Oasis objects to auction of ‘The Desk Tapes’ containing unheard concerts, rehearsals and band dialogue

# What happened

A large archive of Oasis recordings assembled by the band's former sound engineer was made available for sale as a single lot called The Desk Tapes. The collection reportedly includes 63 concert recordings, more than 100 hours of rehearsals and soundchecks, and off‑mic or unfiltered dialogue between Noel and Liam Gallagher. Littleton Auctions listed the archive with a guide price of £1.2 million to £1.6 million and scheduled an October 3 sale.

# Who recorded it and what's in the archive

# Why Oasis objects

# Auction house response

Littleton Auctions acknowledged that Oasis's camp had expressed concerns but maintained that the sale was legal. Managing director Ben Homer told The Independent the house was acting with transparency, presenting the items with verified provenance and allowing collectors and institutions to engage with what it described as an important piece of British music history.

# Legal developments after the listing

Following the public objections, later coverage reported that Oasis had taken legal steps to block the sale. Some outlets say the auction was postponed or pulled to allow the dispute to be resolved, either through litigation or another process. Those follow‑up reports indicate the dispute moved beyond public statements to formal legal action.

# Why this matters to fans and buyers

The tapes contain material that would be new to most listeners: long-form rehearsals, soundchecks and candid exchanges between the brothers that are not part of standard releases. Because copyright and performance rights remain with the band, any purchaser would face restrictions on release or commercial use unless Oasis agreed. That legal and rights context is central to the dispute over ownership and control.

# Bottom line

A significant archive of Oasis desk recordings was offered for auction with a high guide price. The band objected publicly, saying they want the material back and asserting control via their intellectual property rights. The auction house maintained the sale was legal and transparent. Subsequent reporting says Oasis initiated legal action and the sale was delayed pending resolution.