Oasis fans were left stunned after founding member Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs revealed he will be stepping away from the band’s long-awaited reunion tour due to ongoing cancer treatment. The announcement comes just months after the group made their historic return to the stage following years of bitter estrangement between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.
Arthurs shared the news directly with fans on Instagram, explaining that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year and had already been undergoing treatment. While he managed to perform with Oasis during the first leg of their Live ‘25 World Tour, which began in Cardiff on 4 July, he confirmed he must now pause to focus on the next stage of his recovery.
“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,” he wrote.
The shows Arthurs will miss were some of the most highly anticipated stops on the band’s international run, especially as Oasis has not toured together in over a decade. Fans expressed sadness online, with many praising Arthurs for prioritising his health and sending him messages of support. Others noted the emotional weight of his absence, given his status as a key original member and long-time friend of the Gallaghers.
Despite the setback, Arthurs reassured fans that he plans to rejoin the band for their South American dates in November. Oasis will continue touring without him, with their next major shows taking place in Buenos Aires on 15 and 16 November.
The Oasis reunion has been one of the most talked-about comebacks in music, with tickets selling out within minutes worldwide. While Noel Gallagher had famously declared in 2009 that he could not work with Liam “a day longer,” the brothers shocked fans last year when they confirmed their decision to reunite.
For now, fans are clinging to Arthurs’ hopeful words that he will return to the stage before the year ends. His absence may cast a shadow over the tour, but it also highlights the devotion of Oasis supporters who have waited over a decade to see the original members perform again.
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