In 1998, the massive “Bitter Sweet Symphony” brought The Verve some overdue attention on this side of the pond. But less than a year later, the band called it quits; it wasn’t the first time, however.
Formed in 1989 in Manchester, England, The Verve came up within the same psychedelic-rock scene that had birthed The Stone Roses. After issuing singles and an EP, the band released its proper debut, A Storm In Heaven (John Leckie, who’d helmed the Roses’ eponymous debut, produced). Critical praise poured in, and The Verve secured a gig on the 1994 Lollapalooza tour. Unfortunately, members’ appetite for drugs surpassed any desire to connect with Stateside audiences.
Somehow pulling it together to record their second studio album, 1995’s A Northern Soul, The Verve mostly discarded their previous psychedelic leanings and ventured into Brit-Rock territory (Oasis, Blur, et al). Three months after the disc’s release, lead singer Richard Ashcroft departed, breaking up the band. He quickly had a change of heart, but guitarist Nick McCabe refused to reform. The remaining band members (Ashcroft, Simon Jones, and Peter Salisbury) toured without him.
After sitting The Verve out for a year or so, McCabe rejoined in time for the Urban Hymns sessions. That disc went platinum here, largely due to “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” which hit #12. You might recall that the track was the focus of much legal wrangling; it sampled a version of the Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time” and though The Verve had original secured permission to use it, the band eventually lost all publishing rights to the song.
Such distractions might have brought still-simmering band tensions back to the surface, as Ashcroft and McCabe found themselves at odds while on tour. After coming to blows, McCabe left again and was replaced again. The Verve officially disbanded in April 1999. Ashcroft embarked on a somewhat successful solo career, while his former bandmates dabbled in the occasional project, though nothing terribly big.
Last year, Ashcroft crossed paths with McCabe and the pair made amends. And so, with Jones and Salisbury on board, The Verve announced its reunion. The twice-revived quartet embarked on a sold-out UK tour last winter, and ventured to these shores for a Coachella stopover and a couple of NYC dates, too.
New album, Forth, is out August 26, and first single “Love Is Noise” is picking up spins. “Noise” is an epic track, one that reminds me a bit of vintage Simple Minds, but with more, well, verve. I was hooked from first listen. Here’s the video, though I don’t think it does the song justice:
Purchase the single, “Love Is Noise,” via iTunes, or pre-order Forth from Amazon.
