Liam Gallagher caused the damage on the night Oasis broke up in 2009
The guitar damaged during Oasis’ break-up has sold for £289,800. Noel Gallagher’s cherry red Gibson ES-355, famously damaged during the band’s final concert in Paris in 2009, has headlined a sale of music memorabilia.
Propstore’s sale of more than 400 lots of rare instruments, handwritten lyrics, stage-used pieces and iconic personal artefacts achieved a day-one total of £1,666,500 on Thursday (Oct 23). Other highlights included a Banksy Think Tank artwork, which went for £107,100, and Elvis Presley’s worn Grand Prix sunglasses, which sold for £75,600.
In light of the auction, Mark Hochman, Propstore’s Music Specialist said: “The record-breaking sale of Noel Gallagher’s red Gibson guitar not only set a new benchmark for an Oasis instrument but also marked the highest total ever achieved for Oasis memorabilia worldwide.”
Other auction highlights
- OASIS: NOEL GALLAGHER – Noel Gallagher’s 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 Guitar, damaged by Liam Gallagher the night Oasis broke up – Sold for £289,800 ($382,536)
- BANKSY – Think Tank original graffiti artwork – Sold for £107,100 ($141,372)
- ELVIS PRESLEY – Pair of worn Grand Prix sunglasses – Sold for £75,600 ($99,792)
- OASIS – Complete collection of Noel Gallagher’s handwritten lyrics for all seven Oasis studio albums – Sold for £75,600 ($99,792)
- MICHAEL JACKSON – Smooth Criminal music video white fedora – Sold for £50,400 ($66,528)
- OASIS – Noel Gallagher’s Guild JF55-12 acoustic guitar used in Live by the Sea, Whatever music video and TV performances – Sold for £50,400 ($66,528)
- OASIS – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? tour stage backdrop – Sold for £31,500 ($41,580)
- THE BEATLES – Swedish tour 1963 poster signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – Sold for £31,500 ($41,580)
- JIMI HENDRIX – Handwritten working lyrics for Straight Ahead – Sold for £40,950 ($54,054)
- QUEEN – Freddie Mercury-owned kimono – Sold for £10,080 ($13,505)
- DAVID BOWIE – Handwritten and signed letter to John Peel – Sold for £7,560 ($9,979)
The star-studded sale comes shortly after another red guitar with a fascinating back story also sold at a separate auction for an eye-watering sum. The Baldwin Burns Double Six solid electric 12-string instrument was lent to a British rock icon and reportedly not returned for 50 years.
Based on information from Gardiner Houlgate auctioneers, the borrower was Mark Knopfler, the lead guitarist and vocalist of Dire Straits. The music legend reportedly borrowed this from his old friend Jeff Sadler of Gosforth, who played guitar for several northeast bands, including Brethren, which later became Lindisfarne.
Knopfler, now 76, often played this guitar both behind the scenes and on stage, notably during Dire Straits’ worldwide hit album, Communiqué (1979), and at the Prince’s Trust concert at Wembley Arena (1986).
The hammer price was understood to be £30,000. In a statement before the September auction, Luke Hobbs, auctioneer from Gardiner Houlgate, said: “Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits had a huge influence on music and guitar players not just in the 1980s and 90s, but through to today.
“I’m confident this guitar will attract a lot of attention from fans and collectors alike – particularly as it has such a great story behind it.”
Before embarking on his solo career, Mark Knopfler was the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995. Classic Rock magazine hailed them as ‘the biggest British rock band of the 80s,’ and Dire Straits achieved phenomenal success, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
Despite 50 years in Knopfler’s possession, the Double Six guitar is still regarded as being in its ‘perfect original condition’. Initially listed for Christie’s Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection Sale, which raised £8.5 million, the instrument was withdrawn before the auction in 2024 and was returned to its original owner, Jeff Sadler.
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