Richard Ashcroft has reminisced about the days when Oasis supported him - and played in front of only two people at a gig.
During an intimate live acoustic session inside the Absolute Radio studio in London, showcasing new tracks from his latest project RPA & The United Nations Of Sound, he told Geoff Lloyd about his past support act.
"Yeah, I remember very early in the tour, I think it was Glasgow, we went backstage and Liam just said: 'I hate being in a band, I hate being in a band', you know, because he just played the whole of the first album to two people, two kids in Adidas tracksuits," the former Verve star recalled.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Ashcroft Doubts Beady Eye's Ability To Top Oasis
Richard Ashcroft doesn't believe Liam Gallagher's new band Beady Eye will come close to recreating the success his former outfit Oasis enjoyed, despite Gallagher's claims to the contrary.
Speaking to XFM the former Verve man said, "I'm really excited about Liam's stuff, and Noel [Gallagher]'s stuff too. They're both going to be great. Whether timing-wise, or culturally, anything is going to be as big as Oasis? I don't think so. I don't think anyone will."
Ashcroft explained his reasoning, "Because of the nature of Oasis when they arrived, there was a big vacuum, everyone was scared of rock 'n' roll. And Noel did it. Noel showed the way for a lot of people that there's still some great songs to be written."
The singer's remarks come on the back of Liam's claims that Beady Eye will be "bigger than Oasis,"
Although Ashcroft disagrees with his fellow frontman, he believes Gallagher's hyping of his new band is just part of who he is, and explained, "We all talk a little bit like that because we're all imbued with the sporting/boxing promoter way of doing interviews. That's the way we were brought up."
Speaking to XFM the former Verve man said, "I'm really excited about Liam's stuff, and Noel [Gallagher]'s stuff too. They're both going to be great. Whether timing-wise, or culturally, anything is going to be as big as Oasis? I don't think so. I don't think anyone will."
Ashcroft explained his reasoning, "Because of the nature of Oasis when they arrived, there was a big vacuum, everyone was scared of rock 'n' roll. And Noel did it. Noel showed the way for a lot of people that there's still some great songs to be written."
The singer's remarks come on the back of Liam's claims that Beady Eye will be "bigger than Oasis,"
Although Ashcroft disagrees with his fellow frontman, he believes Gallagher's hyping of his new band is just part of who he is, and explained, "We all talk a little bit like that because we're all imbued with the sporting/boxing promoter way of doing interviews. That's the way we were brought up."
Thursday, 15 July 2010
NME Trashes United Nations Of Sound Debut
NME reviewer Gavin Haynes has trashed the self-titled debut album of Richard Ashcroft's new band, United Nations Of Sound, rating it a 3 on a scale of 10.
"[Richard's] solo career has already been a steady plummet to mediocrity - arrested only by The Verve's reunion - but United Nations Of Sound finds Richard actually battling it out with Des'ree for the wooden spoon in cod-philosophizing about 'life.'" And he quotes a line from Ashcroft's song "Born Again" that I think is kinda genius: "I saw Venus up in the sky/I turned down my head and Serena smiled... and I'm born again."
Haynes' NME colleague Rick Martin defends Ashcroft, calling him "the greatest frontman of his generation."
"[Richard's] solo career has already been a steady plummet to mediocrity - arrested only by The Verve's reunion - but United Nations Of Sound finds Richard actually battling it out with Des'ree for the wooden spoon in cod-philosophizing about 'life.'" And he quotes a line from Ashcroft's song "Born Again" that I think is kinda genius: "I saw Venus up in the sky/I turned down my head and Serena smiled... and I'm born again."
Haynes' NME colleague Rick Martin defends Ashcroft, calling him "the greatest frontman of his generation."
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Ashcroft: Verve Reformation Tensions Were 'Inevitable'
Richard Ashcroft has said it was "inevitable" that there were inter-band tensions when The Verve reformed in 2007.
The singer, who is set to release his debut album with new project United Nations Of Sound later this month (July 19), said there was a "realness" to the Wigan band's comeback.
"It wasn't a marketing thing. It was much better than hanging around," he told the Observer.
Ashcroft also discussed disappearing from the public eye over the past couple of years, saying it is "fantastic" that he is outside the mainsteam again.
"But I don't feel on the outside when I walk the streets. I'm not on the outside to the painters, to the delivery guys, the shop assistants. I'm not on the outside to the people of England," he remarked.
In 2008, The Verve released their fourth album 'Forth and headlined a trio of UK festivals - Glastonbury, T In The Park and V Festival.
However, there were regular rumours of tensions and arguments, with Ashcroft describing the reformation at the time as "not some 'Mills And Boon' scene running down the beach as the sun sets".
The singer, who is set to release his debut album with new project United Nations Of Sound later this month (July 19), said there was a "realness" to the Wigan band's comeback.
"It wasn't a marketing thing. It was much better than hanging around," he told the Observer.
Ashcroft also discussed disappearing from the public eye over the past couple of years, saying it is "fantastic" that he is outside the mainsteam again.
"But I don't feel on the outside when I walk the streets. I'm not on the outside to the painters, to the delivery guys, the shop assistants. I'm not on the outside to the people of England," he remarked.
In 2008, The Verve released their fourth album 'Forth and headlined a trio of UK festivals - Glastonbury, T In The Park and V Festival.
However, there were regular rumours of tensions and arguments, with Ashcroft describing the reformation at the time as "not some 'Mills And Boon' scene running down the beach as the sun sets".
Friday, 9 July 2010
Richard Ashcroft Is Born Again
Richard Ashcroft & the United Nations of Sound have today revealed the video for their brand new single ‘Born Again’.
‘Born Again’ is released on July 19th through Parlophone. Following on from ‘Are You Ready’ and a string of sold out European shows, it’s the second track to be taken from their debut album ‘United Nations Of Sound’, also released on 19th July.
Richard Ashcroft - Born Again
“Sometimes phrases get hi-jacked” Ashcroft says, discussing the sentiment behind the single. “Being born again is something that can happen to anyone at any given time and it doesn’t have to have a Christian overtone to it. There are certain moments in life where we all come out of a hole and feel like we’ve been given another chance… We feel born again.”
Recorded in Los Angeles, New York and London, ‘United Nations of Sound’ was produced by Chicago hip-hop pioneer No ID (Common, Jay-Z). String arrangements are by Benjamin Wright, the man responsible for the strings on Michael Jackson’s ‘Off The Wall’, and engineered by Grammy Award-winning Motown legend Reggie Dozier (Outkast, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye). Other musicians featuring on the album include Mary J Blige’s guitarist Steve Wyreman, Paul ‘DW’ Wright (bass), and Derrick Wright (drums). All songs written by Richard Ashcroft.
‘Born Again’ is released on July 19th through Parlophone. Following on from ‘Are You Ready’ and a string of sold out European shows, it’s the second track to be taken from their debut album ‘United Nations Of Sound’, also released on 19th July.
Richard Ashcroft - Born Again
“Sometimes phrases get hi-jacked” Ashcroft says, discussing the sentiment behind the single. “Being born again is something that can happen to anyone at any given time and it doesn’t have to have a Christian overtone to it. There are certain moments in life where we all come out of a hole and feel like we’ve been given another chance… We feel born again.”
Recorded in Los Angeles, New York and London, ‘United Nations of Sound’ was produced by Chicago hip-hop pioneer No ID (Common, Jay-Z). String arrangements are by Benjamin Wright, the man responsible for the strings on Michael Jackson’s ‘Off The Wall’, and engineered by Grammy Award-winning Motown legend Reggie Dozier (Outkast, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye). Other musicians featuring on the album include Mary J Blige’s guitarist Steve Wyreman, Paul ‘DW’ Wright (bass), and Derrick Wright (drums). All songs written by Richard Ashcroft.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Katy Steele Joins Richard Ashcroft Tour
Perth songbird Katy Steele will join The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft on his tour of Australia.
The Little Birdy leading lady will provide some supporting star power for the tour that arrives in Perth on August 4.
Ashcroft has been getting rave reviews around the world during his Richard Ashcroft and The United Nations of Sound tour.
"The key to Ashcroft is his almost mystical belief in the power of music to raise the spirit and salve the soul…Such was the intensity of his performances that Ashcroft deployed their simple tunes and chord structures to lift the audience into the realms of communal rapture," wrote The Times in London.
Steele will perform alone with her guitar and keys, bringing her unique sound to Metro City.
The Little Birdy leading lady will provide some supporting star power for the tour that arrives in Perth on August 4.
Ashcroft has been getting rave reviews around the world during his Richard Ashcroft and The United Nations of Sound tour.
"The key to Ashcroft is his almost mystical belief in the power of music to raise the spirit and salve the soul…Such was the intensity of his performances that Ashcroft deployed their simple tunes and chord structures to lift the audience into the realms of communal rapture," wrote The Times in London.
Steele will perform alone with her guitar and keys, bringing her unique sound to Metro City.
Richard Ashcroft Rules Out Gallagher Collaboration Too
Ashcroft belives Oasis’ split will give both of his old mates Liam and Noel Gallagher a new lease of life, with them going on to enjoy the same success he’s experienced as a solo artist.
“I spoke to Noel a couple of days ago,” he said.
“He’s going to go through similar questions to the ones I went through in 2000.
“But he wrote the songs in the biggest band of the Nineties, so he’s got nothing to worry about. It’ll be a new lease of life for both of them. I’m quite excited about it.”
But despite admitting Oasis were most dominant in the 1990s, rather The Verve , Ashcroft is not keen on collaborating with either Gallagher.
“Now you see someone’s album coming out and there are 15 different people on it. The younger generation, like the Dizzees, are getting into ‘Top Trumps’ music - “I’m going to Top Trump you with how many guests I’ve got.”
“I spoke to Noel a couple of days ago,” he said.
“He’s going to go through similar questions to the ones I went through in 2000.
“But he wrote the songs in the biggest band of the Nineties, so he’s got nothing to worry about. It’ll be a new lease of life for both of them. I’m quite excited about it.”
But despite admitting Oasis were most dominant in the 1990s, rather The Verve , Ashcroft is not keen on collaborating with either Gallagher.
“Now you see someone’s album coming out and there are 15 different people on it. The younger generation, like the Dizzees, are getting into ‘Top Trumps’ music - “I’m going to Top Trump you with how many guests I’ve got.”
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