Noel Gallagher’s acoustic guitar from Oasis’ 1996 MTV Unplugged performance has sold at auction for $299,376 including buyer’s premium. The sale set a world record for the highest price achieved at auction for an Oasis acoustic guitar, according to a press release. The guitar was part of the first day of Propstore’s Spring Music Memorabilia Live Auction, which took place Thursday.
The guitar was the star of the day’s proceedings, but it was not the top seller. That honor went to a notebook containing Freddie Mercury’s handwritten lyrics and notes from when the Queen singer was working on his debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy. The notebook fetched $365,904 with buyer’s premium.
The Guitar That Set the Record
The guitar in question is the acoustic instrument Noel Gallagher used during Oasis’ MTV Unplugged performance in 1996. The show was a defining moment for the band.
The sale price reflects the enduring appeal of that performance. For collectors, the guitar carries a direct link to one of the most significant nights in Oasis’ career. The record-breaking price suggests the market still values the band’s legacy highly.
The guitar also comes with a notable backstory. In 2022, Noel’s red Gibson ES-355, which was broken backstage in a fight with his brother Liam that broke up Oasis in 2009, sold for about $405,000. That earlier sale set a precedent for what an Oasis guitar could achieve at auction.
The Notebook That Led the Day
The notebook from Freddie Mercury’s solo work was the headline item of the day. It contains handwritten lyrics and notes from when Mercury was working on his debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy. The notebook was part of The Reinhold Mack Collection, which includes other memorabilia the producer had from his friendship and creative partnership with Mercury.
The collection has already reached $980,415, with 43 lots sold and 41 lots remaining from today’s auction. The notebook’s $365,904 price made it the day’s highest seller.
The Jacket From Michael Jackson
Another item that drew high dollars on the auction’s first day was a black-and-gold military-style jacket that Michael Jackson wore during several public appearances around 1991’s Dangerous and 1995’s HIStory: Past, Present and Future. The jacket, part of The Omer Bhatti Collection, sold for $299,374 including buyer’s premium.
The jacket was gifted to the Norwegian rapper and dancer Omer Bhatti from Jackson. Its inclusion in the auction added another layer of celebrity to the sale.
The Auction’s First Day
Propstore’s Spring Music Memorabilia Live Auction ran across two days, with Thursday being the first. The auction featured a wide range of items from rock history, from guitars to notebooks to jackets. The company’s music specialist, Mark Hochman, commented on the results.
“Setting a world record with Noel Gallagher’s MTV Unplugged guitar is a fantastic result for Propstore and a testament to the lasting connection fans have with Oasis,” said Mark Hochman in a statement Thursday. “Freddie Mercury’s handwritten notebook offers an extraordinary glimpse into his songwriting, and seeing it fetch the day’s highest price was another highlight. From the Reinhold Mack archive to Michael Jackson’s iconic jackets, these results show how much collectors value pieces with a personal connection to the artists and their music.”
The Blocked Live Recordings
Earlier in the week, Oasis filed a legal motion to block the sale of live recordings from the Nineties. Those recordings were originally set to be auctioned this weekend.
The Numbers Behind the Sale
- Noel Gallagher’s MTV Unplugged guitar: $299,376 including buyer’s premium
- Freddie Mercury’s Mr. Bad Guy notebook: $365,904 with buyer’s premium
- Michael Jackson’s jacket: $299,374 including buyer’s premium
- Reinhold Mack Collection total: $980,415, with 43 lots sold and 41 remaining
- Previous Noel Gallagher guitar sale (red Gibson ES-355): $405,000 in 2022
The guitar’s sale price was a signal of the strength of the market for rock memorabilia. A guitar from a legendary performance, with a provenance that links it directly to one of the most important nights in the band’s history, attracted serious interest.
The fact that it set a world record for an Oasis acoustic guitar speaks to the band’s continued importance. The guitar represents a moment in the band’s career that defined their reputation, and the price reflects that significance.
The notebook’s success shows that handwritten material from artists remains highly prized. A notebook with Mercury’s handwriting offers a rare insight into his creative process, and collectors were willing to pay a premium for that access.
The Second Day of Auction
The second day of Propstore’s Spring Music Memorabilia Auction is currently underway. The remaining lots from The Reinhold Mack Collection will continue to sell, with 41 still available.
The guitar’s sale is a triumph for Propstore, for Noel Gallagher, and for the fans who have kept Oasis alive through decades of change. It is a reminder that the things we collect are not just possessions. They are connections to the past, and they cost money to preserve.
Source material: “Noel Gallagher’s ‘MTV Unplugged’ Acoustic Guitar Fetches $300,000 at Auction,” Rolling Stone.
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