VERVE

The Verve were an English rock band formed in Wigan, Greater Manchester, in 1989 by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft (born Wigan, September 11 1971). Along with front man Ashcroft, The Verve’s members comprised guitarist Nick McCabe (born Haydock, July 14 1971), bass guitarist Simon Jones (born Liverpool, July 29 1972) and drummer Peter Salisbury (born Chippenham, September 24 1971).

The Verve were originally known as Verve (until the record company of the same name had a word and so they added the ‘The’ in 1994) and released a number of EPs of far out cosmic waft-rock like She’s A Superstar and It’s All In The Mind, and the 1993 debut A Storm In Heaven, which they toured with some new bunch called Oasis in support.

Always a bit of a tumultuous relationship, The Verve first split a few weeks after releasing the follow-up album A Northern Soul in 1995, reforming again in 1997 with additional member guitarist and keyboard player Simon Tong (born Farnworth, July 9, 1972).

The Verve enjoyed a UK Number 1 single in 1997 with The Drugs Don’t Work, and a Number 1 with its accompanying album Urban Hymns. The Verve won three BRIT Awards in 1998 including British Album of the Year and Best British Group, and then promptly split up again in 1999, with Ashcroft beginning a solo career. The Verve reformed yet again in 2007 and enjoyed another Number 1 album with Forth in 2008 before splitting immediately afterwards again. Drama!