This month Simon Barnard goes mad for it as he examines the guitar stylings of Noel Gallagher and Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs of Oasis.

Simon Barnard

Oasis in 1994, playing Epiphone Riviera and Les Paul guitars

IAN DICKSON / GETTY IMAGES

Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis was to take the music scene by storm. From the almost instant success of the early albums they were breaking records and establishing themselves as one of the most successful groups of all time. Their 1995 album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? is one of the biggest-selling of all time, shifting over 20 million and counting. Furthermore, in 1996 Oasis performed two legendary concerts at Knebworth to a staggering 125,000-strong audience each night.

The line-up originally consisted of Liam Gallagher on vocals, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs on guitar, Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan on bass and Tony McCarroll on drums. However, it was the addition of Noel Gallagher on lead guitar and vocals that dramatically changed the group’s fate. Noel, who had been working as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets, was a budding songwriter with many compositions under his belt. On seeing his younger brother’s band play in Manchester, Noel agreed to join them on condition that he be the sole songwriter and effectively bandleader. It was also, of course, a great opportunity to get his songs heard by a wider public. Under Noel’s directorship, Oasis went all-out for success, and of course it was soon to come their way.