Oasis Withdraws 1990s Archive Recordings From Auction After Injunction
An archive of unheard Oasis recordings consisting of 63 live shows, soundchecks, and over 100 hours of 1990s rehearsal tapes has been withdrawn from an upcoming October 3 auction at Littleton Auctions in the UK. The sale was suspended after the band filed an injunction against the auction house and the consignors.
The Disputed 1990s Master Archive
The collection was gathered by Huw Richards, who served as the front-of-house sound engineer for Oasis from the release of their debut album Definitely, Maybe in 1994 until 2001. Richards recorded the material directly from the desk during the height of the band’s career, capturing major milestones including their August 1996 Knebworth concerts. Littleton Auctions initially promoted the tapes as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for fans and collectors, identifying them as the only master archive of its kind in existence.
Owain Richards, son of the sound engineer and the consignor of the collection, addressed the legal friction surrounding the sale. “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,” Owain Richards stated. He added that the parties “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.”
Auction Status and Remaining Memorabilia
Ben Homer, managing director of Littleton Auctions, confirmed the withdrawal of the audio recordings in light of ongoing legal proceedings. “Littleton Auctions confirms that the Oasis recordings known as The Desk Tapes have been withdrawn from our October 3 auction in light of legal proceedings,” Homer stated. He noted that the auction house is disappointed by the stoppage, adding, “We are very disappointed that we cannot offer this significant archive as planned.”
While the desk tapes remain sidelined pending the resolution of the legal dispute, the rest of the scheduled auction is unaffected and will proceed as normal. Collectors still have access to other Oasis memorabilia included in the catalog, such as internal tour itineraries, original setlists, a band-played Epiphone guitar, and an original Kangol Oasis tour Parka. Representatives for Oasis have been contacted by the Press Association for comment regarding the injunction.
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