Loudersound iconLoudersoundOct 1, 2026 ~5 min source read

Oasis sue to stop sale of ‘The Desk Tapes’; auction withdrawn pending legal dispute

A collection of unreleased Oasis material compiled by the band’s former front‑of‑house engineer has been pulled from a Worcestershire auction after the band launched legal proceedings to block its sale.

Oasis take legal action to block planned auction of unheard recordings, The Desk Tapes

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The archive includes 63 live concert recordings, more than 100 hours of rehearsal tapes, soundchecks and candid band conversations.

The parties have agreed to postpone the auction while the legal dispute is resolved, which may proceed through litigation.

Who is selling and who is objecting

Littleton Auctions had given a guide valuation in the region of £1.2m to £1.6m for the archive. Media coverage notes that a purchaser could not commercially exploit the material without the cooperation and permission of the band, which is central to the dispute.

Owain Richards told the BBC that Oasis had sued him and his father and that the auction would be postponed so the legal dispute can be resolved "either by litigation or otherwise in an orderly way." Littleton's managing director, Ben Homer, expressed disappointment that the archive could not be offered. Earlier reporting noted that the Gallagher brothers had "expressed concerns" about the sale and that they wanted the tapes returned to their possession.

Beyond the headline value, the collection contains primary recorded material—live performances, rehearsal sessions and private conversations—that raise copyright, ownership and publicity questions. Even if the physical tapes change hands, commercial use would be constrained without the band's consent, which is why the legal status of ownership and rights is decisive.

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