HE WAS THE guitarist in the biggest British band of the 1990s but walked away to spend more time with his family. When Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs announced he was quitting Oasis in 1999, the rock world was left reeling. Here was a balding, uncharismatic bloke from Manchester, whose guitar skills were rudimentary to say the least, getting to perform in front of thousands of fans, sell millions of albums and pull in a massive pay cheque. Why would he throw such a cushy number away?
When lead guitarist Noel Gallagher was quizzed about his bandmate’s departure, his reply was dismissive. “It’s hardly Paul McCartney leaving The Beatles,” he quipped. Nevertheless, it was Bonehead who started the whole Oasis ball rolling, forming a band called Rain with bassist Alan “Guigsy” McGuigan, drummer Tony McCarroll and singer Chris Hutton.
Hutton was replaced by Liam Gallagher, but when Liam’s brother Noel joined up and the band changed its name to Oasis, their fortunes changed forever. What followed was a rock and rollercoaster ride as Oasis soared to massive commercial heights with their debut album, Definitely Maybe, and follow-up (What’s the Story) Morning Glory. Before Noel’s arrival, Bonehead had been doing most of the songwriting, but quickly deferred to the elder Gallagher’s hitmaking instincts. Bonehead says that when he first heard Champagne Supernova, he cried.
The band’s success culminated in two gigs at Knebworth in 1996 in front of a combined audience of 250,000. While working on the band’s fourth album, Bonehead decided to step off.
“It was the best job in the world but by the time we recorded Standing on the Shoulder of Giants it wasn’t enjoyable,” he said in 2009. “We were renting out Christian Dior’s mansion in France. That should have been fun, but it wasn’t.”
There was no shortage of musicians willing to step in, but not many bands falling over themselves to recruit the newly available rhythm guitarist. But he did find plenty of DJ work and he presented a music show on BBC Radio Manchester. He also built a recording studio, teamed up with former Smiths rhythm section Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce for the short-lived band Moondog One, and formed The Seers with ex-members of Ladytron and Bentley Rhythm Ace. But it wasn’t until he joined Manchester band The Vortex that he started feeling that old champagne supernova vibe again.
“It really is like the old days of Oasis . . . There’s a real menace and excitement to this band.”
Alas, the excitement didn’t last, and The Vortex disappeared into a black hole. Earlier this year, Bonehead was working with former Vortex singer John Mackie and most recently has toured the UK and Ireland with singer-songwriter John McLeod.
Having witnessed many a scrap between Noel and Liam, he’s happy the Gallagher brothers have gone their separate ways and is a fan of Liam’s new band Beady Eye and Noel’s High-Flying Birds. His only regret is that he may never get to play an Oasis reunion gig. “I still know the chords to Rock ’N’ Roll Star,” he says.
