Oasis Archive Auction Blocked
Oasis and Sony File Legal Action to Halt Auction of Unreleased Archive
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Key Points
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The archive reportedly comprises 209 DAT tapes, 73 cassettes and three MiniDiscs, and Littleton’s guide price was £1.2 million to £1.6 million.
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The legal action was filed in London’s High Court on September 29 and also names Littleton Auctions, alongside Huw Richards and his son Owain.
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Richards worked with Oasis from the release of its 1994 debut album until 2001, and gathered the master recordings directly from the sound desk.
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Owain Richards said the band wanted the recordings back, telling The Times: “They don’t want these tapes to be sold through anyone else.”
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The dispute unfolded amid renewed attention to Oasis: the band reunited in 2024, and a further 42-show tour was scheduled to begin in May.
Oasis has filed a lawsuit in London's High Court to block the auction of a rare archive of unreleased recordings known as the "Desk Tapes." Vice reports the collection includes more than 100 hours of 1990s live shows, rehearsals, and soundchecks that were set to sell for up to £1.6 million on October 3. The legal action names former sound engineer Huw Richards, his son Owain, and auction house Littleton Auctions.
The band reunited in 2024 and has a 42-show tour scheduled for May, raising the stakes around control of its archived material. Newser reports the archive contains 209 DAT tapes, 73 cassettes, and three MiniDiscs recorded directly from the sound desk between 1994 and 2001. Littleton Auctions withdrew the archive from sale while the legal dispute proceeds, though other memorabilia will still auction as planned.
The "Desk Tapes" and Their Unreleased Content
The archive spans a decade of Oasis's most active period, captured directly from the band's sound console. Alt 98.7 FM notes the collection includes rare live performances and rehearsals, with one particularly valuable recording: a 1996 concert in Scotland that may not exist anywhere else. The tapes document the band during their commercial peak, from their 1994 debut album through their early 2000s releases.
Former Engineer Richards' Unexpected Sale
Huw Richards worked as Oasis's sound engineer from 1994 until 2001, giving him direct access to master recordings from the sound desk. He and his son Owain decided to put the collection up for auction without the band's permission. The Times quoted Owain Richards saying the band wanted the tapes back: "They don't want these tapes to be sold through anyone else."
Why the Timing Matters: Oasis's 2024 Reunion
The dispute erupted as Oasis reclaimed massive cultural attention. The Gallagher brothers ended their 15-year split in 2024 and announced a 42-show tour beginning in May 2025. Streamline Feed reports the band filed the High Court action on September 29. This timing suggests Oasis wanted to control any narrative around unreleased material as they prepare for their biggest comeback moment in decades.
Littleton Auctions Pauses Sale, Legal Details Unclear
Littleton Auctions removed the "Desk Tapes" archive from its October 3 catalog following the lawsuit. The specific legal arguments remain private—the High Court filing details have not been made public. Meanwhile, the rest of the memorabilia auction will proceed as scheduled. The outcome hinges on questions of ownership, copyright, and the engineer's right to sell material recorded in his professional capacity.
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