I love this guy. Richard Ashcroft is a true genius. Sonnet is one of the most perfect, heartbreaking songs I'll evet hear in my life. Aside from The Verve his early solo stuff is superb. Also, after a tricky start he's stayed remarkably healthy, which considering the business he's in is a testament to his strength of character.
Richard, mate, whenever I listen to you talking I keep telling myself I have to listen to your stuff more. You're truly inspiring. Actually, you're one of the rare and simply true.
Class great to hear from him as you said it's rare he does interviews. An absolute legend of my and many others youth and great to see him look so well!
He's looking great and he seems to be in a good place in his life. I hope they film the show for a DVD or a live album or something for those of us who can't be there (I'll more than likely be stuck in Australia as usual).
Richard is a God-like figure. He epitomizes utter musical genius. He's a unique specimen of human life. His superb lyrical prowess, his existential magnificence, his incredible ability to compose phenomenal melodic hooks, and his charismatic, jovial persona, are what make him a genuine legend! And we should ALL thanks his Mum and Dad, for having such an intelligent and articulate son.
Saw Richard at Brixton Academy on the Alone With Everybody Tour in 2001, Remember everyones reaction after opening with Brave New world. Best gig of my life, Richard is a Genius
[55 years old, I am] Richard Ashcroft wrote the deep mind-altering tracks on the soundtrack of my life, man; spent years and years, and then decades, writing science fiction and fantasy books with the Verve playing in the background ...
Thanks for this. Interesting that he didn’t completely dismiss a verve reunion. I have a feeling that they’ll have one last swansong in the next few years
You always have an affinity for the place you were born and raised in. I was born and brought up in Littleborough in the north and it always feels like a giant living room whenever I go back there. That transition from childhood to becoming a young adult and the people you take that journey with always remain special and your home and surrounding are the back drop to all that. Music has always been a huge part of my life and I was a teenager in the seventies just as things started happening in that scene in Manchester. I was in a band myself and we recorded in Cargo studios in Rochdale in 1978. But then we all went off to Universities and colleges up and down the country and that was the end of that.
This is the only comment that matters. Yes , Richard wrote the biggest songs, but the Verve brought out the best in him and the band added very meaningful depth to those songs. I wish he could see (accept) this.
The verve’s best material had very little to do with Ashcroft and a lot to do with Nick. Ashcroft had a purple patch with Urban Hymns, but the unofficially released alternative Urban Hymns was much much better than what we ended up getting.
Absolutely love Ashcroft, mellow vibe geezer and epic songsmith, acoustic player and vocalist, as cool as a body on ice in the words of the late great Bon
The NW is by far the best part of the country. North Wales, Liverpool, Manchester amongst others, beautiful places and people. A level of genuine that you don't get anywhere else.
I was at Haigh Hall. What a day/night. Beck played as well. Can’t remember others. Was wrecked. It was great tho. I live in Sydney now shame I can’t be there
The man, the myth, the legend History, Bitter Sweet, picture of you, drugs dont work, sweet brother Malcolm, most underrated British musician ever, absolute legend 🎶🎵🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
"A town called Wigan, its between Manchester and Liverpool". I've been saying the exact same thing for as long as I can remember (just in case people haven't heard of Wigan).
He's a Wiganer. Like almost all Wiganers for many generations - including myself - he was born in Billinge Hospital, which was on the Wigan side of the border. He has no affiliation with St. Helens. He went to school in Wigan, went to college and formed (The) Verve in Wigan, and they played their first gigs in Wigan. As he mentioned in the video, he's lived in several different parts of the country, which tends to change a person's accent, but it's more diluted Wigan than affected Mancunian.
