The situation
If you were hoping to get your hands on some deep-cut Oasis lore, the plot thickens. A massive collection of unheard Oasis recordings—including 63 live shows, hours of rehearsals, and candid, fly-on-the-wall chats between Noel and Liam Gallagher—has been pulled from an upcoming auction in the U.K. after the band stepped in with legal action.
How we got here
Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire listed the "Desk Tapes" back in September. The collection was curated by Huw Richards, the band’s sound engineer from 1994 to 2001. The stash—which includes over 200 DAT tapes, 73 cassettes, and three MiniDiscs—was being put up for sale by Huw's son, Owain Richards. The auction house originally estimated the haul could pull in between £1.2m and £1.6m. It’s giving major history vibes, but the band isn't having it.
The fallout
Managing director Ben Homer confirmed the withdrawal, noting that the auction house is "very disappointed" they can't proceed. Owain Richards admitted that the band is currently suing him and his father to block the sale. The legal dispute centers on the fact that Oasis owns the intellectual property rights, meaning any buyer couldn't legally release the audio without the band’s green light. The parties have now agreed to pause the auction to sort this out in court, which is a major L for fans hoping for a leak.
While the tapes are off the table, the rest of the auction—featuring a signed Oasis parka and other music memorabilia—is still going ahead this Saturday.
Why it matters
Oasis is currently enjoying a high-profile reunion era, having recently hit the red carpet for their documentary and announced a massive '27 world tour. This legal move shows they’re keeping their thumb on the archives, ensuring they control their narrative (and their royalties) as the band’s main character energy returns to the global stage.
