Music

An extremely rare Oasis gig contract requesting ‘sober-speaking’ staff is going to auction

If that wasn't a bizarre enough request for a contract as it is, that's not all it specifies either.

Emily Sergeant - 9th March 2021

An extremely rare Oasis gig contract that requests “sober-speaking” staff members is to be auctioned off this month.

The Primary Talent International contract was drawn up on 18th April 1994.

This was just a few weeks ahead the iconic Manchester band’s show at The Old Trout in Berkshire on 7th May, and three months before they released their debut album Definitely Maybe.

The venue had played host to other Britpop names of the era including Oasis’ chart-rivals Blur, as well as performances from groups such as Everything But The Girl, fellow Manchester band Inspiral Carpets, Spiritualized and Pop Will Eat Itself.

If “sober-speaking” staff wasn’t a bizarre enough request for a contract as it is though, that’s not all it specifies either, as a two-course meal that’s “not fast food”, water, fruit juice and soft drinks are also among the catering requests that feature, as well as a comprehensive snack list of “crisps, nuts, biscuits, fresh fruit (minimum of eight pieces)”, which is seen scribbled out.

And of course, as most Oasis fans would expect, “24 large cans of quality lager” was the main request.

If you’re wondering what the “sober-speaking” staff are for, it was requested that the venue management should provide them to “assist the band’s road crew” in moving equipment and setting up the stage.

The paperwork is expected to sell for up to £1,500 at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire later this month.

Hansons said the seller is a woman who worked in the music industry and bought it directly from a man who organised gigs at The Old Trout at the time, and she is looking to sell the contract, along with a flyer advertising the gig, ahead of her retirement.

A music memorabilia specialist at Hansons said items like this were “extremely rare”.

Claire Howell – Music Memorabilia Specialist at Hansons – said: “Items like this are extremely rare and this lot comes with great provenance. It also includes a flyer advertising the gig.

“It’s valued at £1,000-£1,500 but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it sell for more.

“It could easily whip up a bidding frenzy among fans at auction, such is the enduring popularity and nostalgia for Oasis. The seller is a lady who worked in the music industry and amassed an interesting collection over the years [and] she is now looking to sell some specialist pieces ahead of retirement”.

Claire continued: “The contract was purchased directly from a man who organised gigs at the time.

“Memorabilia linked to Britpop bands from the 1990s is gaining in value and UK groups don’t come much bigger than Oasis.

“This 27-year-old find has certainly brought memories of the band’s early days flooding back.”

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The paperwork is set to go for auction at Hansons Auctioneers’ music memorabilia sale on 23rd March, and you can find more information ahead of the sale here.