Oasis sues auction house over rare recordings
The pursuit of musical history often comes with a hefty price tag, and for rock legends like Oasis, the quest for their archived sound is currently playing out in court. The band is reportedly involved in a legal dispute with an auction house over a trove of rare and unheard recordings.
At the heart of the conflict is a collection of music history: 63 concert recordings, over 100 hours of rehearsals, soundchecks, and what are described as “unfiltered dialogue” between Noel and Liam Gallagher. This archive, dubbed The Desk Tapes, is considered invaluable, potentially containing the only recording of the band’s iconic 1996 performance at the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland.
The master recordings were meticulously gathered by Oasis’s former sound engineer, Huw Richards, who worked closely with the band from their debut album in 1994 through to 2001, recording the tapes directly from the sound desk.
However, the dispute arose when the Gallagher brothers reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the planned auction, with Owain Richards, the engineer’s son, claiming the band wished to retain the archive in their possession.
Following these disagreements, the situation escalated, leading to an injunction being issued by the band, which subsequently suspended the auction planned for October 3 with a guide price set between £1.2 million and £1.6 million.
The auction house confirmed the withdrawal of the tapes from the scheduled sale due to the ongoing legal proceedings, stating that while the dispute paused the transaction of the archive, the rest of the memorabilia—including original setlists, internal tour itineraries, a band-played Epiphone guitar, and an original Kangol Oasis tour parka—will still be offered.
While the legal wrangling over the audio treasure continues, the Gallagher brothers’ musical pursuits remain vibrant. Liam Gallagher recently suggested that Oasis might discuss making new music following their recent ‘Live ’27’ tour, an event that achieved phenomenal success.
The ‘Live ’27’ tour, announced after months of anticipation, sold out completely across all 42 dates, encompassing stops at Glasgow’s Celtic Park, Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, and numerous European and US cities. This massive run highlights the enduring appeal of the band and their ability to captivate audiences.
Meanwhile, the band’s legacy continues to be celebrated. The documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger is set to arrive on Disney+ on October 9, promising viewers exclusive unseen footage from the history of the group.
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