The Oasis guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs has announced he will miss a leg of the band’s reunion tour as he undergoes prostate cancer treatment after a diagnosis earlier this year.
Arthurs, 60, one of the band’s founding members, said he would not be performing at the Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney concerts.
In a post on X he said he had been responding well to treatment after a diagnosis at the beginning of this year. He would now move on to the second phase of treatment.
In a statement, he said: “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 I’m feeling good and will be back ready to go in time for South America.
“Have an amazing time if you’re going this month and I’ll see you back onstage with the band in November.”
The Seoul show is scheduled for 21 October, followed by Tokyo (25-26 October), Melbourne (31 October, 1 and 4 November) and Sydney (7-8 November).
In 2022, Arthurs revealed he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
He wrote then: “Just to let you all know I’m going to be taking a break from playing for a while. I have been diagnosed with tonsil cancer. But the good news is it’s treatable and I will be starting a course of treatment soon. I will keep you posted how it is going.”
Arthurs was a member of the band the Rain with Liam Gallagher in the early 1990s before they recruited the singer’s brother, Noel, who later insisted they change their name.
Arthurs recorded three albums with the group, including the era-defining Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, before leaving in 1999 during the recording of the fourth album, Standing on the Shoulder of Giants.
He joined Liam Gallagher’s band Beady Eye, from 2013-14, and has frequently played live with Liam during the latter’s solo career, most recently at the Reading and Leeds festivals in 2021. He also formed the group Parlour Flames, and worked as a radio DJ after his time with Oasis.
