Select Language

English

Down Icon

Select Country

America

Down Icon

Oasis fans can turn Britpop nostalgia into a goldmine, says DAN HATFIELD

Oasis fans can turn Britpop nostalgia into a goldmine, says DAN HATFIELD

By DAN HATFIELD

Updated:

It's official, Britpop is back as the Gallagher brothers decided to 'roll with it' and take Oasis on a stadium tour 16 years after their acrimonious split.

And what a road it's been so far, Cardiff's Principality Stadium was packed to the rafters, Wembley has been echoing with Wonderwall, and Heaton Park has seen fans reliving their end-of-the-century glory days as if it's still 1996.

Over 1.4million fans will see the brothers play across 17 UK dates, collectively spending more than £1billion on tickets, travel, merch and all those inevitable incidentals.

The average fan will part with £766 to experience the reunion, according to Barclays - including that inevitable 'oh go on then' £40 tour t-shirt.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not, in any way, attempting to downplay this once-in-a-generation tour.

It's more than a big deal. It's the kind of cultural juggernaut that makes grown men cry into their £8 pints, teenagers suddenly obsessed with a band they weren't even alive for, and resale sites light up in a way I've not seen in years.

SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR MODERN TREASURE VALUED BY DAN.

It's back: It's official, Britpop is back as the Gallagher brothers finally decide to 'roll with it'

In collector terms? The demand isn't just huge, it's stratospheric, stadium-shaking, Champagne Supernova-sized.

I'm currently inundated with emails from the public either wanting to cash in on their old Oasis items, or from fans heading to the gigs asking what to buy now that might become a future collectible.

The truth is that some tour memorabilia can be worth eye-watering amounts, but will you hit the jackpot if you were lucky enough to bag one of those much sought-after tickets?

RETRO ITEMS VALUED

Do you have jewellery or other modern items you want valued?

We're on the lookout for more Modern Treasure to shine a spotlight on. Email:

[email protected]

There are various reasons why tour memorabilia can skyrocket in value and I've seen it happen countless times.

Fundamentally if the tour happens at the right cultural moment, it can create a perfect storm of nostalgia, scarcity and demand.

Take the Rolling Stones for example. T-shirts from their 1982 European tour, which originally cost a fiver, have sold for £300 or more if in great condition.

If you were at a Ride gig in 1990 and bought their Nowhere T-shirt for the price of a pint, it was a clever investment as someone paid £2,010 for one on eBay.

And who could forget the infamous In Utero Nirvana long sleeve which, in mint condition, one collector just shelled out £1,300 for.

I must point out, these weren't VIP-only relics, they were stand-in-line merch, exactly like what Oasis fans are picking up today.

This isn't Oasis' first roll of the dice with merch, their memorabilia has been gold dust for years.

A Knebworth 1996 crew T-shirt recently sold for £500 and even a used wristband from that gig has previously sold for over £100.

So why can some of this merch attract such impressive profits? For me, the logic is simple: these aren't just items, they're tangible pieces of history and proof you were there when it mattered.

The more important question now, is how to make sure you bag a bargain today so that you 'don't look back in anger' in the future.

Whether it's Oasis or another pop phenomenon, here are my top tips for picking up something that could secure you a tidy little profit in the future.

When something's not fashionable, it's often undervalued or under collected.

Look for artists, events, or trends just before they hit or even if a band is popular, pick the strangest, ugliest item they're selling.

Less will have been produced, fewer people will have bought it, and demand will be higher down the line.

Bought a beanie hat at the Oasis concert? Pick the worst colour on offer. Today's bargain bin could be tomorrow's goldmine.

Scarcity drives desirability. The fewer made, the more valuable they'll be. Key things to look out for:

  • Numbered prints or vinyl;
  • Artist only test pressings;
  • Promo items (not sold to the public);
  • Venue exclusive or pop-up merch

That means:

  • Store it properly, cool, dry, out of light. A rare item in poor condition will always be worth less than a common one in pristine shape.

Think ticket stubs, setlists, flyers and wristbands. These small, often free items become rare simply because most people bin them. If you went to the gig, you already own future memorabilia.

When musicians drop collabs with fashion, tech or booze brands, the earliest releases are often the most collectible. They catch people off guard and vanish fast.

Bringing it back: The Gallagher brothers are doing a 41-day tour

If you're lucky enough to get something personalised or unique, keep the proof.

Photos, receipts, emails, or even a note explaining how you got it. Provenance adds credibility and value.

Look out for moments where music, fashion and politics collide.

Those items tend to age well because they represent movements, not just merch. Think early grime flyers, protest gig posters, or zines.

Collect items from emerging acts before they hit the mainstream. Early merch signed items or indie pressings often become iconic once they go global.

Don't buy what's hot now, buy what's had a proven track record. Every generation has its collectible booms: vinyl, Pokémon, Star Wars. Ask what's next music related.

What we loved as teenagers tends to skyrocket in value when we hit our 30s and 40s.

Think about what Gen Z were obsessed with five to ten years ago - that's your next collector landscape.

On top of my general tips, here are my predictions of what Oasis merch will be worth money in the future.

Right now, Live '25 is the music event of the moment. But if I'm honest, I feel cautious about whether this will hold a monetary value in the future.

With so many fans attending and merchandise being pushed harder than ever, I worry that people are sinking cash into items thinking they're future goldmines, when in reality, we could be looking at a saturated market for years to come.

That said, there are a few pieces I believe will stand the test of time.

You heard it here first: Bucket hats are back in fashion

The Adidas collaboration

Possibly the biggest hype drop of the year, and rightly so.

The Oasis x Adidas collab taps straight into the 90s aesthetic and will likely reach iconic status in decades to come.

I love the bucket hats at £40 which are so synonymous with the band. Buy one and don't wear it, leave the labels on and keep the packaging intact. It may not make you rich, but in mint condition, it'll be worth a decent sum down the line.

Limited edition prints

You can currently purchase individually numbered lithographic prints, tied to previous concerts and venues like Cardiff, Wigan and Earls Court, with some editions priced at £250 upwards.

Others include photographic portrait prints, like the moody Maine Road Noel or Wonderwall Outside Shoot, which feel more like gallery pieces than gig merch.

The golden rule? If it's numbered, venue-specific, or tied to a known photographer… Grab it, store it flat, and do not fold.

City-specific merchandise

T-shirts, posters and anything printed with the city or venue name on it can dramatically increase in value. Why?

Because it connects a collectible to a moment. The key, as ever, is pristine condition. Don't wear it. Don't wash it. Don't let your mate borrow it 'just once.'

My gut feeling is still that the items from this monumental music tour aren't going to make you rich because of the fact there's been too much hype, too many items mass-produced and too many people buying them.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a piece of pop culture history, just don't rely on it to cover your retirement one day.

So, buy the t-shirt, wear the wristband and drink the £8 pint as you sing your heart out because that's what it's all about.

If you do want to take a risk and collect some of this merch anyway, follow my golden rule: buy two, one to wear, one to keep in mint condition and hopefully come back to me in the future to prove me wrong.

Because in 20 years, even if that £40 bucket hat can't buy you a week in Ibiza, it might at the very least, cover your bar tab while you're telling someone the story of when you were there.

Dan Hatfield: Our columnist is ready to value your Modern Treasure

Dan Hatfield is This Morning's money-making expert and resident pawnbroker. He is an international specialist in antiques, jewellery, diamonds and collectibles.

Dan's first non-fiction book, Money Maker: Unlock Your Money Making Potential is available now.

This is Money's Modern Treasures column is after your items and collections for valuations.

Please send in as much information as possible, including photographs, to: [email protected] with the email subject line: Modern Treasures

We're after post-War items only please and we may contact you for further information.

Dan will do his best to reply to your message in his bi-weekly column, but he won't be able to answer everyone or correspond privately with readers.

Nothing in his replies constitutes regulated financial advice. Published questions are sometimes edited for brevity or other reasons.

As with anything, if you are looking to sell items and collections, it is wise to get a second and third opinion - not just rely on Dan's suggestions.

This İs Money

This İs Money

Similar News

All News
Animated ArrowAnimated ArrowAnimated Arrow