Vervecroft

Interview With The Black Ships

2011-06-02T12:42:00.000+01:00

The Black Ships are a new band formed by Ex The Verve members Nick McCabe and Simon Jones and also features violinist and string arranger Davide Rossi and drummer Mig Schillace.

They have a new free EP out now and their first gig coming up this week. Red Rose chatted with them to see what lay ahead.

So how did you guys meet and how obvious was it to you that you should make music together?

Nick: Well I’ve known Simon since sixth form and we have been mates since then obviously, erm Davide sort of met us two when we were back recording Forth with for The Verve, you know he came into do some work with us and well we got on and so it went from there.

Me and Si had been doing some work together away from The Verve anyway so it fitted. Mig was erm a friend of a friend and then when the Verve sort of looked like it wasn’t going to carry on we decided to do something together.

How long have you been The Black Ships officially then actually working as a band?

Nick: Probably about a few months, Me and Si as you know were doing the Forth recording sessions and enjoying playing in The Verve again and the plan was originally to have Davide come in as the fifth, proper member of The Verve, I thought anyway but when that sort of appeared to have finished we decided to form this band properly.

As individual musicians who has influenced your careers the most, in terms of other artists?

Simon: That’s a difficult one, obviously we all have favourite bands and artists but the amount is so wide and far reaching it is difficult to say. Like growing up there was not one person that I saw and thought, I want to pick up a guitar and play.

Mig: Influences come from everywhere, you can be influenced by something you see everyday.

Simon: Exactly, like Mig says you can be influenced by something from..yesterday so it’s hard to say.

Davide: See for me being from Italy, I didn’t have the same music culture you have here, I grew up on classical music and I was brought up as a classical person so I can’t say other than classical and that sort of thing. Also, I would say we inspire each other we play things and do things that make us do other stuff or play things another way.

Have you ever been inspired by a lyric you have heard? Or even one you have been involved in writing?

Nick: Aaah well I didn’t start actually listening to lyrics till about 5 years ago! (laughs) Well I mean they don’t really matter to me being an instrumentalist, I am more influenced by listening to the instruments and the sounds created.

Simon: As Nick said, for me it is more about the sounds, y’know stuff the Roses and bands like that were doing, stuff that was around me at the time as I was growing up and getting into music and that kind of thing.

The bands name if you research is relates to 16th century ships from America that arrived in Japan, is that where you chose it from?

Nick: (Laughs) Do you want the true story? Okay…Well we spent months and moths thinking of a name and were getting really frustrated and struggling to think of anything…

Davide: I was a bit of a No man within the band, computer says no! And someone had suggested ‘The Black Sheep’ and I was sending out an email to the others saying ‘I don’t want to be that!’ but because I sometimes make mistakes in English I spelt it ‘Ship’…

Nick: So we thought ‘The Black Ships’ sounded alright and we went with that and eventually looked into the background of it as a name and thought it fits and makes us look like we were deep about it. I mean the 4 vessels it relates to, also relates to us 4 and the whole idea of the Americans sending over symbol of Christianity yet the Japanese thought these ships were evil brought it together nicely.

So a mistake but then you thought actually the ideas behind it fit the band well?

Simon: Yeah we liked it and the ideas behind it the whole ships thing of Mississippi, Plymouth, Sararato and Christ I can’t even say it! But yeah..

The band has no vocalist and you worked with guest vocalists on the EP, how will this work from now? Will you be instrumental or with lots of different guests?

Nick: We decided on the E.P to one song with vocals and two without to give a bit of everything but then decided it would work as one large piece and yeah we will be working like this from now because it gives us the chance to work with lots of talented guest musicians and although it can cause new problems just logistically it works for us.

Davide: We worked with two vocalists on the EP they are Charley Bickers and Amelia Tucker, two young musicians, who we think will have very successful careers.

You have your first gig on Thursday, are their plans to tour this year after the gig? Or are you doing this gig to assess how it goes first?

Simon: Well we have got to get the record done first then we can gig, I mean it is almost done so once we have got that finished we can do gigs. We are doing this gig just because we wanted to make it feel proper and real, and because we have no one to say ‘No, don’t do a gig!’ so we thought, yeah lets get one done.

The record is probably about…85% done, it is all recorded just needs putting together how we want it.

Nick: 87% done I would say (Laughs)

You have no record label, are there any plans to get one? Anything happening on that front?

Nick: We are not openly courting someone, just seeing how it goes and I think we all said that if we find the right person, we will know we have and it will just feel right. What we want to do more than anything is to make sure we get the album out in the best way rather than doing what we did with the EP which was to just stick it on the internet which is just a big void, that won’t be happening with the album.

You’re EP is mainly instrumental, will this sound be typical of the album or is their something more structured with actual songs?

Nick: I don’t think there is one uniform sound but erm certainly we have separate songs but we don’t know how it will be on the album, how it will be structured and how they will appear. I was actually surprised at how well received the EP was…

Why were you surprised at the EP’s successful reception?

Nick: Well when we were back doing The Verve the 8 or 9 minute singles were being called too long and people kept telling us this and having opinions on it, so for this to be received how it was is different to that.

Simon: Back in the days of The Verve though, we didn’t care about that we just did it because we were there to be doing what we wanted to do and the people saying ‘it is too long’ It didn’t matter, I didn’t feel guilty about that.

Nick: I did! When you have got someone whose job it is to go into radio stations with our single and people are saying ‘but it’s 9 minutes’ and they have to say, play it anyway! I felt guilty about that!

One last question…For me, as a massive Verve fan, is there likely to be another reunion?

Nick: I would have to say for me now, I mean there’s been three times now so I think probably no.

Simon: You will have to ask Mr. Ashcroft! (Laughs)

The Black Ships Release Free EP

2011-05-25T17:48:00.001+01:00

Founding members of one of the most iconic British bands of recent times The Verve, Nick McCabe and Simon Jones today reveal the first material from new project The Black Ships. Joined in The Black Ships by Mig Schillace (Portishead / Goldfrapp) and Davide Rossi (whose string compositions have been used by the likes of The Verve, Coldplay & Goldfrapp).

The Black Ships have also announced their debut live appearance. This will take place at Kings College, London on Thursday 2nd june. Limited tickets are available from SeeTickets.

About the release, and The Black Ships, Nick McCabe had the following to say:

"You just know when things are right. The four of us met in various circumstances and each meeting was accompanied by this feeling of "we've absolutely got to do more together". And here we are. The joy of music: what does that really mean? Living and breathing it. Obsessing about detail whilst discovering the beauty in chance, and then doing what is necessary to give it life. All the peripheral activity, traditionally taken out of your hands in service of the big organisations of yore becomes a joy in service of the music. It is undoubtedly the hardest work we have collectively put into any band, but the satisfaction is already huge.

"Kurofune" was spawned/recorded in Noah's tiny "Best Kept Secret" studios in Copenhagen in one of the many feverish explorations of what we do as a unit. During the course of other work for earmarked album material, revisions and rethinks, extensions and reductions occurred at: my place in Walworth, South London, Davide's abode in Copenhagen, and Si's place in Chester.

"Rain Down On Me" was never going to make the album in it's original form, it is too much of its own man, it is only here that right and properly, it stands unmolested by the distraction of 'other songs'". "Dawn Till Dusk" exists in several versions, here, we give you a rain soaked soundscape to get lost in. "Northern Rock" is a lullaby to a fallen empire.

I mixed and did final edits over three days in May at my studio in South London and mastered it during rehearsals whilst at Si's in Chester.

This music is of and about the connections and disconnections of human life. It has its own will, and we are glad to obey it. It is a grand thing to be aboard The Black Ships. Welcome."

Ashcroft On The Best Place to Drink In New York

2011-05-07T12:01:00.000+01:00

“When I was younger, I used to stay at the Chelsea Hotel,” says Richard Ashcroft, now 39. “You were required to have a wild time or you weren’t allowed to stay there. The corridors felt like you were in Angel Heart and William Burroughs might stumble out of a room at any moment.” Two decades have passed since the former Verve frontman first roamed those hallowed New York halls, and on “ Third Eye,” a B-side from his fourth solo album, The United Nations of Sound, Ashcroft sings about a different place entirely.

“Let me take you there, to the rarified air of the Mandarin/ I got my beer in my hand, thinking ’bout my life plans.” You’d be forgiven for assuming that Ashcroft—who wrote the ballad “ The Drugs Don’t Work” about his well-documented battle with substance abuse—was recalling a psychedelic night inside a giant piece of fruit. But then he continues: “Just sittin’ in the Mandarin, and watch ’em go in cirles/ Columbus circles.” It becomes apparent—especially if you’re a New Yorker—that Ashcroft’s Mandarin is actually the luxury hotel in Manhattan’s Time Warner Center overlooking Central Park, not a precious kind of orange. “I recommend for everybody to go and have one drink at that place,” Ashcroft says of the hotel’s bar. “I stayed there on my own, all night, and saw the sun rise over Central Park,” he says. “It’s the only manmade thing I’ve seen that feels like you’re looking at the ocean, because the concrete just stops at the edge of the park. The shadows and the way the light changes all of those buildings is absolutely incredible.”

Verve Duo To Make Live Debut As The Black Ships in June

2011-04-14T22:25:00.000+01:00

Nick McCabe and Simon Jones are to make their live debut as The Black Ships in London this June.

The band will play London's King's College Students Union on June 2.

The Black Ships, who formed in 2009, also count drummer Mig Schillace and violinist Davide Rossi in their line up.

Rossi, though never formally in The Verve, played on their 2008 album 'Forth' and featured in the band's live line up frequently after that.

Tickets go on sale on Friday (April 15) at 9am (GMT).

Ashcroft To Play Japan Tsunami Benefit Gig

2011-03-22T22:34:00.000Z

Beady Eye, Primal Scream and Paul Weller are also among the acts set to play a London benefit show for the victims of the recent tsunami and earthquakes in Japan.

The gig, which will take place on April 3 at the O2 Academy Brixton, will also feature sets from Graham Coxon, The Coral and Richard Ashcroft.

All proceeds from the show will go to the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal. Tickets will be limited to four per person.

Tickets go on sale on Friday (March 25) at 9am.

Ashcroft to Play East Coast Shows, Jimmy Fallon, This March

2011-02-24T18:55:00.000Z

On March 22, Razor & Tie will release Richard Ashcroft's United Nations of Sound album in the United States.

That same night, Ashcroft will appear on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show in New York City performing "Are You Ready?" followed by a yet-to-be announced second track to appear exclusively on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show website. The Roots will appear as a backing band.

Following the US TV appearance:
March 23 - Bowery Ballroom, New York City, New York
March 24 - Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Boston, Massachusetts

Ashcroft's track "Are You Ready?" will be featured in the closing credits to the upcoming Matt Damon film, The Adjustment Bureau, out in March. A second track, "Future's Bright," which is co-written by Ashcroft and ten-time Academy Award nominee Thomas Newman, will be featured within the film as well.

McCabe To Guest On Twilight Singers New Album

2011-01-10T23:01:00.000Z

The Verve guitarist Nick McCabe is to appear on the Twilight Singers' first album in five years.

Greg Dulli's band release 'Dynamite Steps' on February 14. It's their first LP since 2006's 'Powder Burns'.

Mark Lanegan, who Dulli regularly plays with in The Gutter Twins, also guests on the record.

The band also tour the UK this March.

Simon Tong's Erland & The Carnival Announce New Album

2011-01-10T11:22:00.000Z

Simon Tong's new project Erland & The Carnival, are set to follow their eponymous début, released earlier last year, with a second album titled ‘Nightingale’

The album was recorded deep in a ship moored at Embankment on the river Thames, which lead to a very surreal recording experience, “You could hear sounds in the hull when we were mixing the record,” says drummer David Nock. “You’d get home and play it again and realise that something was missing, so we had to set up contact mics all around the ship to capture its unique sounds.”

The artwork is a documentary photo of the Enfield poltergeist at work in the late ‘70s, it depicts young Janet Hodgson being thrown across her bedroom by the much-debated dark spirit. “I remember seeing the shot in a book when I was a kid and it always stuck with me,” says guitarist Simon Tong, ex of The Verve and The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and Gorillaz. “It influenced the music because we’re trying to create a soundtrack to an imaginary horror film about the supernatural.”

The album is released on the 07 March on Full Time Hobby

Urban Hymns Voted 28th Best Album of Past 25 Years

2010-12-29T15:31:00.001Z

To celebrate Q Magazine's 25th birthday they asked their readers to vote for their favourite albums of its lifetime.

'Urban Hymns' was voted the 28th best.

The Top 10 albums are:

01) 'OK Computer' - Radiohead
02) 'Nevermind' - Nirvana
03) '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' - Oasis
04) 'Definitely Maybe' - Oasis
05) 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not' - Arctic Monkeys
06) 'The Joshua Tree' - U2
07) 'The Stone Roses' - The Stone Roses
08) 'The Bends' - Radiohead
09) 'Achtung Baby' - U2
10) 'Black Holes and Revelations' - Muse

The birthday issue, which is on sale now, lists the top 250 albums as voted for by the readers of the magazine.

Ashcroft To Hold An Intimate Gig For RPA Club Members

2010-11-12T16:35:00.000Z

Richard Ashcroft will be holding an intimate gig in central London on December 7th for RPA Club members only.

If you’re not already an RPA Club member and would like to purchase tickets for this event, you will need to sign up to the club before midnight on Monday 15th November.

Members will be notified when tickets will go on sale and how to access them via email (restrictions will apply).

As well as getting access to tickets for the gig, as an RPA Club Member you’ll also receive;

- Instant exclusive access to RPA Club only tracks.
- Limited Edition members only t-shirt.
- Access to pre sale tickets for tours.
- Access to tickets for members only gigs.
- Further exclusive tracks throughout the year.

Richard Ashcroft To Play Concert For Killing Cancer

2010-11-12T16:31:00.000Z

Richard Ashcroft is set to play a gig at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo in aid of the Killing Cancer charity on January 13, joined by The Who, Debbie Harry and Jeff Beck.

The gig will raise money for the Killing Cancer charity, which helps to fund research into Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). The therapy destroys cancer cells with a single treatment.

Tickets go on sale at 9am (GMT) on November 19. See Killingcancer.co.uk for more information.

Richard Ashcroft Signs With Razor & Tie

2010-11-02T16:51:00.000Z

Richard Ashcroft has signed with Razor & Tie for the North American release of "The United Nations of Sound," his fourth solo album produced by No I.D. (Jay-Z, Kanye West).

The singer has joined artists like Brand New, Joan Baez and Semi Precious Weapons on the label, which will issue the album in early 2011. "Sound," Ashcroft's first solo effort since 2006's "Keys to the World," was released overseas on Parlophone last July prior to the signing.

Razor & Tie VP of A&R Beka Tischker calls Ashcroft "one of the seminal figures of modern British rock music," adding that "it's an honor to work with someone as esteemed as Richard."

The album follows the 2009 break-up of "Bitter Sweet Symphony" auteurs The Verve after the group released fourth album "Forth" in 2008 and embarked on a world tour, including a headlining set at that year's Glastonbury Festival. "Sound"'s lead track "Are You Ready?" is featured in Volkswagon's latest Jetta TV spot and is now available on iTunes.

After spending last summer playing shows in Europe, Australia and Japan, Ashcroft has also announced plans to tour the U.S. next year after a six-year absence from the States.

Verve Songs In Top 1000 Songs Ever

2010-10-28T21:59:00.000+01:00

To end all those pub arguments about music Xfm have released The Xfm Top 1000 Songs Of All Time book, the definitive guide to the best tunes ever recorded. Collated from the annual 'Top 1000 Songs of All Time' listener poll, the most requested songs on the 'X-list' and suggestions from radio DJs and celebrity guests. The following Verve and Richard Ashcroft songs made it into the 1000:

The Verve, 7 songs:
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Drugs Don't Work
Lucky Man
History
Sonnet
Love Is Noise
This Is Music

Richard Ashcroft, 1 song:
A Song for the Lovers

Pete Salisbury With The Charlatans

2010-10-04T12:40:00.000+01:00

The Charlatans played a BBC 6 live session recently along with Pete Salisbury filling in for Jon Brookes on drums. Go to the BBC 6 Music website for pictures and live video of the performance.

Verve Drummer Joins The Charlatans

2010-09-26T23:29:00.000+01:00

The Verve drummer Pete Salisbury has joined The Charlatans to replace Jon Brookes as he battles a brain tumour.

The British band cancelled a string of shows in the U.S. after the percussionist collapsed at a gig in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last week (15Sep10). He was later diagnosed with brain cancer and will take a break from the group to focus on his health struggle.

The Charlatans vowed to continue performing and have now hired Salisbury to take over the drums on their upcoming U.K. tour.

The band will unveil the new line-up at a charity gig in London on Monday (27Sep10) and the tour kicks off in Hatfield, England on 5 October (10).

Ricky Gervais Inspired By Rockers Like Richard Ashcroft

2010-09-05T16:44:00.000+01:00

Funnyman Ricky Gervais has praised rockers Richard Ashcroft and Liam Gallagher for giving him inspiration for one of his films.

During a Q&A at the Soho Hotel in London for the DVD release of Cemetery Junction, directors Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant admitted Liam, 37, and Richard, 38, were the inspirations behind the comedy-drama.

Gervais, 49, found that actors fell into two categories, half that play society types and half that play violent wife-beating roles.

But the Extras star worked with Stephen to make their characters different and more like rock stars.
He said: 'We didn't want it to be one those really gritty 'isn't England a bit depressing and crap and normal' films.

'We wanted it to be a bit more glorious and evoke those possibly false memories of every day being sunny and brilliant and fun, that's how I remember my childhood.'

Ricky added: 'We cast about a thousand people to try and find these Jimmy Deans and John Travoltas - half of them will be Mr Darcy one day, and the other half will be going, 'You f****** slags.'

'So we had to look to our rock stars like Richard Ashcroft and Liam Gallagher, that's where we rule the world.'

Stephen added: 'This country's always been very good at making rock stars, and rock stars are unashamedly cool but somehow British films are less like that, it's like we're a little bit more embarrassed to be like that.

'We need to be self-conscious and make things seem gloomier and grittier but that wasn't my experience of growing up, everything seemed very cool to me.'

The Verve Back In The Day

2010-08-16T22:27:00.000+01:00

Richard Ashcroft's Jailed Collaborators

2010-08-15T20:58:00.002+01:00

Richard Ashcroft claims many of the people he wanted to work with on new project United Nations of Sound were either ''in jail'' or too expensive.

Richard Ashcroft couldn't collaborate with the people he wanted to because many of them were in prison.

The former Verve frontman is currently working on a new venture, United Nations of Sound - in which he goes by his initials, RPA - and admits he ran into difficulties arranging guest vocalists because so many of them were unavailable.

He said: "Half the people I wanted on the record were either in prison or going there. I tried to get Lil Wayne on the end of 'America' because of his gravel, but he was about to start his sentence for gun possession so he was busy recording 15 videos and three albums.

"So they were either in prison or wanted £70,000."

Although the 'Lucky Man' star's latest project showcases a radically different sound, the singer - who has previously released three solo albums - insists it could have happened any time.

He added: "When I look at it, I could have attempted this in the Nineties. I could have been working with these guys then, it just took a long time to get there.

"The idea, if there was any idea, was carrying on the dream of still believing the roots of music can be drawn on as inspirations."

Richard Ashcroft Told To Shut It

2010-08-04T23:42:00.000+01:00

Richard Ashcroft has been told to keep his mouth shut - by a doctor - after storming off stage just halfway through the first song of his Splendour In The Grass set.

The former Verve frontman appears to have strained his vocal cords after performing three gigs in two days before heading to the Woodford festival site on Sunday. A doctor recommended he stay silent for 72 hours with Ashcroft's manager Jazz Summers also hooking the singer up with a throat specialist in Brisbane late yesterday afternoon.

"I am concerned about him continuing on to play Summersonic in Japan this weekend," Summers told music editor Kathy McCabe.

Ashcroft sang at the Million Dollar Lunch in Melbourne on Friday before performing for almost two hours later that night at his first Australian concert. He played Sydney's Enmore Theatre on Saturday night for more than 120 minutes and conducted a slate of promotional interviews on both days.

After complaining of a sore throat on Saturday night, Summers cancelled all his scheduled interviews at the Splendour gig on Sunday. But when he got in front of the mic on the G.W. McLennan stage as one of the festival's closing acts, his voice was almost gone. Midway through the first song Are You Ready, Ashcroft threw his mic stand and stormed off stage, frustrated he couldn't sing.

Summers denied that Ashcroft was angry at the size of the crowd in the tent or that the majority of fans had gone to see The Pixies.

Ashcroft Will "Never Say Never" To Verve Reunion

2010-08-03T12:02:00.000+01:00

In an exclusive interview with Hot Press, Richard Ashcroft tells them about his new solo project, talks about 9/11 falling on his birthday and doesn't rule out a Verve reunion...

In there exclusive interview, Ashcroft discusses his new album (released under the moniker RPA And the United Nations of Sound) and talks about its American influences. He ponders 9/11 happening on his birthday: "When 9/11 happened, I was in France and I came back, and my mother-in-law had sent me a birthday card prior to going. It was a fold-out card with a black and white photo of the New York skyline pre-Twin Towers.... It’s the most world-shifting event."

And despite multiple break-ups, he doesn't rule out a reunion of his old band.. "A Verve reunion? "I'd never say never anymore, because it’s a stupid thing to do. People change, opinions change and lives change, so you can never really truly write anything out."

For now though, he has his hands full with the excellent Motown inspired United Nations of Sound. After Q magazine slammed the album as "preposterous." Ashcroft responded: "Take it from Hot Press, it isn’t.”

Read the full interview with Richard Ashcroft in today’s double issue of Hot Press (with Gary Lightbody and Jedward on the covers.)

Ashcroft Flees Australian Concert After Just One Song

2010-08-02T22:24:00.002+01:00

Richard Ashcroft abandoned an Australian concert over the weekend claiming that his voice had failed him and he was unable to perform.

Ashcroft and his band, United Nations of Sound, were playing at the Splendour In The Grass festival, at the same time as Pixies and Empire Of The Sun.

According to spectators Ashcroft came out on stage and said "Welcome to our little patch", an apparent jibe at the small audience the band had attracted for the set.

Ashcroft then allegedly did not even make it through the first track before throwing down his equipment and 'storming off' through the crowd and into the festival site.

Festival organisers were quick to clear up the incident however, claiming: "Richard had an unfortunate incident and had to cancel the show."

Ashcroft's management have also moved to claim that the cancellation had nothing to do with the size of the crowd.

Jazz Summers, Ashcroft's manager, said, "After three gigs in two days, including a two-hour show in Sydney on Saturday night, we knew Richard would have to look after his voice for the Splendour in the Grass, set so we cancelled all promotional activity for Sunday. It wasn't until he got on stage on Sunday night at Splendour that he realized his voice wouldn't make it through the set.

Ashcroft On Oasis Support Days

2010-07-22T18:48:00.002+01:00

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.

Ashcroft Doubts Beady Eye's Ability To Top Oasis

2010-07-22T18:46:00.002+01:00

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."

NME Trashes United Nations Of Sound Debut

2010-07-15T14:23:00.000+01:00

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."

Ashcroft: Verve Reformation Tensions Were 'Inevitable'

2010-07-11T20:17:00.001+01:00

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".