Oasis Takes Legal Action to Stop Auction of Unheard Recordings

A collection of previously unheard Oasis recordings has been pulled from an upcoming auction after the British band took legal action to prevent the material from being sold.

The archive, known as the “Desk Tapes,” contains recordings made during Oasis’ rise to fame in the 1990s. The collection includes 63 live performances, soundchecks, more than 100 hours of rehearsals and private conversations involving brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.

The recordings were made by Huw Richards, who worked as Oasis’ sound engineer from the release of the band’s 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe until 2001.

Richards’ son, Owain, had planned to sell the collection through Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire, England. The recordings had been given a guide price of between £1.2 million and £1.6 million.

However, the auction house confirmed that the tapes were withdrawn after legal proceedings were launched by Oasis. The auction had been scheduled for October 3.

Owain Richards confirmed that the band had taken legal action against him and his father. He said the family agreed to postpone the sale while the dispute is resolved through legal proceedings or another agreement.

The recordings are particularly valuable to fans because they capture Oasis during one of the most important periods in the band’s history. The collection includes material from rehearsals and performances that has never been commercially released.

Richards previously described the archive as a piece of music history. He said he had looked after the recordings for many years and believed the time had come to pass them on to people who would appreciate their significance.

However, ownership and intellectual-property rights remain central to the dispute. A potential buyer would not necessarily have been free to commercially release the recordings because Oasis retains intellectual-property rights connected to its music.

The wider auction will still go ahead, with other Oasis memorabilia remaining available for collectors. Items include original setlists, tour documents, an Oasis tour jacket and other pieces connected to the band’s history.

The dispute comes as interest in Oasis has surged again following the Gallagher brothers’ reunion and their return to the stage. The band has also announced another major tour for 2027.

For now, fans will have to wait to find out whether the “Desk Tapes” will ever become publicly available. The recordings remain at the center of a legal dispute between one of Britain’s most famous bands and the family that has preserved the tapes for decades.

Sources

• The Guardian — October 2, 2026.
• Sky News — October 1, 2026.