Oasis Files High Court Claim to Block Auction of Unheard 1990s Recordings

Oasis stars Noel and Liam Gallagher have filed a High Court legal claim to block an October 3 auction of hundreds of hours of unheard 1990s recordings, including 63 live shows and candid band interactions, after negotiations with their former sound engineer collapsed.

The Desk Tapes Archive and the Blocked October 3 Auction

A sprawling private archive known as the Desk Tapes has been pulled from an auction after the Gallagher brothers intervened with legal action taken by the band. Littleton Auctions in Worcestershire, England, had scheduled the sale for October 3, attaching a guide price between £1.2m and £1.6m to the collection.

The material was assembled by Huw Richards, who served as an Oasis sound engineer from the release of their 1994 debut album, Definitely, Maybe, until 2001. The consignment prepared for the sale comprised 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes, and three MiniDiscs containing 63 live performances, soundchecks, rehearsals, and what is described as the sole recording of the band’s 1996 concert at Loch Lomond. Owain Richards, a sound engineer and son of Huw Richards, was handling the sale.

Liam and Noel Gallagher wearing black clothing stand on a red carpet with photographers stood behind them — Photo: BBC

Littleton Auctions confirms that the Oasis recordings known as The Desk Tapes have been withdrawn from our October 3 auction in light of legal proceedings.

Ben Homer, Littleton Auctions managing director

Managing director Ben Homer expressed disappointment that the auction house could not offer the archive as planned, though he confirmed that other memorabilia in the Saturday sale—including an original Kangol Oasis tour parka from the Richards collection, signed Nirvana photographs, Rolling Stones autographs, and a guitar signed by Brian May—would proceed normally.

High Court Injunction and Ownership Disputes Over Copyright

The legal battle centers on a fundamental disagreement between physical possession and intellectual property rights. While Huw Richards maintained possession of the tapes he recorded during his tenure with the group, the Gallagher brothers argue that the band retains the underlying copyright and intellectual property.

Legal papers filed in the High Court on Tuesday named Huw Richards, Owain Richards, and Littleton Auctions as defendants. The claimants listed in the action include the Oasis Partnership, Sony Music, and Big Brother Recordings, with representation from Fulham-based firm Bray & Krais Solicitors. Sources close to the former sound engineer indicated he was disappointed and bewildered by the lawsuit, noting that he had initially approached the brothers privately to offer them the recordings before talks broke down.

Oasis Files High Court Claim to Block Auction of Unheard 1990s Recordings — Photo: The News International

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, sound engineer

Owain Richards confirmed that the auction had been postponed to allow the parties to address the dispute through litigation or orderly negotiation.

Tour Announcements and Recent Band Milestones

The court filing coincides with a high-profile resurgence for the Manchester rock group. Last month, Noel and Liam Gallagher appeared at the Venice Film Festival for the world premiere of the documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, followed by its London screening. The band also confirmed plans for a Live ’27 world tour, building on the momentum of their commercial reunion outing in 2025.

Legal counsel for the claimants includes Simon Goodbody, who heads the dispute resolution division at Bray & Krais and previously defended Ed Sheeran in a copyright lawsuit over Shape of You, alongside partner Mark Krais, who worked on the 2025 reunion tour. Littleton Auctions stated that it will respect ongoing legal proceedings and make no further public statements regarding the case.