June 2, 2009 9:35

Bonehead: 'Oasis should have quit after Knebworth'

Departed guitarist speaks about band's legacy

Photo Gallery: Oasis
Photo: Dean Chalkley

Former Oasis guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs has said that he believes the band should have quit after they played their two shows at Knebworth in 1996.

The Manchester band played in front of a combined audience of 250,000 at the two huge outdoor shows on August 10 and 11 that year – with Bonehead (who was still in the band at the time) saying it would have been a suitable point to end their career.

"I always thought we should have bowed out at Knebworth," he told the Guardian G2. "Walking out on that stage is a feeling I can't explain: a sea of people. Big!"

Speaking about why he left the band in 1999, he added: "It was the best job in the world but by the time we recorded [1999 album] 'Standing On The Shoulder of Giants' it wasn't enjoyable.

"My daughter was two days old and I was jumping on a flight. We'd made our money. We had big cars. We were renting out Christian Dior's mansion in France. That should have been fun, but it wasn't.

"Liam [Gallagher, singer] was on a drinking ban and I wasn't helping by not sticking to it. [Liam's brother, guitarist] Noel had his own problems."

Arthurs said he would not re-join the band, but would be interested in playing with them live.

"I'd never rejoin them," he asserted. "Not that I'd be asked. But for one gig? Absolutely. I still know the chords to 'Rock 'N' Roll Star'."

Oasis are set to kick off a series of three gigs at Manchester's Heaton Park on Thursday (June 4), with Liam Gallagher recently saying he hoped they would surpass Knebworth in terms of quality.