Kyle Dale, one of the world's most dedicated Oasis memorabilia collectors, has amassed over 4,000 items spanning the band's entire career, from early demos to stage equipment. His collection is now considered one of the biggest in the world, and he has documented it all in a new book titled This Is History: An Independent Oasis Archive.
Growing up in Openshaw, Dale was drawn to Oasis from an early age. "There was something very relatable about them," he tells the Manchester Evening News. "They weren't manufactured. They were five ordinary lads who looked and sounded like people you'd see walking down the street where you lived."
His fascination with the band goes beyond the music itself. "For me, Oasis isn't necessarily just the music, although obviously that's a huge part of it. It's the whole story: the personalities, the arguments, the ambition, the ridiculous things that happened along the way. There was something brilliantly chaotic about them."
A Collection of Historic Proportions
Two years ago, his memorabilia company Bittersweet Home hosted the 'largest ever' Oasis exhibition at Salford Lads Club. The event featured instruments, stage equipment, vinyls, posters, set lists, plectrums, and more. While Dale has since sold some items from the exhibition, he retains pieces he describes as incredibly precious.
"I've been fortunate enough to own some extraordinary pieces over the years," he says. "There's been guitar pedals belonging to Noel, tambourines and microphones of Liam's, the ashtray off the cover of Definitely Maybe, and the only item I've ever seen signed by every past member of Oasis - until Joey joined for the reunion tour."
One aspect of collecting that particularly excites him is acquiring early recordings and demos. "There's a demo from 1991 recorded literally weeks before Noel joined the band," he says. "I loved the hunt for that. A demo called 'For One So Young' from 1998 was something I'd wanted to hear for years, and it's brilliant."
The Auction Controversy
Early recordings have proven divisive among fans and the band alike. Earlier this year, a collection of early recordings - spanning 63 live shows, soundchecks, and rehearsals from the 1990s - was due to go up for auction, hailed as a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity'. However, Oasis expressed concern and issued an injunction order stopping the sale.
Dale said he was 'absolutely' considering bidding on the collection before the band intervened. "I think anybody who is seriously interested in the history of Oasis would have been fascinated by it," he explains. "Early recordings are particularly interesting because they give you an insight into how the band developed. You can hear songs evolving, arrangements changing and sometimes material that never made it any further than a rehearsal room."
He understands the band's perspective, noting the importance of provenance. "There's a difference between being interested in something and being prepared to buy it without knowing exactly where it came from and whether the person selling it has the right to do so," he says. "I can understand both sides of it."
A Labour of Love
Over the last five years, Dale has been compiling an independent archive of the band's history through items he owns, rare memorabilia from fans, and exclusive interviews. The resulting book, This Is History, aims to tell the story of Oasis through objects rather than the well-known narrative of Liam and Noel's rise to fame.
"I didn't really see the point in writing another book that simply tells everybody how Liam and Noel grew up in Burnage, formed a band and became famous," he says. "What I wanted to do was tell the history of Oasis through the objects, recordings, photographs and people who were actually part of it."
The research revealed surprising details, including the first recording of "Columbia" made with Liverpool band The Real People. "There's a little rap within the song that's now become known as the 'Columbia Rap'," he says. "It was performed during the Definitely Maybe tour, but not many people really knew what it was or where it came from."
Looking ahead, Dale admits he feels he has "gone full circle" with collecting. His focus now is on the book, though he remains open to new opportunities. Regarding the 2025 reunion tour and 2027 shows, he hopes the band might become "a little more adventurous with the setlist," personally wishing to hear "Roll It Over" and more from Standing on the Shoulder of Giants.
Interestingly, even Dale couldn't secure tickets for next year's shows. "To get to a few of the gigs would be quite nice," he says, "but I didn't even manage to get a code, never mind tickets!"
This Is History: An Independent Oasis Archive, by Kyle Dale and Danny Hall, is available to buy from bookstores and online now, including Piccadilly Records.
