Oasis members Noel and Liam Gallagher have initiated legal proceedings against their former sound engineer, Huw Richards, after he listed hundreds of hours of recordings for auction, with an estimated value of up to £1.6 million. The legal documents were submitted to the High Court on Tuesday, naming Richards, his son Owain, and the auction house based in Worcestershire as defendants, seeking to prevent the sale of the recordings.
Richards reportedly expressed disappointment over the Gallaghers' actions, stating he had previously approached them to discuss the possibility of returning the tapes. The recordings include soundchecks, rehearsals, and conversations between the Gallagher brothers from 1994 to 2001, a period marked by the release of their album 'Definitely, Maybe' and their subsequent rise to fame. Among the collection is said to be the only recording of the band's 1996 concert at Loch Lomond.
The collection comprises 209 DAT tapes, 73 analogue cassettes, and three MiniDiscs. Richards contends that as the creator of the recordings, he holds legal ownership, while the Gallaghers assert that they maintain intellectual property rights and copyright over the material.
A source indicated that Richards had initially sought to negotiate the return of the recordings to the Gallaghers, but those discussions did not succeed. The tapes are scheduled for auction by Littleton Auctions on Saturday, with estimates ranging from £1.2 million to £1.6 million. Both Littleton Auctions and Owain Richards are also named as defendants in the legal action.
Richards has stated that the audio quality of the recordings is high and ready for potential mastering. However, the sellers have acknowledged that intellectual property rights would prevent any buyer from commercializing the recordings. Oasis Partnership, Sony Music, and the Gallaghers’ label, Big Brother Recordings, are also listed as claimants in the case. The claim is being handled by Bray & Krais Solicitors, a firm with expertise in music and entertainment law.
Following a publicized split in 2009, the Gallagher brothers reunited for an Oasis tour last year. Recently, concerns regarding the auction were reported, with Littleton Auctions' managing director, Ben Homer, confirming that the Oasis camp is aware of the auction and has expressed understandable concerns regarding the material's significance. Both Bray & Krais and Littleton Auctions have been approached for comments.