In August 1994, Oasis released their debut album Definitely Maybe, which catapulted them to superstardom. But for the original lineup, this was short-lived, with drummer Tony Carroll quitting in 1995, before Bonehead and Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan stepping away in 1999
Noel Gallagher says Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan was “relieved” to leave Oasis and is unlikely to be jealous of the Oasis Live 25 shows.
Guigsy and drummer Tony McCarroll will be the two original band members missing from the tour when it kicks off next month. Guigsy was photographed last year living in London but in a new book Noel lays bare Guigsy’s feelings towards the end of his time in Oasis.
Speaking to journalist John Robb, Noel said: “Success hit Guigsy the hardest. He was not ready for it at all. When we started we were on the same level musically but when I got at the turbocharger and I was writing all the songs and when they were orchestral things the rest of them thought ‘Where am I going to fit in with all this orchestral sh*t and I don’t blame them for that.”
Noel adds he thought it was “a relief for Guigsy to be away from all that’.
READ MORE: Forgotten Oasis star Guigsy seen for first time in 25 years ahead of 30th anniversary
He said: “Guigsy would be constantly stoned and he would not says a word for two days or be very nervous doing gigs. It was a relief for him when he decided to call it a day. Not that I have ever spoken to him about it but I knew he was going to be alright sitting in the garden, watching cricket and smoking weed without having me and Liam arguing. I guess it was a relief for Guigsy to be away from all that!”
Bonehead would also leave the band at the same time in August 1999, but has returned for the 2025 reunion.
Drummer McCarroll has not been invited to play live, having been effectively forced out of the band after the first album Definitely Maybe. But he is on friendly terms again with Liam and attended one of his solo shows last year.
On X he tweeted he would love to come on and play Supersonic at Heaton Park if he was invited.
The Oasis Live 25 shows kick off in Cardiff next month before heading to Heaton Park for several weekends. They’ll also play Wembley before heading off on a World tour.
It was Guigsy who first started the group The Rain in the 1980s, with bandmates Paul “Bonehead” Arthur and Tony on drums, before Liam Gallagher joined and then brought along his brother Noel, 56. The group went on to change their name to Oasis, who were famously signed at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow, Scotland – and the rest is history.
In August 1994, the group released their debut album Definitely Maybe, which catapulted them to superstardom. But for the original lineup, this was short-lived, with Tony departing soon after in 1995, before Bonehead and Guigsy quit in 1999.
To mark its 30th anniversary last year, Liam and Bonehead played Definitely Maybe in its entirety at concerts which sold out in minutes.
Liam declared the album “the most important album of the ‘90s bar none”. He added to fans: “I wouldn’t be anywhere without it and neither would you.”
* Noel is speaking to John Robb in Live Forever: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Oasis, out now