A collection of unheard Oasis recordings, featuring 63 live shows, hours of rehearsals, and candid conversations between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, has been withdrawn from auction after the band launched legal proceedings.
Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire, England, had listed the collection, made by the band’s former sound engineer Huw Richards, with a guide price ranging from £1.2 million to £1.6 million. The auction was originally scheduled for October 3.
Richards worked with Oasis from the release of their 1994 debut album, Definitely, Maybe, until 2001. The extensive collection comprises 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes, and three MiniDiscs, and was being sold by his son, Owain Richards.
Ben Homer, managing director of Littleton Auctions, confirmed the withdrawal to the BBC, stating, “Littleton Auctions confirms that the Oasis recordings known as The Desk Tapes have been withdrawn from our October 3 auction in light of legal proceedings.”
Owain Richards, also a sound engineer, described the collection as “a piece of history” in a September interview with the Times, noting the audio remained in good condition. However, he acknowledged that Oasis retains the intellectual property rights, meaning a new owner could not release the recordings without the band’s cooperation.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Owain Richards confirmed the legal challenge: “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 added, “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.”
The legal action comes as Oasis continues to be in the public eye, with Noel and Liam Gallagher having recently attended the world premiere of the documentary film Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger at the Venice film festival, followed by its UK premiere in London. The band also recently announced its Live ’27 world tour, building on the success of their 2025 reunion tour. Oasis has been approached for comment regarding the legal dispute.
