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The Verve was a British rock band that formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester, in 1989. The band consisted of lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. The band was known for its epic and anthemic sound, combining elements of alternative rock, shoegaze, psychedelia, and Britpop. The band achieved critical and commercial success in the 1990s, especially with their third album, Urban Hymns (1997), which featured the hit singles “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, “The Drugs Don’t Work”, and “Lucky Man”. The band also faced several challenges and controversies, such as legal disputes, drug problems, and internal conflicts, which led to their breakup in 1999. The band reunited twice, in 2007 and 2016, and released two more albums, Forth (2008) and These People (2016).
Origins
The Verve’s origins can be traced back to Winstanley Sixth Form College, where Ashcroft, McCabe, Jones, and Salisbury met and became friends. They shared a common passion for music, and were influenced by bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Stone Roses, and The Smiths. They started playing together in local gigs and clubs, and adopted the name “Verve”, inspired by the jazz label of the same name.
The band caught the attention of Hut Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records, and signed a contract with them in 1991. They released their first single, “All in the Mind”, in 1992, which reached the top spot on the UK Indie Chart. They followed it with two more singles, “She’s a Superstar” and “Gravity Grave”, which also topped the indie chart and entered the UK Top 75. The band also gained a reputation for their intense and energetic live performances, which often featured long and improvised jams.
Breakthrough
The Verve’s debut album, A Storm in Heaven, was released in 1993, and was produced by John Leckie, who had worked with bands such as The Stone Roses and Radiohead. The album showcased the band’s atmospheric and psychedelic sound, with Ashcroft’s emotive vocals and McCabe’s swirling guitar effects. The album received positive reviews from critics, but failed to achieve mainstream success. The band also faced some difficulties during their tour, such as Salisbury’s arrest for destroying a hotel room, and Ashcroft’s hospitalization for dehydration.
The band’s second album, A Northern Soul, was released in 1995, and was produced by Owen Morris, who had worked with Oasis. The album was darker and heavier than their debut, reflecting the band’s frustration and disillusionment with the music industry and the media. The album featured songs such as “History”, “On Your Own”, and “A New Decade”, which expressed the band’s desire for change and independence. The album was critically acclaimed, and reached the top 20 on the UK Albums Chart. However, the album also took a toll on the band, as they struggled with drug abuse and exhaustion. Ashcroft announced his departure from the band shortly after the album’s release, and the band broke up.
Masterpiece
The band reunited in 1996, after Ashcroft contacted the other members and persuaded them to give it another try. They changed their name to “The Verve”, after a lawsuit from the jazz label Verve forced them to do so. They also added a new member, Simon Tong, who played guitar and keyboards. The band started working on their third album, Urban Hymns, which would become their most successful and popular album.
Urban Hymns was released in 1997, and was produced by Chris Potter and Youth. The album featured a more accessible and melodic sound, blending the band’s rock and psychedelic influences with elements of pop and folk. The album spawned several hit singles, such as “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, “The Drugs Don’t Work”, “Lucky Man”, and “Sonnet”, which showcased Ashcroft’s songwriting skills and the band’s musical chemistry. The album was a huge success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and number 23 on the US Billboard 200. It also sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and won several awards, such as the Brit Award for Best British Album and the NME Award for Best Album.
However, the album also brought some troubles and controversies for the band. The most famous one was the legal dispute over the song “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, which sampled an orchestral version of The Rolling Stones’ song “The Last Time”. The band had obtained the permission to use the sample, but the rights holders of the song, ABKCO Records, claimed that the band had used too much of it, and sued them for plagiarism. The band lost the case, and had to give up all the royalties and credits for the song to ABKCO and The Rolling Stones. The band also faced internal conflicts, as McCabe left the band during the tour, and Ashcroft took over the creative control of the band. The band broke up again in 1999, after their performance at the V Festival.
Legacy
The Verve is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential bands of the 1990s, and one of the best British rock bands of all time. They have influenced a diverse range of artists, such as Coldplay, The Killers, Kasabian, and Muse. They have also received numerous honors and awards, such as the Q Award for Best Act in the World Today, the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection, and the NME Godlike Genius Award.
The band reunited for the second time in 2007, and released their fourth album, Forth, in 2008. The album featured a return to their psychedelic and experimental sound, and included the single “Love Is Noise”, which reached the top five on the UK Singles Chart. The band also embarked on a successful tour, which included a sold-out show at the Madison Square Garden in New York. However, the band split up again in 2009, citing musical differences and personal issues.
Ashcroft continued his solo career, and released his fifth album, These People, in 2016. The album featured a collaboration with McCabe, who played guitar on the song “Out of My Body”. The album received mixed reviews from critics, but reached the top three on the UK Albums Chart. Ashcroft also performed with The Verve’s former members, Jones and Tong, at a charity concert in 2016, sparking rumors of a possible reunion. However, Ashcroft denied the rumors, and said that he had no plans to reform the band.
The Verve is a unique and visionary band that has created a rich and diverse body of work that transcends genres and boundaries. They are a true icon of British rock and music, and a source of inspiration for many.
