Paul McGuigan (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul McGuigan better known by his nickname, Guigsy , is an English musician and one of the four founding members of the English rock band Oasis
. He was the group's bassist from 1991 to 1999.
(drums). They called themselves The Rain. After Hutton was fired, McGuigan invited his school friend, Liam Gallagher
, to join. After which, Liam asked for his elder brother Noel to join the band. First as a manager eventually becoming lead songwriter and guitarist. The band changed their name to Oasis.
Even in the mid-1990s, with the band's popularity at its zenith, he remained characteristically reserved. Acknowledged as the "Quiet One", there are few recorded interviews with McGuigan. Noel Gallagher
said of his bass player "I think he's spoken to me, and this is no word of a lie, since I was 17—thirteen years—for a total of about an hour. All he says is "sweet as" and "alright". That's all."Though a competent bassist, McGuigan's bass playing was often replaced by Noel Gallagher on the band's early recordings. However, there is no sign that the two were on edge as was the case with Tony McCarroll
, whom Gallagher would also often replace.
, it was Guigsy who took Noel to a pub after a dispute with Bonehead, filled him with booze and then accompanied him back to the studio where the band then recorded "Slide Away". Additionally, when Liam had to attend a court trial for unruly behaviour in Australia in 1998, it was Guigsy who, amid the chaos and mayhem that descended on the tour, gathered the entire party for a game of football in the local park.
claims he quit via fax and avoided phone calls from the Gallaghers in the following weeks. Though he eventually gave up trying to contact him by phone, Noel claims to bear no malice towards McGuigan.
Guigsy presently lives outside London with his wife and son. He occasionally performs as a DJ. He declined to appear in the 2004 Definitely Maybe DVD, though a polite letter explaining his reasons for doing so appears as a hidden extra, along with a short segment with pundits giving their views on him.
and Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. However, a torn knee ligament at 16 years of age put this dream out of the question. Whilst still with Oasis, he and journalist Paolo Hewitt wrote a book about football player Robin Friday
, entitled The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw (ISBN 1-85158-909-0). Guigsy was renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of football and cricket. In an interview for a BBC Radio 1 documentary in 1995, Guigsy described his favourite magazine as being FourFourTwo.
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
. He was the group's bassist from 1991 to 1999.
The Rain and Oasis (1991–1999)
In the late 1980s, McGuigan started a band with his friends, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs (guitar) and Chris Hutton (lead vocals), later joined by Tony McCarrollTony McCarroll
Anthony "Tony" McCarroll is an English drummer and one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis, as their drummer from 1991 to April 1995.-Biography:...
(drums). They called themselves The Rain. After Hutton was fired, McGuigan invited his school friend, Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
, to join. After which, Liam asked for his elder brother Noel to join the band. First as a manager eventually becoming lead songwriter and guitarist. The band changed their name to Oasis.
Even in the mid-1990s, with the band's popularity at its zenith, he remained characteristically reserved. Acknowledged as the "Quiet One", there are few recorded interviews with McGuigan. Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
said of his bass player "I think he's spoken to me, and this is no word of a lie, since I was 17—thirteen years—for a total of about an hour. All he says is "sweet as" and "alright". That's all."Though a competent bassist, McGuigan's bass playing was often replaced by Noel Gallagher on the band's early recordings. However, there is no sign that the two were on edge as was the case with Tony McCarroll
Tony McCarroll
Anthony "Tony" McCarroll is an English drummer and one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis, as their drummer from 1991 to April 1995.-Biography:...
, whom Gallagher would also often replace.
Understated Role
Guigsy, unlike the rest of the band, has only a handful of notable instances of unruly behaviour (including being locked in a cell with Liam on a ferry to the Netherlands, and subsequently being denied access to the country). Paolo Hewitt has suggested he "had a much more valuable role to play as a calming influence." There certainly is evidence to merit this claim. During the recording of their debut album, Definitely MaybeDefinitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
, it was Guigsy who took Noel to a pub after a dispute with Bonehead, filled him with booze and then accompanied him back to the studio where the band then recorded "Slide Away". Additionally, when Liam had to attend a court trial for unruly behaviour in Australia in 1998, it was Guigsy who, amid the chaos and mayhem that descended on the tour, gathered the entire party for a game of football in the local park.
Post-Oasis (1999–present)
McGuigan left Oasis in 1999. Noel GallagherNoel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
claims he quit via fax and avoided phone calls from the Gallaghers in the following weeks. Though he eventually gave up trying to contact him by phone, Noel claims to bear no malice towards McGuigan.
Guigsy presently lives outside London with his wife and son. He occasionally performs as a DJ. He declined to appear in the 2004 Definitely Maybe DVD, though a polite letter explaining his reasons for doing so appears as a hidden extra, along with a short segment with pundits giving their views on him.
Hobbies
A staunch football fan and a life-long supporter of Manchester City FC, Guigsy had originally shown great promise as a footballer. He would regularly play football at Maine Road, which was also frequented by future band mates Noel GallagherNoel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
and Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. However, a torn knee ligament at 16 years of age put this dream out of the question. Whilst still with Oasis, he and journalist Paolo Hewitt wrote a book about football player Robin Friday
Robin Friday
Robin Friday was an English association football player who played professionally as a forward for Reading and Cardiff City during a career that lasted four years in the mid-1970s. Born and raised in Acton, west London, Friday was scouted, but not retained, by four professional clubs during his...
, entitled The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw (ISBN 1-85158-909-0). Guigsy was renowned for his encyclopaedic knowledge of football and cricket. In an interview for a BBC Radio 1 documentary in 1995, Guigsy described his favourite magazine as being FourFourTwo.