David Bowie's first studio recording 'found in bread basket'

Demo tape from 1963 featuring a 16-year-old David Jones on vocals is expected to fetch £10,000 in September

David Bowie's first known studio recording is set to go up for auction, after it was reportedly discovered in an old bread basket.

The 1963 demo tape, which was rejected by Decca Records, features a 16-year-old Bowie (known then as David Jones) singing "I Never Dreamed" with his first band, The Konrads.

Bowie was The Konrad's saxophonist but it was decided that he should sing lead vocals for the tape.

It was re-discovered by the band's drummer David Hadfield, who found it in his loft along with other material including booking forms, photographs, letters and bills, and is expected to fetch £10,000 at auction.

"David had no inclination to become a singer at this point, his heart and mind were focused on becoming a world class saxophone player," Hadfield told The Guardian. "Our agent, Eric Easton, who also managed the Rolling Stones, asked us to do a demo so he could try and get us an audition at Decca.

"We had decided that we would do a couple of guitar instrumentals and one original song. Decca initially turned us down, but when they eventually gave us an audition later that

Auctioneer Paul Fairweather called the tape a "significant recording" and "completely unique".

Brixton-born Bowie left the band shortly after the Decca audition, which did not get the band signed. He returned as a solo artist six years later, changing his name to David Bowie after The Monkees' Davy Jones achieved fame with the band.

Photos of a teenage Bowie with The Kondrads are among the lots going on sale (PA)

Bowie died of cancer in January 2016, two days after the release of his 25th studio album Blackstar on his 69th birthday.

Hadfield's memorabilia will be sold via Omega Auctions in Newton-le-Willows on Merseyside in September.