UK indie rock band Verve released their first record, "All In The Mind", in March 1992, although they had already been in existence for several years, having made their live debut at Winstanley College, Wigan, in the Autumn of 1989 (three of the band members studied there). Verve comprised Peter Salisbury (b. Peter Anthony Salisbury, 24 September 1971, Bath, Avon, England; drums), Richard Ashcroft (b. Richard Paul Ashcroft, 11 September 1971, Billinge, Wigan, Lancashire; vocals), Simon Jones (b. 29 July 1972, Liverpool, Merseyside, England; bass) and Nick McCabe (b. 14 July 1971, St. Helens, Lancashire, England; guitar). After a run of singles that covered "(She's A) Superstar", "Gravity Grave" and "Blue" (all released on Virgin Records' "indie" subsidiary Hut), their debut album arrived in June 1993. Surprisingly, the hits were omitted in favour of new material that saw further comparisons to artists as diverse as T. Rex and the Stone Roses. On the back of this rise to prominence the band had come to the attention of the Verve Records jazz label, who insisted on copyright of the name. Failing to accept a compromise "Verv" spelling, after a two-year battle the band were re-named The Verve.
They then embarked on 1994's Lollapalooza tour, before joining with Oasis for a double-headed package later that year.

Progress in 1995 was interrupted when McCabe broke his finger during an attack by a bouncer at the Paris Bataclan venue on April 20, from which litigation ensued. However, they had the consolation of an overwhelming press response to 1995's A Northern Soul, which included Oasis' Noel Gallagher, who added handclaps to one track, "History", and cited the record as the "third best album of the year". Ashcroft left the band during 1995 to form his own version of the Verve and the band officially broke up in August, only to announce in early 1997 that they had re-formed. Richard Ashcroft had no doubts as to why they re-formed, he told the New Musical Express: "It's the power of the music that drew the Verve back together. It's the addictive quality of being in the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world". The break had rejuvenating qualities for their career; in addition to the considerable media coverage and favourable reappraisal, their new material stormed the bestsellers in the UK.
Accompanied by a memorable promotional video, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" made the UK Top 5, despite legal wranglings over the use of a Rolling Stones instrumental sample (the Verve were obliged to hand over the single's royalties to Allen Klein and credit Keith Richards and Mick Jagger as songwriters).

The song also broke the band in the USA, reaching number 12 in April 1998. "The Drugs Don't Work" reached UK number 1 on the week of release. Urban Hymns then received rave critical reviews and entered the UK album chart at number 1, knocking Oasis off the top in the process and remaining at the top for seven weeks. The band won Best Group and Best Album at the 1998 BRIT Awards. McCabe opted out of subsequent live work, however, hinting at new tensions between the members. This was confirmed in April 1999 when the band announced they were splitting-up. Ashcroft subsequently entered the studio to record tracks for his solo debut. Bass player Simon Jones and latterday Verve guitarist Simon Tong resurfaced in the Shining.

DISCOGRAPHY: Storm In Heaven (Hut 1993)***, A Northern Soul (Hut 1995)****, Urban Hymns (Hut 1997)****.
COMPILATIONS: No Come Down (Virgin 1994)***.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Some Bitter - Some Sweet: Unauthorised Biography (Talking Heads Video 1998), The Verve: The Video 96-98 (Hut 1999).
BIBLIOGRAPHY: The Verve: Bitter Sweet, Peter Wilding. The Verve: Crazed Highs + Horrible Lows, Martin Clarke. The Verve: Star Sail, Sean Egan.

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 2004