Oasis have announced that Mike Moore, a long-time member of Liam Gallagher’s solo band, will step in as guitarist while Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs temporarily leaves the group’s reunion tour to continue cancer treatment.
The Manchester rocker, who co-founded the band in 1991 and played on many of their biggest hits, revealed earlier this month that he would be taking a planned break to undergo the second phase of treatment for prostate cancer.
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.”
Mike Moore, who has previously worked with Baxter Dury, Duffy, Trampolene, James Arthur, and Peter Doherty, will join Oasis for their upcoming shows in Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney.
At the beginning of the month, Bonehead, aged 60, shared a health update with fans, explaining that while his treatment had been going well, he needed time to focus on recovery. “Early this year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” he wrote. “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Bonehead is expected to rejoin the band on 15 November in Buenos Aires, marking the first of the final five shows on the Oasis Live ’25 Tour.
The group shared his message on X, writing: “Wishing you all the best with your treatment Bonehead – we’ll see you back on stage in South America.”
Wishing you all the best with your treatment Bonehead – we’ll see you back on stage in South America. https://t.co/YDZ6qFt1lp
— Oasis (@oasis) October 3, 2025
Messages of support quickly followed, including one from Noel Gallagher’s daughter Anaïs, who commented: “We love you so much Bonehead!”, and Liam Gallagher’s daughter Molly Moorish, who added: “Sending love!”
Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs originally played with Oasis from 1991 to 1999, appearing on classic albums including Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. He rejoined for the band’s hugely successful Oasis Live ’25 Tour, which reunited the Gallagher brothers after years apart.
The musician, who lives in Manchester with his wife Kate and their two children, previously battled tonsil cancer in 2022, later announcing that he had been given the all-clear.
As the tour continues across Asia and Australia, fans have flooded social media with well-wishes for the beloved guitarist — and anticipation for his return to the stage later this year.
