Ex-Verve Singer Richard Ashcroft Records Solo Set

09/13/1999 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(9/13/99, 1 p.m. PDT) - Richard Ashcroft, former frontman for Britain's neo-psychedelic rock combo the Verve, has reportedly finished work on his debut solo album. Insiders claim that the secretive singer recorded his opus during recent sessions at London's Olympic Studios, but the Verve's U.K. record label, Hut, could neither confirm nor deny the reports.

A spokesman for the Verve said, "I haven't heard anything yet, but I know Richard's been recording. He's always recording."

According to Britain's New Musical Express, Ashcroft was joined in the studio by numerous familiar faces, including former Verve drummer Peter Salisbury, bassist Simon Jones, and his wife, former Spiritualized member Kate Radley. His new album is rumored to contain songs that were written for but not included on the Verve's 1997 swan song, Urban Hymns, which spawned the international hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony."

Unreleased Ashcroft songs recorded at the time of Urban Hymns include "Monte Carlo," "Songs For The Lovers," "Lord, I've Been Trying," "Little Bit Of Love," and "It Takes Two."

Having endured numerous personnel shakeups and reincarnations since its inception in 1990, the Verve finally disbanded in April of this year. No release dates have been set for Ashcroft's new material, but sources say he may make his live comeback in Manchester, England in the next few months.

Features on the Verve and Spiritualized are available on LAUNCH.com.

-- Mike England

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