Ashcroft On The Verve

Richard Ashcroft has been talking to 6 Music about The Verve reunion and progress on their new album.

He says that writing new material was the most natural thing in the world:

"We just turned up and without going into too much psychology and ripping ourselves to peices, I think we met and within 20 minutes we were playing music.

"So I think we're just going to let the music do the talking and I'm very happy with the results we've got so far."

And he says relationships within the band are amicable:

"We've had a few fights but thats just the way it is - Nah - we're fine, we're cool, it's good. Y'know it's all about the healing process, it's about forgiveness and it's about moving on, it's all about love it's all about peace. No more fights."

He may have had success as a solo artist, since The Verve broke up, but Richard says there's nothing quite like being in a band when it's all going well.

"Certain bands have got certain combinations that a bit of magic happens and I'm very lucky to have been part of that before and looking forward to the future and doing it again so it's all very exciting."

The Verve kick off a winter tour at the Glasgow Academy on 02 November, and Richard says it will be hard to chose the setlist:

"Sometimes lyrically you feel uncomfortable with stuff you've done in the past, so lyrically it's got to be right for me now, and musically for the rest of the guys.

"But luckily we wrote some songs that had a timeless quality so we're not too fearful about it. Should be good concerts."

Urban Classic

The Verve's last album, Urban Hymns has won the Q Classic Album at this years Q Awards, Richard Ashcroft was there in person to collect the award and had this to say about the new album they are currently working on:

"It should be out by Summer, it sounds great all Verve fans will be happy with the mix, from people who loved Northern Soul, Urban Hymns, it's all there, we 're buzzing."

Verve Extend Their Stay In Manchester

The Verve have added an extra Manchester date to their forthcoming UK tour, after the original date sold out in just two minutes.

The new date will now take place at Manchester Central on December 21.

The band will now play five shows in December - starting at London's 02 Arena on December 13.

Possible Support Acts For Verve Comeback Gigs

Nick McCabe as posted info on his MySpace page on who he and Si Jones would like as support acts on the Verve's comeback gigs:

"As of 8th October we're in the thick of it. Will have the moby but probably no net access for the foreseeable future. Apols for the backlog. Must. Try. Harder. xxxx

Here's an idea... Hot water possibly... fuck it... Some highly inappropriate supports have been suggested for the December gigs. We've had a good think and Si and myself fancy: Modest Mouse, Guillemots, Jose Gonzales, Midlake, Arcade Fire, obviously some of these might consider it beneath them, you never know though. Of course I'd love Nova Saints and Exit Calm in there- what do you reckon? I'd personally love to see Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers every night, don't know if Greg loves us as much though, ha... Your gigs innit ;-) make sure you don't have to endure this weeks indie flavour on yr big ticket, lets all have a good night. Direct your angst at http://verveunofficial.forum5.com, and not at myself thanks (sorry Trish), and we can take notes. We love to help out new bands but we have certain criteria with this arena shit so the answer is 'no' before you flood me with requests. Cheers, see you in November.... "

Verve Break Silence About Inter-Band Fighting

The Verve have revealed how they settled the differences that split up the band after the release of their classic album, 'Urban Hymns'.

Richard Ashcroft and his band members explain how they resolved their issues in the new issue of NME, on sale now.

"We had quite a lot of time being angry," guitarist Nick McCabe explained, talking about the fighting that split the band. "Then, once you've sort of resolved a lot of things in your own mind, you kind of realise that it wasn't such a big deal in the first place.

"Then you think, 'God, what went on there?' All the stuff that happened since is a bit of a nonsense, really."

"It's all bollocks really," frontman Richard Ashcroft went on to say. "We're not here to get on the fucking couch. We've got our lives, we've got kids, we've got our wives. There's a lot of sacrifice goes on making a record and we're prepared to do that."

Verve Announce New Tour Dates

The Verve have announced a series of new dates after their comeback shows sold out.

The band will now tour in December, with tickets going on sale on October 5 at 10am (BST).

The dates are:

London O2 Arena (December 13)
Glasgow SECC (15)
Belfast Odyssey Arena (17)
Manchester Central (20)

Plus, see this week's issue of NME for a exclusive comeback interview with the band - the first time they have spoken anywhere since reuniting.

Bitter Sweet Victory Part 2

The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony has been voted the greatest soundtrack by songwriters in new poll.

'Bitter Sweet Symphony' by 'The Verve' headed the list, while Bob Dylan 'Blowin' In the Wind' and Bruce Springsteen's 'Born To Run' grabbed the second and third place respectively. 'God Only Knows' by 'The Beach Boys' came in fourth while Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah stood fifth in the survey conducted by Q magazine.

Fifty songwriters were asked to pick their top three tracks, from which the list of top ten tracks was made by the magazine.

Coldplay's writer Chris Martin chose The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony, the Beatles' Strawberry Fields and Jeff Buckley's classic Hallelujah as his favourite tracks.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony is as perfect a song as there is. And I say that as somebody who believes perfection is the enemy of imperfection," BBC quoted Martin, as saying.

Heres the top 10:

Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Blowin' In the Wind - Bob Dylan
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Life on Mars - David Bowie
Perfect Day - Lou Reed
Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles
Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones