List of Oasis band members
Oasis were an English rock band from Manchester. Formed in 1991, the group originally consisted of vocalist Liam Gallagher, guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, bassist Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and drummer Tony McCarroll.[1] Shortly after their first show in August, the group added Gallagher's older brother Noel as their new lead guitarist and main songwriter.[2] In April 1995, after the release and promotion of their debut album Definitely Maybe, McCarroll was fired after getting involved in a fight in a hotel room.[3] He was replaced early the next month by Alan White, who debuted on an episode of Top of the Pops performing his predecessor's last recording "Some Might Say".[4] This lineup remained stable for several years, save for a brief period in 1995 when Scott McLeod temporarily replaced Guigsy, who cited "nervous exhaustion".[5]

In early August 1999, Bonehead announced that he was leaving Oasis in order to "concentrate on other things in [his] life".[6] Less than three weeks later, Guigsy followed the guitarist in announcing his departure from the group, although no specific reason was revealed for his decision.[7] The pair were not replaced immediately, with Noel Gallagher credited with the recording of all guitar and bass parts on the band's next album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants.[8] Both new members were unveiled in November 1999 – first, guitarist Gem Archer joined from Heavy Stereo, and second, a week later, bassist Andy Bell was enlisted from Ride.[9] Beginning with the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Tour, the band employed a full-time touring keyboardist; the first was Zeben Jameson until 2001,[10] who was then replaced by Jay Darlington.[11]
After almost nine years in the band, White was sacked from Oasis in January 2004, with the four remaining members not planning to replace him on a full-time basis.[12] Four months later, it was announced that Zak Starkey – son of former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr – would be the group's touring drummer for future dates.[13] Despite this seemingly limited role, he worked with the band on their next album Don't Believe the Truth,[14] as well as its 2008 follow-up Dig Out Your Soul.[15] Before the latter's release, however, the drummer stopped working with the band after reportedly falling out with Noel Gallagher.[16] A few days after the announcement, Chris Sharrock was unveiled as the new Oasis touring drummer.[17] He remained until the group's disbandment in August 2009, resulting from a confrontation between the Gallaghers.[18]
Members
Official
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Liam Gallagher | 1991–2009 |
|
all Oasis releases | |
Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan | 1991–1999 | bass | all Oasis releases from Definitely Maybe (1994) to Be Here Now (1997) | |
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs |
| |||
Tony McCarroll | 1991–1995 | drums |
| |
Noel Gallagher | 1991–2009 |
|
all Oasis releases | |
Alan "Whitey" White | 1995–2004 |
|
all Oasis releases from (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) to Heathen Chemistry (2002) | |
Colin "Gem" Archer | 1999–2009 |
|
all Oasis releases from Familiar to Millions (2000) to iTunes Live: London Festival (2010) | |
Andy Bell |
|
Touring
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Scott McLeod | 1995 | bass | McGuigan briefly left during the (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Tour in September 1995, citing "nervous exhaustion". He was replaced by McLeod, who himself quit suddenly after just a few weeks, resulting in show cancellations.[5] | |
Mike Rowe |
|
|
Rowe was the touring keyboardist on the (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Be Here Now and 10 Years of Noise and Confusion Tours. He also contributed to select tracks on the albums Be Here Now and Heathen Chemistry.[19] | |
Zeben "Zeb" Jameson | 1999–2001 | Jameson took over touring keyboards from Rowe in 1999 for the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Tour and the 2001 Tour of Brotherly Love, appearing on the live album Familiar to Millions in 2000 which was recorded during the former.[10] | ||
Matt Deighton | 2000 | rhythm and lead guitars | Following an argument with Liam, Noel Gallagher temporarily left Oasis in May 2000, during the European leg of the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Tour.[20] Deighton subsequently took his place on guitar for three months.[21] | |
Steve "Whitey" White | 2001 | drums | Steve White substituted for his younger brother Alan during the Tour of Brotherly Love in 2001, after the regular drummer injured his thumb and was unable to perform. He was later slated as a potential replacement for Alan in 2004.[22] | |
Jay Darlington | 2002–2009 |
|
Darlington replaced Jameson as the band's touring keyboardist in 2002, remaining until the group's disbandment in 2009.[11] He is credited with performing mellotron and electronics on the Dig Out Your Soul single "Falling Down".[23] | |
Zak Starkey | 2004–2008 |
|
Starkey joined as the official replacement for Alan White in May 2004. Although he was never credited as a full-time member of the band, he contributed to both studio albums during his tenure: Don't Believe the Truth and Dig Out Your Soul.[16] | |
Chris Sharrock | 2008–2009 | drums | After Starkey left the band in May 2008, Sharrock was brought in as his replacement. He performed on the Dig Out Your Soul Tour, which ended when the band broke up, but remained with Liam Gallagher, Archer and Bell as part of Beady Eye.[24] |
Timeline

Lineups
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
May – August 1991 |
|
none – one live performance only |
August 1991 – April 1995 |
|
|
May 1995 – August 1999 |
|
|
Early – late August 1999 |
|
none – studio rehearsals only |
August – November 1999 |
|
|
November 1999 – January 2004 |
|
|
May 2004 – May 2008 |
|
|
May 2008 – August 2009 |
|
|
References
- "Liam Gallagher: My First Gig With Oasis Was Horrible". Radio X. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Vincent, Alice (17 July 2015). "Oasis: a timeline of make-ups and break-ups". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Gillan, Audrey (3 March 1999). "Oasis settle in fight with sacked drummer". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Horton, Matthew (24 April 2013). "18 Things You Might Not Know About Oasis's 'Some Might Say'". NME. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Oasis split? Definitely maybe". BBC News. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Garner, Clare (10 August 1999). "Oasis guitarist 'Bonehead' quits". The Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Nelson, Chris (25 August 1999). "Bassist Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan Quits Oasis". MTV. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants - Oasis: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Oasis recruit Ride man". BBC News. 12 November 1999. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Cairns, Dan (6 September 2009). "A Mountain of One return with new album". The Times. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Murray, Robin (5 May 2009). "Oasis Crisis Claim". Clash. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Oasis drummer Alan White sacked". BBC News. 18 January 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Booth, Jenny (11 May 2004). "Oasis to roll with Ringo's son". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Don't Believe the Truth - Oasis: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Collis, Clark (30 September 2008). "Dig Out Your Soul". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Oasis member quits". NME. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- Gregory, Jason (15 May 2008). "Robbie Williams Drummer To Join Oasis". Gigwise. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Oasis split as Noel quits group". BBC News. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "The StageLeft Podcast: Mike Rowe: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds & Oasis". AudioBoom. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Oasis Noel quits tour". BBC News. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "Matt Deighton On His Time In Oasis". StopCryingYourHeartOut.com. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- "No Brother!". NME. 19 January 2004. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- Dig Out Your Soul (Media notes). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. Retrieved 5 July 2019.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Levine, Adam (5 June 2017). "Liam Gallagher opens up about Beady Eye split". NME. Retrieved 5 July 2019.