Short Answer:

Bassist. Founding member. The quietest man in the loudest band of the ‘90s.

Long Answer:

Full Name

Paul Francis McGuigan. Known to all as Guigsy.

Born

9 May 1971, Manchester. Not that he’d mention it.

Occupation

Bassist. Vibe curator. Silent observer of one of the most volatile bands in British history.

Known For

Playing bass on all the early Oasis records that mattered.
Being famously quiet even in a band full of people shouting over each other.
Left in 1999. Disappeared so effectively he made Banksy look like a publicity junkie.

Voice

Rumoured to exist. Rarely heard on tape. Possibly still echoing faintly in the back of the Definitely Maybe rehearsal demos.

Family

Kept his private life private, which in Oasis world is basically an act of wizardry.
Had mates before the fame and kept them after. That’s his style. Low-key, loyal, and allergic to nonsense.

Career Highlights

Helped form Oasis with Bonehead, before Noel came in and turned the whole thing into a religion.
Played on Definitely Maybe, Morning Glory, and Be Here Now.
Backed out in 1999 with no bust-up, no book deal, and no fuss.
Briefly surfaced in documentaries but always looked like he’d rather be watching the footy.
Once said his proudest moment in Oasis was getting Tony Blair’s autograph. Make of that what you will.

Signature Look

Jeans. Baggy t-shirts. Casual jackets. Looked like every lad you ever saw standing outside the Arndale Centre in ‘94, wondering if the bus would ever turn up.

Signature Move

Standing at the back with a thousand-yard stare while Liam and Noel tore strips off each other.
Playing simple basslines that carried songs without demanding attention. Musical minimalism with zero ego.

Public Image

The invisible one. The loyal one. The one who didn’t need the limelight.
Never tried to cash in. Never slagged anyone off.
Probably still gets stopped in the street by middle-aged men who say, “Weren’t you in Oasis?” and he just nods and walks on.

Legacy

Proof that being in a legendary band doesn’t mean you have to turn into a caricature.
Played a bigger part than he’s given credit for, simply by being steady when everyone else was spiralling.
Remains the spiritual patron saint of keeping your head down and getting on with it.

Who is Guigsy?