The set of recordings date back to the 1990s but the owner has stated he has been ‘sued’ by the band to stop the sale
Liam Gallagher (left) and Noel Gallagher arriving for the UK premiere of Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger, at Cineworld Leicester Square, central London(Image: Doug Peters/PA Wire)
A collection of previously unheard Oasis archive recordings has been withdrawn from auction after the band filed an injunction.
Earlier this month, Littleton Auctions announced they would be selling a collection featuring 63 live performances, alongside soundchecks and over 100 hours of rehearsal material from brothers and bandmates Noel and Liam Gallagher dating back to the 1990s.
The recordings were accumulated by Huw Richards, Oasis’s sound engineer, who collaborated with the group from the launch of their debut album Definitely, Maybe in 1994 through to 2001. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
However the auction house has now confirmed the sale has been halted after the band obtained an injunction.
Managing director Ben Homer stated: “Littleton Auctions confirms that the Oasis recordings known as The Desk Tapes have been withdrawn from our October 3 auction in light of legal proceedings. We are very disappointed that we cannot offer this significant archive as planned.”
The material was put forward for sale by Mr Richards’s son, Owain Richards, who commented: “It is true that Oasis have sued me and my father to try to prevent the auction of the tapes made by my father many years ago.”
He continued: “We have agreed to postpone the auction (of the tapes) to enable the legal dispute to be resolved either by litigation or otherwise in an orderly way.”
Mr Homer further noted: “The rest of the (auction) sale is unaffected and will take place as normal. We respect the legal process and will make no further comment on the proceedings at this stage.”
The auction will proceed with a collection of memorabilia that includes internal tour itineraries, original setlists, a band-played Epiphone guitar and an original Kangol Oasis tour Parka.
When the sale was initially announced, Littleton Auctions described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity for fans and collectors alike”, while confirming the band had not given their backing to the sale.
Mr Homer stated at the time: “The Oasis camp is aware of the auction and has expressed concerns, which is entirely understandable given the scale and significance of the material.
“We’re handling everything with full transparency and proper legal process. Our focus is simply on presenting these items responsibly, with verified provenance, and allowing collectors and institutions to engage with an important part of British music history.”
The recordings were made by Mr Richards, who served as the front-of-house sound engineer for Oasis during the peak of their fame in the mid-1990s.
Having joined the Oasis crew in 1995, he was present at some of the band’s most iconic performances, including the legendary Knebworth shows in August 1996.
The tapes were recorded directly from the desk by Mr Richards, with Littleton Auctions describing them as “the only master archive of its kind in existence”.
The Press Association has reached out to representatives for Oasis seeking a response.
