Richard Ashcroft

Ashcroft is the eldest child of office worker Frank and hairdresser Louise Ashcroft (née Baxter); he has two younger sisters.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/36.shtml |title=Follow the Yellow Brick Road |publisher=Musicsaves.org |access-date=18 January 2012}} In his childhood, Ashcroft was known to be very shy, getting to the point that he had to be replaced in a school nativity play because of on-stage fright;{{Cite web |title=A Breed Apart |url=https://www.thevervelive.com/2000/03/breed-apart.html |access-date=2024-06-01}} however, he was also known for wanting to make his classmates laugh.

He was adamant about recording songs from the radio, an alternative to the five album music collection his mother could afford. The first record Ashcroft bought was "Just Like Starting Over", and following the event of John Lennon's death in 1980, he played the song "Imagine" on a loop.

In 1982, when Ashcroft was 11, his father died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage. To deal with the tragedy, he used music as a refuge; he recalls "questioning" the nature of life while other children occupied themselves with age-appropriate activities,{{Cite web |title=The News of the World – We're Not for Teenyboppers |url=https://www.thevervelive.com/1998/01/the-news-of-world-were-not-for.html |access-date=2024-06-01}} thinking at the time "You're not supposed to feel this bad as a kid".

Ashcroft attended Up Holland High School in West Lancashire, along with future bandmates Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury and Simon Tong.{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Ankeny |title=Feature: Richard Ashcroft Biography |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p52705/biography|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=18 June 2009}} He then enrolled in Theatre Studies, English Literature, and Philosophy and Religion at Winstanley College; his teacher remembers him as "incredibly intelligent" but being too dedicated to music to care about his grades.{{cite news |date=25 June 2002 |title=College Days |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2002/jun/25/furthereducation.uk3 |access-date=22 May 2010 |work=The Guardian |location=London}} It is here that he also met future bandmate Nick McCabe.

Ashcroft was an avid football player; he is listed in the 1998 Playfair Football Who's Who as having been on the books of Rotherham United playing junior football for Wigan Athletic. For some time, Ashcroft wanted to be a professional football player, idolising George Best, but as he grew older he lost interest in this, turning to music instead.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/22.shtml |title=We're Not for Teenyboppers |publisher=Musicsaves.org |access-date=18 January 2012}}

{{Main|The Verve}}

Ashcroft formed the Verve in 1990 with Simon Jones and Pete Salisbury. When attending Winstanley College, he heard Nick McCabe playing guitar. Without knowing his physical appearance, he waited outside the cubicle to ask whoever was behind the sound to join his band. The band went through several name changes such as Raingarden until it finally settled on Verve. Their recording of the first album, A Storm in Heaven, consisted mainly of jam sessions with improvised lyrics, upon which Ashcroft then took and edited the usable parts and structured them into songs. Ashcroft has said that the band was under the influence of LSD when they recorded the album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevervelive.com/2013/09/richard-ashcroft-on-nihilism-fatherhood.html|title=Richard Ashcroft on nihilism, fatherhood, disowning psychedelics, and working with Brian Wilson|website=thevervelive.com |access-date=February 25, 2025}}

The band signed to Hut Records, during which time Ashcroft gained the sobriquet "Mad Richard".{{cite web | url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/richard-ashcroft-pride-and-anger-at-mad-richard-tag/ | title=Richard Ashcroft feels pride and anger at 'Mad Richard' tag | date=16 April 2023|website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |last=Leatham |first=Tom}} They also became a part of the Britpop movement. The band split in 1995, and around this time Ashcroft wrote a collection of songs he intended to release as his first solo album.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/richard-ashcroft-grand-designs-593258.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421070949/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/richard-ashcroft-grand-designs-593258.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 April 2011 | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Richard Ashcroft: Grand designs | date=4 April 2003 | access-date=22 May 2010}} However, by 1997 he had changed his mind and asked McCabe to return (alongside new member Tong), reforming the Verve and releasing the very successful album Urban Hymns. Ashcroft was at the forefront of the band's popularity, receiving an Ivor Novello Award for his songwriting{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/102024.stm |work=BBC News| title=Radiohead make double swoop | date=29 May 1998 | access-date=22 May 2010}} and being referred to by the press as "the unmistakable face of the Number One rock band in England".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/37.shtml |title=Bittersweet Triumph |publisher=Musicsaves.org |access-date=18 January 2012}} The band's single "Bitter Sweet Symphony" reached number 12 on the US charts in 1998.https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/12-no-12-billboard-hot-100-hits-for-2012-508261/ At the 1998 Brit Awards, The Verve won the awards for Best British Group{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1080216036 |title=Rock chronicles: every legend, every line-up, every look |date=2019 |publisher=Firefly Books |isbn=978-0-2281-0159-8 |editor-last=Roberts |editor-first=David |edition=Third |location=Richmond Hill, Ontario |pages=522 |oclc=on1080216036}} and Best British Album (Urban Hymns).[http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/the-verve The Brit Awards: The Verve] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202085636/http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/the-verve |date=2 February 2012 }} Brit Awards. Retrieved 11 February 2012 The band appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in March 1998.[https://archive.today/20130201151421/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/1998-rolling-stone-covers-20040512/rs784-verve-76576240 1998 Rolling Stone Covers] Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 February 2012 At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Group Video, and Best Alternative Video.[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1998/mtvvmas.htm 1998 MTV Video Music Awards] Rock on the Net. Retrieved 11 February 2012 In February 1999, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1999/grammys.htm 41st Grammy Awards – 1999] Rock on the Net. Retrieved 12 February 2012 In April 1999, it was announced that The Verve had again split up.{{Cite web |date=28 April 1999 |title=The Verve split up |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/330280.stm |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=BBC News}}

In early 2007, Ashcroft made peace with McCabe and Jones and the Verve's reunion was announced in June. The band played gigs later that year and continued touring in 2008, headlining at several festivals around the world. A new album, Forth, was released in August.

In August 2009, the Verve broke up for the third time, as McCabe's drinking problem generated tensions within the group.{{Cite news |last=Michaels |first=Sean |date=12 August 2009 |title=The Verve split up – for the third time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/aug/12/verve-split-up |access-date=2024-09-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Ashcroft's first solo single, "A Song for the Lovers", peaked at No. 3 in the UK chart in April 2000. It was followed by the single "Money to Burn" which reached the UK Top 20 at No. 17. The album, Alone with Everybody, was released in June, reaching number 1 and receiving platinum status in the UK. Album reviews were generally positive.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/richard-ashcroft/2437 |title=NME Album Reviews – Alone With Everybody |work=NME |date=20 June 2000 |access-date=18 January 2012}} In September, a third single was released – "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)" – entering the charts at No. 21. Richard does not publish the lyrics to his songs in the inlay cards of his albums or singles as he feels they are personal to him.

Ashcroft began work on his second album Human Conditions in 2002. The lead single, "Check the Meaning", was released in early October, and peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |title=Richard Ashcroft at OfficialCharts.com |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=18 June 2009}} The album was released later that month and reached No. 3 in the UK Album Chart. Reception to the album was generally positive. Review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalised score of 61% based on 15 reviews. In response to negative reaction to the album, Coldplay's Chris Martin – a fan of both Ashcroft and the Verve – defended the album's merits which "made an impression" on Ashcroft. The appreciation shown would later result in a support slot for Ashcroft, serving as the opening act for Coldplay during a European tour.{{cite news |first=Jane |last=Stevenson |title=Ashcroft talks Verve and Philosophy |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/A/Ashcroft_Richard/2006/03/17/1493092-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115082909/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/A/Ashcroft_Richard/2006/03/17/1493092-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=15 January 2013 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |access-date=18 June 2009 }} The album's second single, "Science of Silence", was released the following January and charted at No. 14 in the UK. On 26 March, Ashcroft made his first live appearance of 2003 at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the third annual Teenage Cancer Trust charity fundraising event,{{cite web |first=Jamilia |last=Al-amin |title=News: Ashcroft reveals single details |url=http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/news/2905_ashcroft_reveals_single_details |date=7 March 2003 |publisher=M.E.N. Media |access-date=18 June 2009}} before "Buy It in Bottles", the third and final single to be taken from the album, was released on 7 April, charting at No. 26.

Aside from a limited number of appearances in 2003, Ashcroft was absent from the music business for about two years. He later explained this in 2006, stating that "[e]veryone got it into their heads over the last few years that I was in my ivory tower like Lennon, baking bread all day. The fact of the matter was that I was bringing up kids".[http://www.richardashcroftonline.com/images/press/ra/nme07-01-06/nme07-01-06d.jpg]{{dead link|date=January 2012}}

Ashcroft began playing gigs again in mid-2005, and, on 2 July at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, Coldplay invited him to perform with them during their set. They performed the Verve's hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony", after having previously rehearsed the song in Crystal Palace. Ashcroft's performance of the song was introduced by Chris Martin as "probably the best song ever written, and here's the best singer in the world", helping to create renewed interest in Ashcroft. At Christmas 2005, a documentary entitled Live 8: A Bitter Sweet Symphony was aired on the BBC reliving moments of the day featuring a portion of Ashcroft's performance as the show's opening soundtrack.

After the disintegration of Hut Records in 2004, Ashcroft signed to Parlophone{{cite web |title=News: Ashcroft is the man with the power |url=http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/news/4842_ashcroft_is_the_man_with_the_power |date=6 February 2006 |publisher=M.E.N. Media |access-date=18 June 2009}} where he released his third solo album, Keys to the World, on 23 January 2006. The first single from the album, "Break the Night with Colour", was released on 9 January 2006, and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 3. Following his performance at Live 8, Ashcroft was booked as a support act for Coldplay's Twisted Logic Tour throughout North America and the UK, which started on 14 March in Ottawa, Canada. Ashcroft saw the support slot as "a good chance to play to a significant amount of people and say, 'I’m back. And this is what I do'".

The album's second single, "Music Is Power", charted at number 20. On 18 April 2006, he recorded the Live from London EP, the ninth in a series of EPs released exclusively as digital downloads from Apple's iTunes Store. The EP was released just 6 days later on 24 April. With the release of Keys to the World, the general consensus was that Ashcroft was "back at the top of his musical game", as he announced his largest UK tour for years for May 2006, culminating in three nights at London's Brixton Academy. Following the tour, Ashcroft had hoped to perform two "Homecoming" shows at Wigan Athletic's 25,000 seater JJB Stadium in June 2006, but was unable to do so as the proposed venue lacked the "appropriate licence".{{cite web |first=Diane |last=Bourne |title=News: No go for Richard at JJB |url=http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/news/4634_no_go_for_richard_at_jjb |date=19 October 2005 |publisher=M.E.N. Media |access-date=18 June 2009}} As a consequence, he chose to play at Lancashire County Cricket Club in Old Trafford, in what was to be his biggest solo show to date. He was supported at the gig by acts such as Razorlight and the Feeling, while DJ Shadow joined Richard on stage during his set to perform "Lonely Soul", their UNKLE collaboration from 1998's Psyence Fiction LP.{{cite web| title = Richard Ashcroft at Lancashire County Cricket Club – 8/10 |author=Nick Bowden |website=BBC Manchester Reviews |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2006/06/19/170606_richard_ashcroft_feature.shtml | access-date= 19 June 2006 }} Another UK tour followed five months later, culminating in a show at Manchester's M.E.N. Arena on 30 November.{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Walters |title=News: Ashcroft's Arena ending |url=http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/news/5058_ashcroft_s_arena_ending |date=23 November 2006 |publisher=M.E.N. Media |access-date=18 June 2009}} Ashcroft did not tour Keys to the World outside of Europe.

Ashcroft hinted at the possible release of a new version of his previous single "C'mon People (We're Making It Now)" for the Bobby Moore Cancer Fund,{{cite web |title=News: RICHARD ASHCROFT – ASHCROFT'S SOCCER ANTHEM |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/ashcrofts%20soccer%20anthem_30_04_2006 |date=30 April 2006 |publisher=Contactmusic.com Ltd |access-date=18 June 2009}} which would coincide with England's participation in the 2006 Football World Cup, but the single never materialised. Instead, his next release was "Words Just Get in the Way", which charted lower than his previous single, peaking at No. 40 in the UK Singles Chart. On 4 December, the double a-side "Why Not Nothing" / "Sweet Brother Malcolm" was released on limited edition 7" vinyl.{{cite web|title=Why Not Nothing? / Sweet Brother Malcolm AA side 7-inch single|date=26 October 2006|publisher=Contact Music|access-date=19 June 2009|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/richardashcroftx26x10x06}}

File:Richardashcroft.jpg

Ashcroft played a solo gig on 25 August 2008 as part of the Last Days of Summer Festival in Buckingham.{{cite web |title=News: Last Days of Summer picture gallery |url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Last-Days-of-Summer-picture.4426690.jp |date=26 August 2008 |publisher=Johnston Press Digital Publishing |access-date=18 June 2009}} The Verve broke up for a third time sometime between the last rehearsals in late 2008 and the summer of 2009. It was announced in August 2009 by a band's friend.

At that time, Ashcroft was contractually obligated to record another album for Parlophone.Graff, Gary..[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044396/the-verve-to-continue-on-after-reunion-album "The Verve to Continue on After Reunion Album.] Billboard. 20 August 2008. A b-side compilation was considered a possibility, as Ashcroft's team asked the fans through his site about their feelings on such an album, but it's now very unlikely. In December 2009, Ashcroft contributed the lead soundtrack song for the documentary The Journey.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/dec/18/journey-emma-thompson|title=Emma Thompson: 'Chances are you'll know somebody who pays for sex' |work=The Guardian |date=18 December 2009 |location=London | access-date=22 May 2010 |first=Catherine |last=Shoard}} A video of the song was posted at Ashcroft's site.{{cite news|url=http://www.richardashcroft.co.uk/news-page/P20/|title=Dear All. I have been fortunate enough to work on a very special project...|work=Richard Ashcroft official website|date=18 December 2009|access-date=18 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203035136/http://www.richardashcroft.co.uk/news-page/P20/|archive-date=3 February 2011}} Also, through his blog BRAIN, he stated that he would release a new album in 2010. Sources revealed he worked on a number of new songs in New York, Los Angeles and London with producer No I.D., who Ashcroft sought after because he liked his work in the Jay-Z song "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" and read an interview where he states how many producers destroy records to boost sales.{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/ashcroft-working-with-rap-producer-no-id_1126200 |title=Ashcroft Working With Rap Producer No I.D. |publisher=Contactmusic |date=18 December 2009 |access-date=18 January 2012}}

In 2010, Ashcroft formed a new band called RPA & The United Nations of Sound, who released a promo single, "Are You Ready?", from their new album.{{Cite web |date=18 January 2010 |title=Watch Richard Ashcroft's 'Are You Ready?' comeback video now – exclusive |url=http://www.nme.com/news/richard-ashcroft/49290/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516171209/https://www.nme.com/news/richard-ashcroft/49290/ |archive-date=16 May 2010 |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=NME}} The album United Nations of Sound (former working title Redemption) was released on Parlophone on 19 July 2010;{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=John |date=2010 |title=BBC – Music – Review of RPA & The United Nations of Sound – The United Nations of Sound |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/z2cg/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}} "Born Again", the first proper single from the album, was released on the same day.{{Cite web |title=Born Again |url=https://richardashcroft.com/portfolio_page/born-again/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718052943/https://richardashcroft.com/portfolio_page/born-again/ |archive-date=18 July 2017 |access-date=17 January 2024 |website=richardashcroft.com |language=en-GB}} The full album leaked on 15 July and the NME started streaming the album the following day. The new sound seems to emulate many of Richard's influences described over the years in interviews and seems to close a circle for his solo career. Strings, beats, rock-guitar-riffs, voice-loops, ballads and heroic-choir-anthems are the core of the album's sound with Ashcroft's craft for pop tunes and unique melody-making. Also found in the songs are the ever-present spiritual lyrics for Richard, although here in fuller form.

On 15 October 2010, Ashcroft released through his website a second fanclub-only track, "Here We Go Again". On the same day the song "Are You Ready?" was released as the first official single from the new album in the United States.{{cite web|title=The single "Are You Ready?" was released today in the US iTunes Music store|website=Facebook |date=16 October 2010|access-date=16 October 2010|url=http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=7217833667&share_id=125290484191766&comments=1}}{{Primary source inline|date=January 2018}} During the same month Ashcroft had signed with the record company Razor & Tie in the United States. The radio edit of "Are You Ready?" is available for free on the US version of Ashcroft's website.

The album United Nations of Sound was released across the Atlantic on 22 March 2011 under the name "Richard Ashcroft". The lead single "Are You Ready?" was featured over the closing credits of the film The Adjustment Bureau in March 2011, along with the new song "Future's Bright", written and performed specifically for the film's opening by Ashcroft and ten-time Oscar-nominated composer Thomas Newman.{{cite web|url=http://www.razorandtie.com/artist/richard-ashcroft|work=Razor & Tie official website (Richard Ashcroft BIO)|title=Richard Ashcroft news on Razor & Tie website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118014015/http://www.razorandtie.com/artist/richard-ashcroft|archive-date=18 November 2010}}

For the US release of "Are You Ready?", Ashcroft and Big Life Management commissioned Giorgio Testi for the promo – created out of live footage from a show at Shepherd's Bush Empire. The video premiered on 7 February on the official website of Pulse Films, the production company.{{cite web |title=Richard Ashcroft's 'Are You Ready?' by Giorgio Testi |url=http://www.pulsefilms.co.uk/news/?p=619 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317085326/http://www.pulsefilms.co.uk/news/?p=619 |archive-date=17 March 2012 |work=Pulse Films}}

On 1 March the song "Future's Bright" was premiered on Stereogum.{{cite web|url=https://stereogum.com/648192/richard-ashcroft-futures-bright-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/Feel/|work=Stereogum official website|title=Richard Ashcroft – Future's Bright (Stereogum Premiere)|date=28 February 2011}} On the official website of the movie The Adjustment Bureau there is also a video created for the song by director George Nolfi.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/yourlifeadjusted/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301172519/http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/yourlifeadjusted/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 March 2011|work=The Adjustment Bureau official website|title=Your Life Adjusted – Video Project}}

After six years' absence, Ashcroft released his comeback fifth studio album, These People, in May 2016. The album received largely positive reviews from music critics. The album was followed by 2016 UK and Europe tour, an abbreviated North American tour, and—for the first time in Ashcroft's career—festival dates in Latin America.

In January 2018, it was confirmed that in June 2018, Ashcroft would be supporting Liam Gallagher at his two concerts in Malahide Castle and Gardens in Dublin and Belsonic at Ormeau Park in Belfast.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/richard-ashcroft-supporting-liam-gallagher-2229103|title=Richard Ashcroft will support Liam Gallagher at these summer gigs|first=Luke Morgan|last=Britton|date=26 January 2018|website=NME|access-date=24 May 2019}} In March 2018, it was announced that Ashcroft would tour with Gallagher in North America in May 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/liam-gallagher-richard-ashcroft-north-america-tour-2268888|title=Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft to tour North America together|first=Luke Morgan|last=Britton|date=19 March 2018|website=NME|access-date=24 May 2019}} On 11 June 2018, it was announced that Ashcroft would support Gallagher at his show at Lancashire County Cricket Club on 18 August 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/liam-gallagher/richard-ashcroft-support-acts-manchester/|title=Liam Gallagher's Huge Manchester Support Acts Announced|website=Radio X|access-date=24 May 2019}}

In August 2018, Ashcroft announced his sixth solo album, Natural Rebel, which was released on 19 October, preceded by the single "Surprised By The Joy" in September and subsequent teasers "Born To Be Strangers" and "That's When I Feel It." The LP debuted at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, its highest position.{{Cite web |date=November 2018 |title=Natural Rebel by Richard Ashcroft |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/richard-ashcroft-natural-rebel/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=The Official Charts}}

On February 19, 2021, he released a cover of John Lennon's "Bring On the Lucie (Freda Peeple)"{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/richard-ashcroft-covers-john-lennons-bring-on-the-lucie-freda-peeple-2884205|title = Richard Ashcroft covers John Lennon's 'Bring on the Lucie (Freda Peeple)'|website=Nme.com|date = 19 February 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/richard-ashcroft/john-lennon-cover-bring-lucie-freda-peeple/|title = Richard Ashcroft shares John Lennon cover Bring on the Lucie (Freda Peeple)|website=Radiox.co.uk}} (track 5 on Lennon's 1973 album Mind Games). On 29 October that year, he released his sixth album, Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=29 October 2021 |title=Richard Ashcroft – 'Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1' review: stripped-back re-imaginings of indie classics |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/richard-ashcroft-acoustic-hymns-vol-1-review-3076035 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104215132/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/richard-ashcroft-acoustic-hymns-vol-1-review-3076035 |archive-date=4 November 2021 |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=NME }} It features acoustic versions of Ashcroft's songs with The Verve and his solo career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/richard-ashcroft-announces-acoustic-album-acoustic-hymns-vol-1-featuring-liam-gallagher__33975/|title = Richard Ashcroft announces new acoustic album|website=Officialcharts.com}} The album debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, its peak position.{{Cite web |date=December 2021 |title=Acoustic Hymns – Vol 1 by Richard Ashcroft |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/richard-ashcroft-acoustic-hymns-vol-1/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=The Official Charts}}

On May 22, 2025, he released "Lover". The song is based on sample from "Love and Affection" by Joan Armatraiding. In an interview with Absolute Radio, he commented how he doesn't consider himself defined by any specific genre and just needs it to be "music". Per the song's new sound, he doesn't like to stale in his previous genres, as that would become like a Xerox Machine that renders bad copies of something. He admires in the creation of music by sampling, how the sample takes on a life of its own and becomes new music{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOIOSUiibDs |title=Oasis reunion support “A Big Moment” for Richard Ashcroft {{!}} Absolute Radio |date=2025-05-29 |last=Absolute Radio |access-date=2025-05-31 |via=YouTube}}. The song was produced by Esme Ramazanoglu and was accompanied by an announcement of a new album coming September 2025 {{Cite web |last=Rigotti |first=Alex |date=2025-05-22 |title=Richard Ashcroft warms up for Oasis tour with uplifting new single 'Lover' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/richard-ashcroft-warms-up-for-oasis-tour-with-uplifting-new-single-lover-3864256 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} {{Cite web |title=The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft Returns with First New Solo Song in Seven Years |url=https://floodmagazine.com/195934/watch-richard-ashcroft-lover/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=FLOOD |language=en}}.

Ashcroft is married to Kate Radley, a former keyboardist of Spiritualized.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/nov/09/rock.music | location=London | newspaper=The Guardian | title=Music's a personal crusade, very much within his soul. But he's reaching out for something else – what he can be | first=Dave | last=Simpson | date=8 November 2007}} They married in 1995 and it was years before it was publicly revealed that the pair had married. Together, they have two sons. The family lives in Taynton in Gloucestershire and Richmond in London.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/28/richard-ashcroft-i-wouldnt-trade-what-coldplay-have-achieved-for-any-of-my-songs|title=Richard Ashcroft: 'I wouldn't trade what Coldplay have achieved for any of my songs'|date=28 April 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=14 November 2020}} Ashcroft and Radley have collaborated professionally throughout their marriage and toured together with the band Coldplay in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Ashcroft talks Verve and Philosophy |url=https://www.thevervelive.com/2006/03/ashcroft-talks-verve-and-philosophy.html |access-date=2024-05-31}}

Ashcroft is a Manchester United fan, and regularly attends matches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10245139/fenners-meets-richard-ashcroft|title=Fenners meets Richard Ashcroft|website=SkySports.com|access-date=14 November 2020}}

He is good friends with the band Oasis's Noel and Liam Gallagher and Coldplay's Chris Martin. For a long time the Gallagher brothers have expressed great respect for Ashcroft, with Noel Gallagher fondly nicknaming Ashcroft 'Captain Rock'. The Oasis track "Cast No Shadow", from the successful 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is dedicated to him, possibly as a response to Ashcroft having dedicated the title track of A Northern Soul to Noel Gallagher.{{cite news| url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-verves-a-northern-soul-20-years-on-a-knife-twisting-snapshot-of-a-band-on-the-brink-767197 | work=NME | title=The Verve's 'A Northern Soul' 20 Years On: A Knife-Twisting Snapshot Of A Band On The Brink | date=1 July 2015| access-date=18 November 2016}} Ashcroft also provided backing vocals on the Oasis song "All Around the World" in 1997, for Oasis' Be Here Now.

In a 2006 interview, Ashcroft mentioned taking Prozac to help him with clinical depression, but said that it did not help, referring to the pills as "very, very synthetic." Ashcroft has said that he's always been "a depressive, someone who suffers from depression", and that music and creativity help him cope with his illness.{{cite web |url=http://www.londonnet.co.uk/entertainment/2006/jan/883_20060117.html |website=Londonnet.co.uk |title=Richard Ashcroft confesses to taking Prozac for depression |access-date=29 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823014254/http://www.londonnet.co.uk/entertainment/2006/jan/883_20060117.html |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Ashcroft has a sustained interest for the psychological and affectual influence music holds, stating, "A great pop song is as powerful as the best piece of poetry you have ever read and the melody can take you to another place."{{Cite news |last=Dingwall |first=John |date=27 January 2006 |title=Richard the First |url=https://www.richardashcroftonline.com/press/dailyrecord2006.html |work=The Daily Record |pages=41}}

Ashcroft is well known for using string instrumentation in his songs. He considers it part of his "palette" and draws inspiration from such composers as Ennio Morricone, John Barry, and John Williams.

A major influence on Ashcroft from childhood to adulthood has been The Beatles. Ashcroft recalls two out of the three LPs his family owned when he was a child were the 1966 album Revolver, and the Beatles compilation album 1967–1970. He also recalls in his teens he used to watch an "unauthorised" video of the band on a loop. He has expressed a high regard for George Harrison's work within the Beatles and solo work, as well as praise for his moral ideals and distaste for the fake nature of the music industry.{{Cite web |last=Ashcroft |first=Richard |date=1 December 2001 |title=Richard Ashcroft: I sing his songs every night to my son |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/richard-ashcroft-i-sing-his-songs-every-night-to-my-son-9245146.html |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=The Independent}}

Ashcroft has listed The Smiths as a major influence in his teens, listing the album Hatful of Hollow and the song 'How Soon is Now' as having a profound impact on him.{{Cite book |last=Baker |first=Trevor |title=Richard Ashcroft: The Verve, Burning Money & the Human Condition |date=21 August 2008 |publisher=Music Press Books |isbn=978-1906191023}}

Ashcroft also holds a deep interest for Cinema; when he was thirteen years of age, he was shown the Jean-Luc Godard film "1+1", which showed the Rolling Stones creating a song. Ashcroft mentions this event as a turning point in his life view.

In terms of literature, Ashcroft has been vastly influenced by the poet/polymath William Blake. He has also mentioned poet Phillip Larkin and A.E. Housman as some of his favorite poets.{{Cite web |last=Troussé |first=Stephen |date=4 March 2016 |title=Richard Ashcroft: "Not long into your career, you realise that it's pretty much Spinal Tap" |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/richard-ashcroft-not-long-into-your-career-you-realise-that-its-pretty-much-spinal-tap-73019/6/ |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=Uncut}}

A legal dispute was held over Ashcroft's song, "Bitter Sweet Symphony", on which Ashcroft was the sole band member to share a co-writing credit.Urban Hymns sleevenotes The song uses a sample of Andrew Oldham Orchestra's recording of The Rolling Stones' 1965 song "The Last Time". The Verve had negotiated this legally; however, the Rolling Stones' record company successfully sued and argued that they had used "too much." The Verve was subsequently forced to give ABKCO 100 percent of the royalties from "Bitter Sweet Symphony", and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were given songwriting credits along with Ashcroft. Against Ashcroft's wishes, the song was used in a commercial advertisement; from this he received $175,000, but donated it all to charity despite it being the only revenue he had ever received from the song.{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Dave |date=28 April 2016 |title=Richard Ashcroft: 'I wouldn't trade what Coldplay have achieved for any of my songs' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/28/richard-ashcroft-i-wouldnt-trade-what-coldplay-have-achieved-for-any-of-my-songs |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=The Guardian}} On 23 May 2019, Ashcroft announced that Jagger and Richards had signed over the rights to him, giving him sole writing credit and all subsequent royalties.{{cite news |last1=Humphries |first1=Will |title=Verve singer Richard Ashcroft's 22‑year fight with Rolling Stones is all over now |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/verve-singer-richard-ashcroft-s-22-year-fight-with-rolling-stones-is-all-over-now-5wnfcrwhz |publisher=Times Newspapers Limited |date=24 May 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |title=Bittersweet no more: Rolling Stones pass Verve royalties to Richard Ashcroft |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/may/23/bitter-sweet-symphony-royalties-richard-ashcroft-verve-royalties-novello |access-date=24 May 2019 |publisher=Guardian News & Media Limited |date=23 May 2019 |language=en |quote=23 May 2019 17.58 BST Last modified on Thu 22.13 BST}}

{| class=wikitable

|-

! Year !! Awards !! Work !! Category !! Result

|-

| rowspan=2|1998

| Ivor Novello Awards

| rowspan=2|Himself

| Songwriter of the Year

| {{won}}

|-

| Denmark GAFFA Awards

| Best Foreign Songwriter{{Cite web|url=https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/8752|title=GAFFA-prisen 1991–2006 – se vinderne|website=Gaffa.dk|access-date=23 October 2021}}

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan=2|2000

| Mercury Prize

| Alone with Everybody

| Album of the Year

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan=2|NME Awards

| rowspan=2|Himself

| rowspan=2|Best Solo Artist

| {{nom}}

|-

| 2006

| {{nom}}

|-

| 2011

| UK Music Video Awards

| Live at Shepherds Bush Empire

| Best Live Music Coverage

| {{nom}}

|-

| 2017

| NME Awards

| rowspan=3|Himself

| Best British Male

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan=2|2019

| Global Awards

| Best Indie

| {{nom}}

|-

| Ivor Novello Awards

| Outstanding Contribution to British Music

| {{won}}

{{end}}

{{Refbegin}}

Notes

• A {{anchor|endnote_A}}^ United Nations of Sound and the singles taken from it were released under Ashcroft's pseudonym "RPA & The United Nations of Sound".
• B {{anchor|endnote_B}}^ "Why Not Nothing?" / "Sweet Brother Malcolm" was a limited 7" release.
• C {{anchor|endnote_C}}^ "The Journey" was a charity single for Helen Bamber Foundation.
• D {{anchor|endnote_D}}^ "Are You Ready?" was a released as a limited edition UK promo CD and vinyl.
• E {{anchor|endnote_E}}^ "Future's Bright?", Richard Ashcroft teamed up with the American film score composer Thomas Newman to pen this song for the opening credits of the 2011 movie, The Adjustment Bureau.

{{Refend}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.richardashcroft.co.uk/ Official website (UK)]
• [http://richardashcroftonline.com/ Richard Ashcroft Online] (unofficial website)
• {{IMDb name|id=1479214|name=Richard Ashcroft}}

{{Richard Ashcroft}}

{{The Verve}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashcroft, Richard}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century English male singers

Category:21st-century English male singers

Category:20th-century English singer-songwriters

Category:21st-century English singer-songwriters

Category:English alternative rock guitarists

Category:English alternative rock singers

Category:English male guitarists

Category:English male singer-songwriters

Category:Music in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan

Category:Singers from Manchester

Category:Parlophone artists

Category:People from Higher End

Category:British shoegaze musicians

Category:Space rock musicians

Category:The Verve members

Category:Virgin Records artists

Category:Ivor Novello Award winners

Category:Britpop musicians