Published: April 7, 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online — Celebrating the icons of Britpop and musical history.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global memorabilia market, the 1990s-era Gibson Les Paul guitar used by Noel Gallagher to write and record the lion’s share of Oasis’s seminal second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, is set to go under the hammer. The instrument, described by auctioneers as the “architect of the Britpop sound,” is expected to fetch between £600,000 and £800,000 when it hits the block at Sotheby’s in London next month. For fans and collectors alike, the sale represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of “Wonderwall” history, just as rumors of a 2027 reunion continue to swirl.
The guitar, a cherry-sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard, was Noel’s primary workhorse during the 1994–1995 period—a time when Oasis evolved from Manchester hopefuls into a global phenomenon. It was on these six strings that Noel reportedly hammered out the chords to anthems like “Some Might Say,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” and “Champagne Supernova.” The instrument even bears the “battle scars” of the band’s notoriously volatile sessions at Rockfield Studios, including minor dings and a worn finish on the neck where Noel’s thumb spent hundreds of hours crafting the melodies that defined a generation.
Sotheby’s specialist in popular culture, Mark Stevenson, noted that the provenance of the guitar is “impeccable,” having been part of a private collection for the last decade after being gifted by Gallagher to a close associate in the late 90s. “This isn’t just a musical instrument; it’s a cultural totem,” Stevenson said. “When you hold this guitar, you’re holding the DNA of the 90s. It was the engine room for an album that sold over 22 million copies and changed the face of British guitar music forever.” The auction will also include a handwritten lyric sheet for “Cast No Shadow,” which Noel famously wrote about The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft.
The timing of the auction is particularly poignant. With the 30th-anniversary celebrations of Morning Glory still fresh in the public consciousness, and Liam Gallagher’s recent “Definitely Maybe” solo tour selling out in minutes, the appetite for Oasis memorabilia has never been higher. Experts suggest that if a bidding war erupts between wealthy private collectors in the UK and the US, the final price could easily shatter the £1 million mark, potentially making it one of the most expensive Britpop-era instruments ever sold.
While Noel Gallagher himself has not officially commented on the sale, he has famously stated in the past that he views his old gear as “tools of the trade” rather than sacred relics. However, for the millions of fans who spent their youth singing along to his riffs, the guitar is far more than a tool—it is the holy grail of a lost era of cool. As the auction date approaches, the question remains: who will be the one to pay the price for a piece of the Oasis legend?



























































































