World".[14]

"Bonehead was kind of the glue that held it all together. I would say he was the most forward thinking initially, beause he had been in bands before Oasis. If anything, I would say Bonehead was probably, in the early days, the spirit of Oasis."

—Noel Gallagher in 2015[15]

On his role in Oasis, Arthurs said: "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".[16] He also played keyboards, including piano, Mellotron, and melodica on (What's the Story) Morning Glory?[17] In late 1995, bassist Paul McGuigan briefly left Oasis while suffering from nervous exhaustion, and his replacement, Scott McLeod, quit only a handful of gigs into an American leg of the (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Tour. This forced Oasis to play as a quartet, with Arthurs on bass, for their 19 October 1995 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.[18]

Arthurs was originally meant to sing lead vocals on "Bonehead's Bank Holiday", a song included on the vinyl version of (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Arthurs went to the pub to loosen up for the vocal session, but returned so intoxicated and unable to perform that Noel Gallagher's guide vocal remained on the released version. Drunken studio chatter from Arthurs and Liam was mixed throughout the song.[19]

Arthurs left the band in 1999, during the recording of Oasis's fourth album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. His official statement said he wanted 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.[20] Arthurs was replaced by Gem Archer. Noel Gallagher initially downplayed Arthurs' departure, saying "it's hardly Paul McCartney leaving the Beatles",[21] though he later said of Arthurs and the also-exiting Paul McGuigan: "We've got to respect their decision as family men".[22]

In 2024, it was announced that Arthurs would be rejoining Oasis for their 2025 tour.[23][24]

Post-Oasis

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In 2001, Arthurs formed Moondog One with Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce of the Smiths,[25] recording several studio tracks before dissolving.[8]

In May 2013, the duo of Arthurs and Vinny Peculiar (Alan Wilkes), dubbed Parlour Flames, released their eponymous album, Arthurs' first since leaving Oasis.[26] Guest musicians included percussionist Che Beresford and brass-player Bob Marsh from Badly Drawn Boy and Anna Zweck from Samson & Delilah on flute and backing vocals.[26]

Arthurs followed his Parlour Flames project up 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.[27]

Liam Gallagher

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Arthurs (right) with Liam Gallagher at the Berlin premiere of Oasis: Supersonic in 2016
Arthurs (right) performing with Liam Gallagher at the Reading Festival in 2021

In 2013 and 2014, Arthurs performed with Oasis' offshoot Beady Eye, filling in for Gem Archer, who had suffered from a head injury. This led to Arthurs reuniting with Liam Gallagher, playing guitar on the song "Bold" and keyboard on "For What It's Worth" on Gallagher's solo album As You Were. This led to appearances in Gallagher's live backing band from 2017 to 2024, beginning with Gallagher's debut performance at the O2 Ritz in Manchester.[citation needed]

On 22 May 2018, Arthurs performed with Gallagher at the London Stadium as part of Gallagher's support slot for the Rolling Stones.[28] In November 2019, he joined Gallagher to perform Oasis songs during Gallagher's UK and Ireland Why Me, Why Not shows, usually amounting to 10 or 11 songs in a set.[citation needed] In 2020, Arthurs continued to tour with Gallagher, later joining him for a virtual reality concert on 5 December 2020 called "Down by the River Thames".[29]

From 27 to 29 August 2021, Arthurs joined Gallagher to perform his set headlining Reading & Leeds Festivals, playing songs from Gallagher's solo career, as well as Oasis songs.[30] Following a health scare, Arthurs bowed out of Liam's 2022 and 2023 tours, but returned in 2024.[31][32][33]

Equipment

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Arthurs used the same 1982 Japanese-made Epiphone Riviera on every Oasis recording and gig throughout his tenure the band.[34] On the cover of Definitely Maybe, which was shot in Arthurs' living room, the Epiphone is visible propped up against the back wall.[35]

Personal life

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Arthurs and his wife Kate are the parents of a daughter and a son.[36]

On 26 April 2022, Arthurs said he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer and could not join Liam Gallagher on his tour in order to undergo treatment.[37] On 29 September, Arthurs said he was cancer-free.[38]

Unlike the Gallagher brothers and McGuigan who are Manchester City supporters, Arthurs is a Manchester United fan.[39]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Take Me", which was recorded only as a demo, was later praised by Noel Gallagher as "great" and lamented that the band never recorded it for a proper release.[12]

References

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  1. ^ McCarroll, Tony (2010). Oasis: The Truth – My Life as Oasis's Drummer. London: John Blake Publishing Ltd. p. 276. ISBN 978-1-84358-499-5.
  2. ^ "Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 December 2023. Born: June 23, 1965 in Manchester, England.
  3. ^ Boon 2018, 2:23.
  4. ^ Boon 2018, 2:54.
  5. ^ Boon 2018, 2:30.
  6. ^ Boon 2018, 10:40.
  7. ^ Boon 2018, 7:51.
  8. ^ a b Snyder, Paul (27 August 2013). "INTERVIEW: PAUL 'BONEHEAD' ARTHURS". Transatlantic Modern. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  9. ^ Boon 2018, 14:00.
  10. ^ Boon 2018, 16:23.
  11. ^ Boon 2018, 16:45.
  12. ^ Gallagher, Noel (24 August 2023). Icons: Noel Gallagher of Oasis. Gibson. Event occurs at 13:54. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  13. ^ McCarroll, Tony (2010). Oasis: The Truth - My Life as Oasis's Drummer. London: John Blake. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-84358-246-5. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  14. ^ "The ones that got away – The Guardian". London: Guardian.co.uk. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  15. ^ Halfon, Simon (2021). Supersonic: The Complete, Authorised and Uncut Interviews. Great Britain: Headline Publishing Group. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4722-8547-8.
  16. ^ Boon 2018, 23:50.
  17. ^ Golsen, Tyler (23 October 2021). "Watch Liam Gallagher and Bonehead recall iconic Oasis recordings". Far Out. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  18. ^ Henshaw, Lee (1996). Oasis Revealed. London: Carlton. p. 91. ISBN 0-7525-1859-3. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  19. ^ Gallagher, Noel (5 October 2020). Oasis - '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' Track by Track with Noel Gallagher. Event occurs at 20:44. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  20. ^ Boon 2018, 28:32.
  21. ^ "BONEHEAD'S PERMANENT BANK HOLIDAY". NME. 10 July 1999. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Oasis continue: definitely, not maybe". BBC News. 26 August 1999. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  23. ^ Maidment, Adam (28 August 2024). "Bonehead 'confirmed' to be taking part in huge Oasis 2025 reunion tour – reports". Manchester Evening News.
  24. ^ "Original Oasis member 'confirmed' to return for 2025 reunion tour". Metro. 28 August 2024.
  25. ^ Kerr, Dave (10 November 2008). "Bonehead Don't Look Back in Anger". The Skinny. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  26. ^ a b "Cherry Red Records – Parlour Flames, cherry red records, indie, ALTERNATIVE". Cherryred.co.uk. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  27. ^ "Phoneys & the Freaks". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Liam Gallagher joined by Bonehead during Rolling Stones support slot". Nme.com. 22 May 2018.
  29. ^ Hann, Michael (7 December 2020). "Liam Gallagher showboats with Down by the River Thames gig". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  30. ^ Bassett, Jordan (30 August 2021). "Liam Gallagher at Reading Festival 2021: he's in brash, brother-baiting rockstar mode". NME. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  31. ^ Arthurs, Paul [@BoneheadsPage] (5 February 2023). "@rkidzoe I'll be there yes" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Arthurs, Paul [@BoneheadsPage] (15 February 2023). "@Massimo8000 Yes" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023 – via Twitter.
  33. ^ @BoneheadsPage (30 June 2023). "I'm really sorry but I won't be playing onstage with Liam at any gigs this Summer" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [better source needed]
  34. ^ Wilson, Lois (12 August 2013). "Bonehead: "Leaving Oasis Was The Right Thing For Me To Do"". Mojo. Retrieved 11 August 2020. My most treasured possession...is my guitar. It's an Epiphone Riviera from the '80s and I played it on every Oasis record and played it at every Oasis gig.[dead link]
  35. ^ "Oasis – 'Definitely Maybe'; Five Crucial Facts". Clash. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2025. Bonehead's beloved Epiphone Riviera, which he used on every Oasis recording and gig during his tenure in the band, is propped against the back wall.
  36. ^ Egan, Barry (10 June 2013). "Chilled out to the Bone". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  37. ^ "Oasis: Guitarist Bonehead diagnosed with tonsil cancer".
  38. ^ "Paul Arthurs on Instagram".
  39. ^ "My Manchester United: Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs". stopcryingyourheartout.co.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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