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Oasis Archive Pulled from Auction Amid Lawsuit

September 30, 2026Carlos Mendoza2 мин

A private archive of over 100 hours of songs and rehearsals by the British band Oasis has been withdrawn from auction due to a lawsuit filed by the group. The auction, initially scheduled for October 3rd, was halted after the band sued former sound engineer Hugh Richards and his son, Owen.

Littleton Auctions confirmed the removal of the recordings, dubbed the "Desk Tapes," citing ongoing legal proceedings. Owen Richards, who put the collection up for sale, stated that both he and his father agreed to postpone the auction to allow for a resolution through legal channels or other means.

Oasis, formed in Manchester in 1991 by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, was a leading act in the Britpop genre. The band released seven studio albums, selling over 60 million copies worldwide. Noel Gallagher departed in 2009, leading to the group's dissolution. The band reunited in 2024.

English Translation:

A private archive containing over 100 hours of songs and rehearsals by the British band Oasis has been removed from an auction scheduled for October 3rd. This action follows a legal suit initiated by the band against former sound engineer Hugh Richards and his son, Owen.

"Littleton Auctions confirms that the Oasis recordings, known as the Desk Tapes, have been withdrawn from the auction planned for October 3rd due to legal disputes," the auction house stated, as reported by the Standard newspaper, citing managing director Ben Horner.

Owen, the son of the former sound engineer who compiled the collection, explained that the band sued both him and his father to prevent the sale. He added that they agreed to postpone the auction to allow time for the dispute to be settled through court proceedings or other avenues.

The rock group Oasis was founded in Manchester in 1991 by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, becoming a cornerstone of the Britpop genre. The musicians have cited early British punk and rock music as their inspiration. Throughout their career, the band released seven studio albums, with combined sales exceeding 60 million copies. In 2009, Noel decided to leave the group due to ongoing conflicts with his younger brother Liam, which ultimately led to the collective's official disbandment. The band reunited in 2024.