In a dramatic last-minute twist, Oasis have gone to court to block the sale of the "Desk Tapes" — a vast archive of unreleased 1990s recordings that was due to go under the hammer this month. According to reports, the sale was stopped just days before the auction, after the band launched legal proceedings asserting its rights over the material.
Image: Raph_PH / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) — Oasis performing at Wembley Stadium during the Oasis Live '25 tour, September 2025.
What Are the "Desk Tapes"?
The so-called "Desk Tapes" are a remarkable private archive of Oasis recordings made between 1995 and 2001 by the band's former front-of-house sound engineer, Huw Richards, who worked with the group from 1994 to 2001. According to the auction house, the collection runs to 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes and 3 MiniDiscs, capturing 63 concerts alongside more than 100 hours of rehearsals and soundchecks — plus candid backstage conversations between the Gallagher brothers.
The archive was consigned with a guide price of £1.2–1.6 million, a figure attributed to the auction house, underlining its status as one of the most significant hauls of unreleased Oasis material ever to surface.
Why Oasis Sued to Stop the Sale
Oasis — fronted by Noel and Liam Gallagher — joined forces with Sony Music Entertainment U.K. to file legal proceedings in the High Court on September 29, 2026 against Huw Richards, his son Owain Richards, and Littleton Auctions. The claimants argue that the band holds the intellectual-property rights to the recordings and that they should not be sold without its consent.
The action had swift effect: Littleton Auctions managing director Ben Homer confirmed that the recordings were withdrawn from the October 3 auction, while Owain Richards confirmed the postponement to the BBC.
What Happens to the Auction Now?
With the tapes pulled from the sale, the remainder of the memorabilia auction went ahead as planned. The lots that did go under the hammer included a Kangol tour parka, original setlists, tour itineraries and a band-played Epiphone guitar — proof of the enduring appetite for Oasis artefacts.
The legal drama unfolds against the backdrop of full-throttle Oasis mania: the band's Oasis Live '27 tour has sold out all 42 shows. Elsewhere in music news this week, fans are also buzzing about Greta Van Fleet's Palace For The People album, Tinashe's first Billboard 200 top 10 and Rosalía's 2026 Billboard Hall of Fame Award honor.
Watch the Official Video
While the fate of the "Desk Tapes" is decided in court, revisit the anthem that helped make Oasis immortal — the official "Wonderwall" music video is embedded below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the "Desk Tapes"?
They are a private archive of unreleased Oasis recordings from 1995 to 2001: 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes and 3 MiniDiscs spanning 63 concerts and more than 100 hours of rehearsals, soundchecks and candid Gallagher conversations, assembled by former front-of-house engineer Huw Richards.
Why is Oasis suing?
The band, together with Sony Music Entertainment U.K., says it owns the intellectual-property rights in the recordings and filed High Court proceedings on September 29, 2026 to stop them being auctioned.
Is the auction still going ahead?
The recordings were withdrawn from the October 3 sale after the legal action, but the rest of the memorabilia auction — tour clothing, setlists, itineraries and instruments — went ahead as scheduled.
Who is Huw Richards?
Huw Richards was Oasis's front-of-house sound engineer from 1994 to 2001, covering the band's imperial Britpop years, and the man who recorded and kept the "Desk Tapes" archive.
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