Oasis raise concerns over auction of unheard recordings archive

Oasis have "expressed concerns" ahead of an unheard archive of their recordings set to be auctioned.

The recordings, comprising 63 live shows, as well as soundchecks and more than 100 hours of rehearsals from the Gallagher brothers in the 1990s, are set to go under the hammer next month.

They were collected by sound engineer Huw Richards, who worked with Oasis from the release of their 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe until 2001.

But Littleton Auctions, who have called the sale a "once-in-a-generation opportunity for fans and collectors alike", has confirmed the band does not support it.

Managing director Ben Homer said in a statement: "The Oasis camp is aware of the auction and has expressed concerns, which is entirely understandable given the scale and significance of the material.

"We're handling everything with full transparency and proper legal process.

"Our focus is simply on presenting these items responsibly, with verified provenance, and allowing collectors and institutions to engage with an important part of British music history."

The tracks, part of the wider collection dubbed The Desk Tapes, were recorded by Richards himself, who was the front-of-house sound engineer during the band's mid-1990s peak.

After joining Oasis' crew in 1995, he worked with them on some of their biggest concerts, including the Knebworth dates in August 1996.

He recorded the tapes directly from the desk, with Littleton Auctions calling it "the only master archive of its kind in existence".

The recordings are being brought to sale by Huw's son Owain Richards, along with other items including internal tour itineraries, original setlists, a used Epiphone guitar and an original Kangol Oasis Tour parka.

Richards said: "Dad labelled everything, recorded everything and backed it all up to cassette, over and over.

"I grew up listening to these recordings.

"Oasis were part of the family as much as they were part of the culture."

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He said that after the tapes had "been in my care" over the past two decades, it now "feels like the right time to pass them on to people who'll understand exactly what they are".

The Times has reported that any buyer would not be able to commercialise the archive without the co-operation of the band, as Oasis retain the intellectual property rights.

The Oasis auction will take place online and in person on 3 October.

The Gallaghers made an appearance at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday ahead of the world premiere of their documentary Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger.

The project, written by Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight, is part concert film and part documentary, and follows the band on their reunion tour that began in Cardiff in July last year.

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