Tour
Verve Return With Barnstorming Show
03/11/07 15:40
The
Verve played their first show as an original
four-piece in almost a decade tonight (November 2)
with a much anticipated reunion gig in Glasgow.
During a 90 minute performance, the band, who reunited in June, stormed through a 17 song set that included favourites such as 'Bittersweet Sympathy' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'. However there were some boos at the end of the Carling Academy show when, after a three song encore, fan favourite 'History' wasn't dusted down.
There were no support acts tonight. Instead DJs played ahead of the hugely in-demand show - tickets were trading on eBay for £250 a pair.
The band took to the stage to the strains of 60's maverick David Axelrod's 'Holy Are You' (a track that frontman Richard Ashcroft re-recorded with the composer) alongside a screen flashing images that included Lou Reed, Bob Dylan and comedy character Reginald Perrin.
The show started with a classic Verve moment.
As the band strode on the shamanic Ashcroft moved to the mic and announced "this is music" to cacophonous yelps - introducing their classic track of the same name.
It was a night that saw little said from the stage. At one point Ashcroft announced simply that it was great to be back in Glasgow after nine years, though physically The Verve looked to have changed little. Any thoughts that animosity lingered between Ashcroft and his foil Nick McCabe were extinguished early on when, in a simple gesture, the frontman acknowledged his guitarist during a solo on the first track.
The band also unveiled one new song. Seven tracks into the gig Ashcroft announced "we're going to try something new here" and, apologising for reading from a sheet of paper.
He and the band worked through an untitled track that was distinguished mostly by a rumbling bass. The song owed more to Gorillaz and The Stone Roses second album than The Verve's back catalogue. Lyrics included: "I should have warned her/I'd fall to pieces".
The Verve finished their set with a massive 'Bittersweet Symphony' before returning for a three track encore. They play the same venue tomorrow (November 3).
The set-list in full was:
This Is Music
Sonnet
All In The Mind
Weeping Willow
Life's An Ocean
Space And Time
Sit And Wonder
Velvet Morning
Already There
Let The Damage Begin
Northern Soul
Drugs Don't Work
Rolling People
BSS
Man Called Sun
Lucky Man
Come On
During a 90 minute performance, the band, who reunited in June, stormed through a 17 song set that included favourites such as 'Bittersweet Sympathy' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'. However there were some boos at the end of the Carling Academy show when, after a three song encore, fan favourite 'History' wasn't dusted down.
There were no support acts tonight. Instead DJs played ahead of the hugely in-demand show - tickets were trading on eBay for £250 a pair.
The band took to the stage to the strains of 60's maverick David Axelrod's 'Holy Are You' (a track that frontman Richard Ashcroft re-recorded with the composer) alongside a screen flashing images that included Lou Reed, Bob Dylan and comedy character Reginald Perrin.
The show started with a classic Verve moment.
As the band strode on the shamanic Ashcroft moved to the mic and announced "this is music" to cacophonous yelps - introducing their classic track of the same name.
It was a night that saw little said from the stage. At one point Ashcroft announced simply that it was great to be back in Glasgow after nine years, though physically The Verve looked to have changed little. Any thoughts that animosity lingered between Ashcroft and his foil Nick McCabe were extinguished early on when, in a simple gesture, the frontman acknowledged his guitarist during a solo on the first track.
The band also unveiled one new song. Seven tracks into the gig Ashcroft announced "we're going to try something new here" and, apologising for reading from a sheet of paper.
He and the band worked through an untitled track that was distinguished mostly by a rumbling bass. The song owed more to Gorillaz and The Stone Roses second album than The Verve's back catalogue. Lyrics included: "I should have warned her/I'd fall to pieces".
The Verve finished their set with a massive 'Bittersweet Symphony' before returning for a three track encore. They play the same venue tomorrow (November 3).
The set-list in full was:
This Is Music
Sonnet
All In The Mind
Weeping Willow
Life's An Ocean
Space And Time
Sit And Wonder
Velvet Morning
Already There
Let The Damage Begin
Northern Soul
Drugs Don't Work
Rolling People
BSS
Man Called Sun
Lucky Man
Come On
The Verve On Tour With Comeback
02/11/07 12:14
The
Verve return to the stage tonight for the first
time in a decade.
Wigan's greatest ever band surprised even their most staunch fan by reforming at the end of June.
And at around 9pm this evening, singer Richard Ashcroft, bassist Simon Jones, drummer Pete Salisbury and guitarist Nick McCabe will grace the stage at Glasgow's Academy, and excited fans say they just can't wait to see their heroes together at last.
Bass player Simon said the band was preparing a set full of new stuff, as well as old, old favourites.
He said: "We started rehearsing with Life's An Ocean and I've got to say, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. We've got a shortlist of 20 tunes to pick from for these first gigs."
And the list is sure to set the mouths of the staunchest Verve-lovers watering. Simon said the tunes included songs from first album A Storm in Heaven, such as Gravity Grave, She's A Superstar and All In The Mind.
He also revealed some of The Verve's new song titles; Sit And Wonder, Appalachian Springs, Judas, Mona Lisa and Rather Be, and hinted the band may well be playing them live. A new album is expected in January.
The Verve formed in 1989 at Winstanley College. The
first album – 1991's A Storm in Heaven – was a huge underground hit. Songs such as Blue and Slide Away reached the top of the indie charts. The follow up, A Northern Soul in 1995, is now regarded as The Verve's finest work, with such tunes as On Your Own, History and the title track remaining firm favourites among fans.
Wigan's greatest ever band surprised even their most staunch fan by reforming at the end of June.
And at around 9pm this evening, singer Richard Ashcroft, bassist Simon Jones, drummer Pete Salisbury and guitarist Nick McCabe will grace the stage at Glasgow's Academy, and excited fans say they just can't wait to see their heroes together at last.
Bass player Simon said the band was preparing a set full of new stuff, as well as old, old favourites.
He said: "We started rehearsing with Life's An Ocean and I've got to say, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. We've got a shortlist of 20 tunes to pick from for these first gigs."
And the list is sure to set the mouths of the staunchest Verve-lovers watering. Simon said the tunes included songs from first album A Storm in Heaven, such as Gravity Grave, She's A Superstar and All In The Mind.
He also revealed some of The Verve's new song titles; Sit And Wonder, Appalachian Springs, Judas, Mona Lisa and Rather Be, and hinted the band may well be playing them live. A new album is expected in January.
The Verve formed in 1989 at Winstanley College. The
first album – 1991's A Storm in Heaven – was a huge underground hit. Songs such as Blue and Slide Away reached the top of the indie charts. The follow up, A Northern Soul in 1995, is now regarded as The Verve's finest work, with such tunes as On Your Own, History and the title track remaining firm favourites among fans.
Verve Release New Music
22/10/07 17:04
The
Verve have added an extra date to their reunion
tour. The band will now play Nottingham Arena on
December 11, in addition to the rest of their
comeback shows.
Meanwhile, you can download the first 14 minutes of music The Verve made after deciding to reunite for free on NME.COM now.
Rather than kicking off their reformation with a band meeting, the Wigan legends met in a studio in Richmond and jammed out some musical ideas together.
The first fruits from that session can now be heard in the form of the 'The Thaw Session' - the title a reference to 'Deep Freeze', an experimental bonus track on the band's last album 'Urban Hymns' - a 14-minute track you can get for free.
To download a free version of the band's first new music in over ten years, simply head to NME.COM/verve, until October 28.
Meanwhile, you can download the first 14 minutes of music The Verve made after deciding to reunite for free on NME.COM now.
Rather than kicking off their reformation with a band meeting, the Wigan legends met in a studio in Richmond and jammed out some musical ideas together.
The first fruits from that session can now be heard in the form of the 'The Thaw Session' - the title a reference to 'Deep Freeze', an experimental bonus track on the band's last album 'Urban Hymns' - a 14-minute track you can get for free.
To download a free version of the band's first new music in over ten years, simply head to NME.COM/verve, until October 28.
Ashcroft On The Verve
11/10/07 17:24
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."
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."
Verve Extend Their Stay In Manchester
05/10/07 16:01
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.
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.
Verve Announce New Tour Dates
02/10/07 17:12
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.
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.
Verve Comeback Tickets Sell-Out
06/07/07 16:11
The
Verve's comeback tour sold out within 20 minutes
yesterday - after announcing last week that the
Wigan band were in the studio and ready to go out
on tour in November.
All tickets for the six shows they announced – at the Glasgow Academy, Blackpool Empress Ballroom and the London Roundhouse – had sold out by 9.20am yesterday.
Out of the blue, and eight years after they split acrimoniously, the band – Richard Ashcroft, Pete Salisbury, Mick McCabe and Simon Jones – shocked the music world by announcing they were working on a new album. In announcing six dates, they put the feelers out to see what kind of a reaction they would receive from their fans. And it has been overwhelming.
A Myspace site set up by the band's management just two weeks ago has already had 30,000 visitors and demand for tickets for the new gigs went through the roof.
All tickets for the six shows they announced – at the Glasgow Academy, Blackpool Empress Ballroom and the London Roundhouse – had sold out by 9.20am yesterday.
Out of the blue, and eight years after they split acrimoniously, the band – Richard Ashcroft, Pete Salisbury, Mick McCabe and Simon Jones – shocked the music world by announcing they were working on a new album. In announcing six dates, they put the feelers out to see what kind of a reaction they would receive from their fans. And it has been overwhelming.
A Myspace site set up by the band's management just two weeks ago has already had 30,000 visitors and demand for tickets for the new gigs went through the roof.
Exclusive Verve Ticket Pre-Order
03/07/07 19:04
Tickets
will be priced at £29.50 and go on general sale on
Thurday 5th July at 9am from gigsandtours.com.
An exclusive advanced ticket sale will take place from 9am on Wednesday July 4th via the link below. These tickets are restricted to 2 per order, with only one order per IP address allowed.
To order your advance tickets click here from 9am on Wednesday onwards.
An exclusive advanced ticket sale will take place from 9am on Wednesday July 4th via the link below. These tickets are restricted to 2 per order, with only one order per IP address allowed.
To order your advance tickets click here from 9am on Wednesday onwards.
Verve Reform
27/06/07 01:45
The
original band of Richard Ashcroft, Nick
McCabe,Simon Jones and Pete Sailsbury have got
together for the first time in almost a decade.
In a statement, the band have announced they were: "Getting back together for the joy of the music." It is believed they will take a summer break and then return to the studio to complete their next album.
The band broke up in 1999, with the tumultuous relationship between Ashcroft and McCabe being well documented with the two exiting the band repeatedly since they began in 1993.
The band are set to play:
Glasgow Academy (November 2,3)
Blackpool Empress Ballroom (5,6)
London Roundhouse (8,9)
Tickets are set to go on sale on July 6.
In a statement, the band have announced they were: "Getting back together for the joy of the music." It is believed they will take a summer break and then return to the studio to complete their next album.
The band broke up in 1999, with the tumultuous relationship between Ashcroft and McCabe being well documented with the two exiting the band repeatedly since they began in 1993.
The band are set to play:
Glasgow Academy (November 2,3)
Blackpool Empress Ballroom (5,6)
London Roundhouse (8,9)
Tickets are set to go on sale on July 6.