"Bonehead Talks"

Ex-Oasis guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs has spoken exclusively to The Maker about his reasons for the band. We tracked the founding Oasis member down at his luxury £600,000 home in the leafy Manchester suburb of Bowdon to find out what he's up to and why he decided to leave.

Bonehead told The Maker: "I've got no plans, I'm just having some time out Right now, I'm having sausage, chips, beans and egg with my kids. There's no animosity and there was no fight with the band, it was just the decision I came to. I wish them all the best. I want to do other things in my life and everyone in the band has respected that."

Bonehead also confirmed Noel Gallagher's explanation that the exit was down to his young family. "I convinced myself, but that was my major reason," he said.

We also asked him for his thoughts on the new Oasis album. Bonehead told us: "I've not beard any of the mixing, but from what I beard in France during the recording, it’s brilliant. I think it’s the best material Noel has ever written and everyone else will agree." door stilI open to return to Oasis. "I don’t know," said Bonehead. "I'd say so. I’m sure if I walked in with my guitar the job."

He also confirmed that he would not be involved in promoting the record when it is released next year. "That’s me out," Bonehead said. "I can’t go out promoting it."

The rhythm guitarist founded the band then called Rain - in 1991 with bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and drummer Tony McCarroll. The three then recruited Liam Gallagher and changed their name to Oasis, before Noel stepped in and took charge of the music. Guigsy walked out of Oasis two weeks ago, just a week after Bonehead left. But Bonehead denied any "pact' between himself and Guigsy. "Guigsy's decision came after mine," he said. "I don't know if I kick-started that. I can't speak for Guigsy."

Bonehead has found the perfect retreat from his bell-raising days in Oasis. He now lives in his recently built luxury house in Bowdon, eight miles outside of Manchester and a million miles from Burnage, where he grew up. He is having a studio built in his home and has applied for planning permission to erect a taller fence to shield his home from the gaze of eager fans. A notice tells his neighbours they have until September 14 to make any objections about the 2.9-metre fence to the director of engineering and planning at Trafford Town Hall.

But Bonehead, who drives an Aston Martin with personalised "Oasis" number plate, often goes unnoticed in the village, which is also home to Manchester United stars Teddy Sheringham, Roy Keane and the Neville brothers.

Alistair Black, manager of Deckers wine bar, told The Maker: "Bonehead had a pints of Guinness in here last night He a pretty quiet fella. He does talk about band a bit and he said he is building a studio. "The other customers don’t bother him but a lot of the youngsters recognise him. Personally, I'm more of a Rod Stewart than Oasis."

Deckers regular Richard De Vere told Maker: "It’s a sexy place, this village. People don’t make a fuss around here. Roy Keane comes in and they just let him get on with it."

Window cleaner Derek Cullen works ex-Oasis star's road, but no longer cleans his windows. He said: "I have seen Bonehead here, but he keeps himself to himself. We us to do his house a while ago, but someone else does it now." Mr Cullen added: "They are worth a lot money these houses. Do I like Oasis? Oh yes."

We were also on the trail of Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan - he too has retired from Oasis to enjoy family life with his wife and so in an exclusive North-West London suburb. The bass player and founder member quit the band two weeks ago, which prompted Noel and Liam to call a press conference reassuring the media that Oasis will continue.

When The Maker tried to contact the Oasis bass player at his home in the smart neighbourhood, there was nobody in from a cat lazing in the sun out front.

Like his mate Bonehead, Guigsy has left his home town of Burnage in Manchester a sophisticated new environment He Iives with his wife, Ruth, and their two-year old son, Patrick. Their home in expensive Mill Hill is in one of the most sought-after postcodes in North London.

"Liam Goes Solo"

Liam Gallagher has gone solo! He has recorded a Cover of The Jam's "Carnation" with guitarist Steve Craddock from Ocean Colour Scene - and it is released as a double A-side single on October 11 by Ignition. The track, from the long-awaited Jam covers album, "Fire And Skill", is accompanied on the single by Buffalo Tom's "Going Underground".

One source who has beard "Carnation", says: "It’s a beautiful song, and it’s got a haunting lilt. Liam's vocals are very slightly different from what we're used to, but he still sounds definitely like Liam. I think he sounds at his best on it, really."

The album is released on November 1. It features Jam mainman Paul Welter himself, playing "No One In The World', with Steve Craddock. Other contributors are Noel Gallagher ("To Be Someone'l, plus Garbage, the Beastie Boys, Gene, Everything But The Girl, Ben Harper and Reef.

Meanwhile, as we went to press, Liam had not confirmed reports that he is appearing in a psychological thriller alongside his wife Patsy Kensit.

"McCarroll To Rejoin Oasis"

Sacked Oasis drummer Tony McCarroll has publicly appealed to the Gallagher brothers to let him rejoin the band. But this time McCarroll wants to replace Guigsy and play bass, according to The Sun. Bizarre editor Dominic Mohan published an open letter from McCarroll, who was a founder member of Oasis in 1991. He was fired after a bust-up with Liam in 1995 and received a £550,000 out-of-court settlement in March.

In the letter, McCarroll writes: "I know you two never thought I was the best drummer in the world, but you might be keen to hear my proposal. I never really thought Guigsy was actually that good a bass player - so I feel I could quite easily step into his shoes. I've been practising and 1 think 1 could give it a good shot." At this stage, no one is taking McCarroll’s appeal for an audition very seriously. A spokesman for Oasis told The Maker: "It was quite clearly written tongue in cheek. I don’t think it was written seriously."

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c 1999 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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