I'm in total agreement with you there, man... Have seen all but one show they played when in New York City going back to their Vernon Yard days ( BTW, how great was the lineup of bands signed to them in the glory days of the early 90s? What my point was when I started this was around maybe '97 or '98 tour they were without Nick's essential and truly genius level guitar artistry it was seriously such a lesser, not as mighty, moving and all together "smaller" experience. Respectfully, I loved the show regardless but without Nick the band was something far less but still better than most.
Nick McCabe is one of my three favorite guitar players ever. G. Coxon and J. Greenwood are the two others. His sound was just haunting. As a singer, I've been looking for the guitar genius who would sublimate my songs. Never found him. Richard, Damon and Thom are great songwriters but they wouldn't have reached that quality level without their amazing guitarists. McCabe is so underrated.
What a pretentious statement... People knew what he was doing nearly 30 years ago.. He was an incredibly gifted guitarist who was a master of heavy effects and manipulation of feedback.. Tasteful, subtle and aggressive in equal measure... It's no mystery
@@cloudburstskys2720 Pretentious? Kidding me ? Fuck off. The guy was using effects in ways people are still trying figure out. I'm complimenting his work dumb ass.
@@Eflat916 complimenting with a pretentious, statement yer... Come back to me in 20 years when youve they've worked out how he's getting those sounds and we can finally talk about it 😉 my betting is, great guitarist, nice guitar, valve amp turned up loud, lots of reverb in the loop , delay and overdrive and an understanding of feedback... Plus one of the greatest bands of all time to get inspiration from...
Its honestly crazy how much he undersells himself despite being in one of the biggest British bands of the last 40 years! He never talks about it either because there's so much more to who he is, by far one of the most interesting and knowledge people I've known.
James Cobalt I don’t even like Ashcroft solo stuff, it’s very middle of the road, and the Ashcroft-led Urban hymns is my least favourite Verve album. The Verve were always at their best when the 4 members were in sync with each other
@@Greggorious123 This. I do think Urban Hymns is a great record...but at the same time I feel its only half of The Verve doing their thing as a band and half of Richard Ashcroft doing his singer songwriter schtick. Theres so many UH era songs that feature the band killing it together like Stamped but they were made B-sides for whatever reason. Their last album did the same thing
Excellent interview. So glad to see McCabe doing well. Heartbreaking to have seen him auction off much of his gear from his Verve days a few years back. Glad he's landed in a good place.
Had the pleasure of an online chat with Nick, during the recording of our 2nd LP. He let a few tips and hints on his early sound slip which we gratefully received and used. A real top fella. Hope to see him at one of our gig. Massive love for ASIH.
One of the greatest and most original players also very underrated, i hope that he releases new music soon. With a band or solo. Its a shame that the verve could not stay together since their last reunion in 2007/8
People say he’s underrated. He is not, absolutely not. One of the finest players of his generation, along with Bernard Butler and Graham Coxon. I put McCabe up there with Marr, I really do. A Storm in Heaven is truly outstanding and that is due to McCabes unmistakable sound.
Nick McCabes beautiful guitar work made the verve, and when he wanted to he would make the band real rock and roll, a truly humble guy that has been sold out by Ashcroft
That's what I was thinking. Super chilled and a bit shy. Total opposite of Richard but sure that's what also created that spark in their music. If Richard not keen get Steve Mason in for a few albums.
One of the most underrated guitarists going. Does so much musically whilst also doing so little. Look at that Glastonbury performance and you’ll see why. I feel as though Ashcroft took the piss out of his fellow band mates during and after the 08 reunion really- he went on to launch his solo career and leave the lads behind. Shithouse trick really
I feel that aswell. I'm a big Ashcroft fan and I appreciate that Ashcroft wrote some incredible songs but in my opinion, the other band members took it to another level.
@@dontassumemyfender9866 agree completely. Although RA has great voice (another Frank Sinatra imo) he wouldn’t have even been noticed without his incredibly talented band mates. Megalomaniacs have a way of sucking the O2, and ambition, out of the room. McCabe, Simon (bass) & that drummer could have elevated ANY decent frontman. I am sure they created anll instrumental parts of each of Verve’s songs, which were key.
Sorry, just to add i could listen to any verve track without the vocals, genuinely i can close my eyes and feel surrounded by the instruments and taken away from the world to a beautiful other world
Nice interview and great job in getting Nick involved! Hope the assignment/project was a success. And my own two cents on Nick: While I wouldn't say he directly influences my guitar style, any time I start veering towards John Squire Second Coming/Seahorses-era style major/blues scale fret wankery, I imagine Nick standing there shaking his head in disapproval, asking what the f*** I'm doing!
The thing is, that his guitar playing (like in "all in the mind") is very smooth, but he is making a damn-fantastic-good job with all the reverb and delay pedals!!
Would be great to see the verve back together there sound was unique all down to this genius guitar sound, who knows maybe one day eh live and hope for it
I've been a fan of The Verve since the mid-nineties and this is the first interview I've watch with Nick McCabe. He seems so down to earth, very humble and modest. Just seems like a really nice guy :-)
Brilliant lad, so humble, he was on his way to Hendrix level status among the guitar god's, his creativity has progressed into more ambient themes and movie scores..
Ironic and unfortunate that an interview from inside a recording studio would have such poor quality audio. Nonetheless, Nick is a gem, and any opportunity to hear him is welcome.
Did the interviewer need to catch a bus here!? Nick is a legend, could speak to this fella all day long. Master of the guitar in my ears and speaks so well. Sorry, but thought these questions were a bit "off the shelf". This fella deserves a lot of respect. Verve was nothing without him.
A magician of a guitarist. Probably my favourite. Love The Verve, first 2 albums, ep, no come down. Felt Urban Hymns wasn't really a band album. They're one band i bought every single for, as the b - sides were superb.
So if Nick is still friends with his band mates of The Verve. Was it RA that fell out with the band? I don’t why but I always thought it was Nick that was troubled? Urban Hymns is a Masterpiece. The only album that takes you through every feeling & emotion.
It’s a shame that during the height of verve people didn’t really understand what this guy was doing musically due to the fact that he just wanted to fly under the radar. This guy is so intelligent musically !
I understood it immediately when Urban Hymns came out. Glad he is teaching now. Not all his students will be able to reach heights he did; so glad to he’s still doing session work also. Verve likely vacuumed most of his band ambitions out of him; would have me also. 👍
is it just me or does this kid not realise he is interviewing one the THEE best guitarists out of England in the past 30 years !!! he doesnt seem like he is too excited . id be flippin my shit if i had 20 min with Nick.
Nick appears to be wearing a dark green shirt with jeans, unsure of brand, I was wearing some jeans I paid £1 for in a charity shop, a top that cost £5 on everything5pounds.com and a beanie over one of my longer wigs, hope that helps.
The interviewer looks thoroughly disinterested a lot of the time and is just scanning round the room a lot of the time looking completely disengaged. Shame, Nick deserves more respect!