Oasis legend Bonehead spotted in Marbella and Malaga as fans track his Costa del Sol adventure

The former Oasis guitarist has been sharing snapshots from Marbella, Malaga and Ronda while enjoying a sunny break on the Costa del Sol.

No, he’s not playing a surprise gig in Malaga. Paul Arthurs, better known to Oasis fans as Bonehead, is simply enjoying a holiday and lucky for fans he is sharing plenty of it on social media.

An original member of the band

Anyone familiar with Oasis knows that Noel and Liam Gallagher were not the only iconic figures in the band. Bonehead, the rhythm guitarist from the group’s original classic line-up, became one of the most famous characters of Britpop’s biggest success story.

More than 30 years ago, Noel Gallagher wrote a song about him, Bonehead’s Bank Holiday, a tongue-in-cheek ode to a trip to Spain in search of sun and fun, originally intended to be sung by Bonehead himself. Now, it seems the guitarist has taken that inspiration himself.

Over the past few weeks, Arthurs has been documenting his stay in Malaga and surrounding areas on Instagram. His posts include selfies in Malaga city centre, photos of street flamenco guitarists, beach scenes in Marbella, traditional almond stalls and the obligatory view of Ronda’s famous Puente Nuevo. There have even been snapshots from shopping trips to Aldi and MediaMarkt, prompting one caption that reads, “It’s not all rock and roll.”

At 60 years old, Bonehead appears happy to blend in with the thousands of British visitors enjoying the Costa del Sol sunshine. However, he is far from an ordinary tourist.

Why Bonehead is one of the most important figures in Oasis

The guitarist famously left Oasis in 1999 during the troubled recording of the band’s fourth album, following a row that saw him pack his bags and fly back to Manchester. At the time, the official statement claimed he had quit to spend more time with his family. Noel Gallagher’s public response was characteristically cutting, “It’s hardly McCartney leaving The Beatles.”

A close friend of Liam Gallagher, Arthurs later filled in for injured Beady Eye guitarist Gem Archer in 2013 and 2014, and went on to become a major part of Liam’s solo backing band throughout his post-Oasis career.

When Oasis announced their much-anticipated reunion after years of family and artistic tensions, Bonehead was once again brought back into the fold. Fans welcomed the news enthusiastically. He remains the only musician who played on the band’s first three albums, Definitely Maybe, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Be Here Now, who is still actively involved with the group.

At a reunion show, Noel Gallagher has previously been quoted as saying “On guitar, if it wasn’t for him, none of this would have happened,” a comment fans have interpreted as recognition of Bonehead’s role in helping keep the famously volatile Gallagher brothers on speaking terms.

Bonehead’s cancer recovery and return to the sun

Sadly recent years have not been without challenges. In 2022, Arthurs revealed he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer, which he thankfully successfully overcame. Then, in 2025, he stepped back from being part of Oasis’s hugely successful reunion tour to undergo treatment for prostate cancer.

Now happily recovered and enjoying life under the Andalucian sun, Bonehead appears to be making the most of an extended Spanish getaway.

So if you happen to spot a bald Brit in shorts wandering around Malaga or Marbella, take a second look. You may have just crossed paths with one of British rock’s most recognisable figures.