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The Verve

From Alfawiki
The Verve
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1990 in Wigan, England
FounderRichard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
Headquarters
Wigan
,
England
ProductsMusic albums, singles

The Verve emerged as a rock ensemble from Wigan, England, in 1990, founded by lead singer Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. During their initial reunion phase, guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong became part of the lineup.

Their debut album, A Storm in Heaven, showcased a psychedelic and shoegaze-inspired sound. By 1997, the group had released three EPs and three studio albums. Despite experiencing member changes, disbandments, health obstacles, and legal disputes, their commercial success peaked with the 1997 release Urban Hymns, which ranks among the UK's top-selling albums. This record included chart-topping tracks such as "Bitter Sweet Symphony," "The Drugs Don't Work," "Sonnet," and "Lucky Man." In 1998, they secured two Brit Awards, including Best British Group, featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, and earned a Grammy nomination for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" in 1999.

After reaching this high point, internal disagreements led to their split in 1999. According to Billboard, their career was characterized by a prolonged period marked by breakups, litigation, and substance challenges. Throughout an eight-year hiatus, Ashcroft dismissed any speculation about a reunion. The band reassembled in 2007, delivering the album Forth in 2008 with the single "Love Is Noise". However, ongoing tensions prompted a definitive breakup in 2009.

Origins and initial phase: Verve (1990–1992)

The founding members of The Verve connected at Winstanley Sixth Form College in Greater Manchester when Liam Begley introduced Richard Ashcroft to the others. Initially named Verve, their debut performance took place at a friend's birthday celebration in Wigan on 15 August 1990. Their early compositions were cultivated through extensive improvisational sessions. Led by Ashcroft’s vocals, the band attracted attention in 1991 for their unique sonic textures and experimental approach.

After signing with Hut Records in 1991, their early 1992 singles—"All in the Mind", "She's a Superstar", and "Gravity Grave"—alongside the EP titled Verve, garnered critical acclaim. These tracks dominated the UK Indie charts; notably, "She's a Superstar" entered the UK Top 75 Singles Chart. The group also found early recognition within US psychedelic music circles in cities such as New York.

A Storm in Heaven era (1993–1994)

Produced by John Leckie, their first full-length album A Storm in Heaven was released in 1993. The lead single "Blue" achieved No. 69 on UK charts and reached No. 2 on Indie charts. While critically praised, its commercial performance was moderate, peaking at No. 27 domestically. The subsequent single "Slide Away" topped UK indie rock rankings. During this timeframe, The Verve toured alongside Oasis and supported The Smashing Pumpkins during their European tour in 1993.

In 1994, they issued No Come Down, a compilation of B-sides that included a live rendition of "Gravity Grave" recorded at Glastonbury Festival in 1993. This was their first release under the moniker "The Verve", following legal complications with Verve Records. That summer saw them participate in Lollapalooza’s US alternative rock festival circuit while promoting a remixed version of "Blue" stateside. The tour was turbulent: Ashcroft was hospitalized due to dehydration, and Salisbury faced arrest for hotel damage related to substance-induced delirium; nevertheless, performances proceeded without delay. Ashcroft later described this US stint as nearly career-ending but initially adventurous.

A Northern Soul period and initial dissolution (1995–1996)

During the production of their sophomore album A Northern Soul (1995), produced by Owen Morris, The Verve encountered ongoing difficulties. Moving away from the experimental psychedelia of their debut, they adopted a more traditional alternative rock style with Ashcroft's vocals becoming increasingly prominent.

The album's lead single "This Is Music", released in May, marked their first Top 40 entry at No. 35. It was followed by the soulful track "On Your Own" in June, which peaked at No. 28. Upon release in July, the album reached the UK Top 20; however, three months later Ashcroft disbanded the group just before the third single "History" climbed to No. 24 in September. Reflecting back, Ashcroft acknowledged that despite commercial gains, internal dissatisfaction necessitated the split.

During this period, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher dedicated his song "Cast No Shadow" from (What's the Story) Morning Glory? to Ashcroft.

Shortly after disbanding, Ashcroft reunited with Jones and Salisbury but did not bring back McCabe. They briefly enlisted former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, who departed after several days. Subsequently, schoolmate Simon Tong, credited with instructing Ashcroft and Jones on guitar techniques, joined the band. In 1996 The Verve refrained from live performances except for Ashcroft’s solo support act for Oasis in New York; instead focusing on songwriting and recording new material.

Urban Hymns, acclaim and second dissolution (1997–1999)

In January 1997 Ashcroft invited McCabe back into the fold declaring: "nothing other than The Verve would do for me." With McCabe’s return alongside Tong on guitar duties, they finalized their third studio album Urban Hymns.

Template:Listen

This album marked The Verve’s commercial breakthrough. The lead single "Bitter Sweet Symphony" peaked at number two on UK charts in June 1997 and became an emblematic anthem of that year, aided by its feature in an automobile advertisement campaign. Its music video received heavy rotation on MTV, portraying Ashcroft walking resolutely through London amidst indifferent passersby. The track sampled the Andrew Oldham Orchestra’s 1965 rendition of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time"; however, rights holder Allen Klein refused clearance and subsequently claimed control over royalties and songwriting credits.

Launching the Urban Hymns Tour in August 1997 followed this success. Their next single "The Drugs Don't Work" secured their first UK number one spot that September. Urban Hymns topped the UK Albums Chart, surpassing Oasis's Be Here Now. Globally it achieved platinum status in the US and entered the top 30 there; meanwhile "Bitter Sweet Symphony" reached number twelve—their highest US chart position. Critic Mike Gee from iZINE hailed them as "the greatest band worldwide" during this peak period. November saw release of "Lucky Man", which attained number seven on UK charts. At the 1998 BRIT Awards, The Verve won Best British Group and Best British Album for Urban Hymns. Their music enjoyed extensive US radio play while Ashcroft graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in March 1998. During promotion tours drummer Jones collapsed mid-performance on stage. At that year’s MTV Video Music Awards, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" earned nominations for Video of the Year, Best Group Video, and Best Alternative Video.

On 24 May 1998 they performed a homecoming show before an audience of 33,000 at Haigh Hall & Country Park with support from Beck and John Martyn. European concerts afterward were disrupted by an altercation post-show in Düsseldorf on June 7 that left McCabe with a fractured hand and Ashcroft nursing a sore jaw. Due to these pressures McCabe withdrew from touring activities placing the band's future under uncertainty amid rumors of disbandment. Session musician B.J. Cole substituted for McCabe during live shows with some guitar elements sampled during performances. A troubled US tour ensued featuring smaller venues and Massive Attack withdrawing as support act. Returning to England for two headline appearances at V Festival, critics noted diminished energy compared to earlier shows; NME remarked on lackluster performances. Their final gig took place at Slane Castle in Ireland on August 29. Following a quiet period and a Grammy nomination for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" early next year, The Verve officially dissolved again by April 1999.

Post-split activities (2000–2006)

At time of breakup Ashcroft had begun developing solo projects alongside Salisbury and Cole. His debut solo album Alone with Everybody, released in 2000, reached number one on UK album charts.

Former members expressed varying views regarding later stages of The Verve’s career. McCabe characterized Urban Hymns as not appealing to genuine music aficionados compared to Oasis’s oeuvre. Ashcroft later expressed regret over involving McCabe during his solo work believing it complicated public reception due to association with The Verve name. Jones commented that musical direction had shifted toward orchestral arrangements and ballads diverging from his preference for loud guitar-driven sound but denied this caused internal splits.

Reunion phase and release of Forth (2007–2008)

Initially reluctant about reuniting, Ashcroft reconsidered after Salisbury contacted McCabe regarding a side project collaboration. This led to reconciliation among Ashcroft, McCabe, and Jones resulting in The Verve’s reformation without Tong to minimize previous interpersonal conflicts. Jones cited communication difficulties as rationale for excluding additional members though McCabe later mentioned intentions to include violinist Davide Rossi.

On June 26, 2007 BBC Radio 1 announced their reunion plans including a November tour followed by an album release slated for 2008; they declined multi-album contracts to avoid past pressures linked to continuous touring and recording commitments.

Tickets for six shows scheduled that November sold out within twenty minutes covering venues like Glasgow’s Carling Academy and London Roundhouse; strong demand prompted an expanded December tour featuring London’s O2 Arena and Manchester Central—all instantly sold out again. Touring continued throughout 2008 across North America, Europe, Japan, and UK performing at prominent festivals such as Coachella, Glastonbury, T in the Park, V Festival, Oxegen, Rock Werchter, Rock am Ring/Im Park alongside Eden Project Sessions.

Their comeback single "Love Is Noise" premiered on BBC Radio 1 on June 23 preceding its prominent inclusion during their Glastonbury Pyramid Stage closing set on June 29. Additionally they released "Mover," an unreleased track dating back to 1994 available as a free download for one week.

Released on August 25 UK-wide (and August 26 North America), comeback album Forth debuted at number one on UK Albums Chart by August month's end. Lead single "Love Is Noise" peaked at number four domestically reaching number sixteen across Europe; follow-up single "Rather Be," issued November later that year charted at number fifty-six within UK Singles Chart.

Final dissolution phase (2009–present)

By August 2009 reports surfaced via The Guardian suggesting The Verve had disbanded once more amid reports that Jones and McCabe ceased communication with Ashcroft believing he leveraged reunion primarily to boost solo endeavors. Ashcroft confirmed band had fulfilled its objectives with no immediate plans to continue collaboration.

One contributing factor included management mandating McCabe cease alcohol consumption during August 2008 though tensions had already escalated beyond repair beforehand. Subsequently McCabe joined forces with Jones alongside Rossi—a touring musician—and drummer Mig Schillace forming new band initially called The Black Ships later renamed Black Submarine. In September 2017 McCabe revealed he had not spoken with Ashcroft over past year deeming future reunions improbable; same year marked release of twentieth anniversary edition of Urban Hymns.

In April 2019 royalties and songwriting credits for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" were returned by the Rolling Stones to Ashcroft during his acceptance speech for Ivor Novello Award honoring Outstanding Contribution to British Music ceremony where he described gesture as “kind and magnanimous,” praising Stones as “the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band” calling development “life-affirming.”

Musical style

Jason Ankeny from AllMusic characterized The Verve's sound as "oceanic,” blending “the exploratory spirit of '[[60s counterculture|60s-era psychedelia]’” with “the shimmering atmospherics characteristic of shoegaze.” Their genre classifications include neo-psychedelia, Britpop, alongside alternative rock influences.

Core members

  • Richard Ashcroft – lead/backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (1990–1995; 1995–1999; 2007–2009)
  • Nick McCabe – lead guitar, keyboards (1990–1995; 1997–1998; 2007–2009)
  • Simon Jones – bass guitar plus occasional backing vocals (1990–1995; 1995–1999; 2007–2009)
  • Peter Salisbury – drums/percussion (1990–1995; 1995–1999; 2007–2009)
  • Simon Tong – lead guitar/keyboard duties (1996–1999), rhythm guitar (1997–1998)

Touring/session musicians

Timeline

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id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar
id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
id:keyboard value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass,_occasional_backing_vocals
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion
id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_albums

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bar:Nick text:"Nick McCabe"
bar:SimonT text:"Simon Tong"
bar:SimonJ text:"Simon Jones"
bar:Peter text:"Peter Salisbury"

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bar:Richard from:21/06/2007 till:end color:vocals
bar:Richard from:01/11/1995 till:01/03/1996 color:lguitar width:9
bar:Richard from:start till:31/08/1995 color:rguitar width:7
bar:Richard from:01/11/1995 till:28/04/1999 color:rguitar width:7
bar:Richard from:21/06/2007 till:end color:rguitar width:7
bar:Richard from:start till:31/08/1995 color:keyboard width:3
bar:Richard from:01/11/1995 till:28/04/1999 color:keyboard width:3
bar:Richard from:21/06/2007 till:end color:keyboard width:3
bar:Nick from:start till:31/08/1995 color:lguitar
bar:Nick from:01/01/1997 till:30/06/1998 color:lguitar
bar:Nick from:21/06/2007 till:end color:lguitar
bar:Nick from:start till:31/08/1995 color:keyboard width=3
bar=Nick from=21-06-07 till=end color=keyboard width=3
bar=SimonJ from=start till=31-08-95 color=bass
bar=SimonJ from=01-11-95 till=28-04-99 color=bass
bar=SimonJ from=26-06-07 till=end color=bass
bar=Peter from=start till=31-08-95 color=drums
bar=Peter from=01-11-95 till=28-04-99 color=drums
bar=Peter from=26-06-07 till=end color=drums
bar=SimonT from=01-03-96 till=01-01-97 color=lguitar
bar=SimonT from=01-01-97 till=30-06-98 color=rguitar
bar=SimonT from=30-06-98 till=28-04-99 color=lguitar
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</timeline>

Discography

Main article: The Verve discography

Awards and nominations

BMI Pop Awards

|- | 1999 | "Bitter Sweet Symphony" | Award-Winning Song | Template:Won

D&AD Awards

|- | 1998 | "Bitter Sweet Symphony" | Pop Promo Video over £40,000 budget | Template:Won

Denmark GAFFA Awards

!Ref. |- | rowspan="4"|1998 | Themselves | Best Foreign Band | Template:Nom |rowspan="4"|[1] |- | Urban Hymns | Best Foreign Album | Template:Nom |- | "Bitter Sweet Symphony" | rowspan="2"|Best Foreign Hit | Template:Nom |- | "The Drugs Don't Work" | Template:Nom

ECHO Awards

|- | 1998 | Themselves | Best International Newcomer | Template:Nom

Grammy Awards

|- | rowspan="2"|1999 || rowspan="2"| "Bitter Sweet Symphony" || Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal || Template:Nominated |- || Best Rock Song || Template:Nominated

Hungarian Music Awards

|- |2009 |'Forth' |'Alternative Music Album of the Year' |'Template:Nom'

Ivor Novello Awards

|- | rowspan="2"|  (Year) || Richard Ashcroft || Songwriter of the Year || Template:Won |- || "The Drugs Don't Work" || Best Contemporary Song || Template:Nominated

MTV Europe Music Awards

|- |- |  (Year) || Themselves || Best Alternative || Template:Nominated

Mercury Prize

|- |  (Year) || Urban Hymns || Album of the Year || Template:Nominated

NME Awards

|- |  (Year)[2] |'A Northern Soul' |'Best Album' |'Template:Nom' |- |  (Year)[3] |'Urban Hymns' |'Template:Nom' |- |'Themselves' |'Best Band' |'Template:Won' |- |'Bitter Sweet Symphony' |'Best Music Video' |'Template:Won' |- |'Bitter Sweet Symphony' |'Best Single' |'Template:Won' |- |'The Drugs Don't Work' |'Best Single' |'Template:Nom' |- |'Lucky Man' |'Best Single' |'Template:Nom' |- |  (Year)[4] |'Themselves' |'Best Band' |'Template:Nom'

Q Awards

|- |  (Year) || Themselves || Best Live Act || Template:Nominated |- |  (Year) || Urban Hymns || Classic Album || Template:Won |- |  (Year) || Themselves || Best Live Act || Template:Nominated

Brit Awards

|- | rowspan="5"| (Year) || rowspan="2"| "Bitter Sweet Symphony" || British Single of the Year || Template:Nominated |- || British Video of the Year || Template:Nominated |- |- || Urban Hymns || British Album of the Year || Template:Won |- |- || Themselves || British Producer of the Year || Template:Won |- |- || Themselves || British Group || Template:Won |- |- || (Year) || British Live Act || Template:Nominated

Pollstar Concert Industry Awards

|- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-

-Rockbjornen

|- | |- | rowspan="2"| (Year) | |- | |

-UK Festival Awards

| | | |

-Žebřík Music Awards

!Ref. | | | |


External links

  • (inactive since 29 June 2013)
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