Oasis guitarist Paul Arthurs – who is better known as Bonehead – won’t be performing with the band for the next few gigs due to illness
Oasis have paid a sweet tribute to their guitarist Bonehead after he was forced to pull out of the next leg of their world comeback tour.
The 60-year-old Rock n Roll star was present for all of the band’s iconic UK gigs, but earlier this month shared the sad news he had been diagnosed with cancer again. It comes three years after he got the all clear from tonsil cancer in 2022.
Taking to social media, Bonehead – whose real name is Paul Arthurs – posted on October 3: “Early this year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The good news is I’m responding really well to treatment, which meant I could be part of this incredible tour.
“Now, I am having to take a planned break for the next phase of my care, so I’ll be missing the gigs in Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney. I’m really sad to be missing these shows but l’m feeling good and will be back ready to go in time for South America.”
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He signed off the post by saying: “Have an amazing time if you’re going this month and I’ll see you back onstage with the band in November. Bonehead.”
It’s hoped Bonehead will be well enough to rejoin the band when they play huge gigs on the final leg of their tour in Argentina, Chile and Brazil next month.
Proving they are thinking of their bandmate, Liam and Noel made sure he was still a part of the tour – by bringing a cardboard cut out of Bonehead on the road with them. Posting a snap of it on his Instagram account, Bonehead appeared to show his approval as he wrote in the caption: “Play it loud Amigos.”
Addressing Bonehead’s diagnosis in a statement, the Gallagher brothers said: “Wishing you all the best with your treatment Bonehead – we’ll see you back on stage in South America.”
A source close to Oasis also told the Mirror: “The band have known about the diagnosis from the outset and were fully behind Bonehead. Of course they wanted him to play the tour, but also Liam and Noel were clear his health comes first.
“It is great he has played most of the shows and should only miss a few dates. Nothing is 100% confirmed but it is likely someone will be filling in for Bonehead on rhythm guitar for the dates he can’t play.”
Earlier this week, the Mirror’s Showbiz Editor Mark Jefferies exclusively revealed who Bonehead’s replacement for the next leg of Oasis gigs would be. Mike Moore, a good friend of Liam Gallagher and part of his solo touring band, will take over the rhythm guitar.
A source close to the band said: “Mike Moore has been playing for Liam since 2017 and so he knows plenty of the Oasis tunes from the solo gigs. It’s not a full time slot in the band and everyone wants Bonehead well and back but it’s a huge privilege for Mike and he’s excited to get on the stage.”
Moore is not the only member of Liam’s band in Oasis now, with the line up also featuring Christian Madden on keyboards. The rest of the band remains the same including Noel Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Joey Waronker.
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