Oasis suffered a short sound problem during their Wembley Stadium show in London last night (July 9) – but Noel Gallagher was quick to quash any refunds.
The band suffered a loss of sound as they performed 'Wonderwall', although with the crowd in full voice the audience ably finished the song.
However following trouble at Manchester's Heaton Park when the band announced their would be refunds from the stage before managing to play most of their intended set, the guitarist was quick to quip there would be no money back offers this time.
"Last time this happened it cost us half-a-million quid, so just to be clear none of you are getting your fucking money back," he declared from the stage. "Not you, not you, not you with the glasses!"
However the problem proved to be just a blip in the set, which saw frontman Liam Gallagher dedicate 'Live Forever' to The Verve's Richard Ashcroft, who was at the gig.
The Gallaghers also had a pop at bandmate Andy Bell's sunglasses, suggesting he "looks like he's just come from the Jackson memorial".
Earlier Kasabian, The Enemy and Reverend And The Makers had all performed.
Source: NME
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
More from the Telegraph about Allen Klein and The Verve
"...Klein may no longer have been a significant power in the music business, but that didn’t stop him apparently enjoying making trouble. His last headline grabbing incident was seizing 100 per cent of the royalties of The Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’, over the use of a sample from an orchestral recording of The Rolling Stones ‘The Last Time’.
According to Verve bassist, Simon Jones, “We were told it was going to be a 50/50 split, and then they saw how well the record was doing. They rang up and said, ‘We want 100% or take it out of the shops.’ ” It was arguably songwriter Richard Ashcroft’s finest moment, a number one hit all over the world, but he never earned a penny from it.
The publisher rubbed salt into the wound by leasing the track for use in Nike and Vauxhall commercials. Ashcroft, however, remained admirably philosophical. He said he was tempted to take the sample out, but didn’t want to ruin the record. “It was a perfect piece of pop art with the sentiment that ‘you’re a slave to money then you die’ … and they all came running.”
Discussing his reputation, Klein once remarked: “Artists **** groupies, I **** the artists.”
Click here for the Telegraph obituary.
According to Verve bassist, Simon Jones, “We were told it was going to be a 50/50 split, and then they saw how well the record was doing. They rang up and said, ‘We want 100% or take it out of the shops.’ ” It was arguably songwriter Richard Ashcroft’s finest moment, a number one hit all over the world, but he never earned a penny from it.
The publisher rubbed salt into the wound by leasing the track for use in Nike and Vauxhall commercials. Ashcroft, however, remained admirably philosophical. He said he was tempted to take the sample out, but didn’t want to ruin the record. “It was a perfect piece of pop art with the sentiment that ‘you’re a slave to money then you die’ … and they all came running.”
Discussing his reputation, Klein once remarked: “Artists **** groupies, I **** the artists.”
Click here for the Telegraph obituary.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Compilation update
About that b-sides compilation, here's the latest from The Debating Chamber. Ashcroft writes "the debates over. Thanks for your involvement. I’ll keep you posted on the track list and release date. Love and peace, Rich"Check out the commentary and poll on the forum.
And for those tuning in for the first time, Ashcroft is contractually obligated to one more album. Presumably this is it as there hasn't been any word on a future album (non compilation) release.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Former Beatles, Stones manager Allen Klein dies
Infamous record label owner Allen Klein, who played a key role in the demise of the Beatles and also nabbed control of some of the Rolling Stones' best-known songs, died in New York on Saturday after a battle with Alzheimer's disease, a spokesman said. He was 77.
During a career spanning more than 50 years, the New Jersey-born accountant enjoyed a reputation as a savvy gangster-like figure. His ruthless business practices were reviled by many, but he also earned grudging respect for bullying labels into giving rich deals to his clients.
"Don't talk to me about ethics," he told Playboy magazine in 1971. "Every man makes his own. It's like a war. You choose your side early and from then on, you're being shot at. The man you beat is likely to call you unethical. So what?"
It did not hurt his reputation when he was sentenced to two months in prison in 1979 for tax evasion.
He once said John Lennon hired him to protect his interest in the Beatles because he and wife Yoko Ono wanted "a real shark -- someone to keep the other sharks away."
His company, ABKCO Music & Records, is one of the biggest independent labels in an industry controlled by multinational corporations. The spokesman said it would remain family-controlled. Two of Klein's three adult children work at the company, including son Jody who runs ABKCO. (The acronym stands for Allen and Betty Klein Co., Betty being his wife.)
Its assets include recordings by the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Womack, the Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and many others.
The publishing arm boasts more than 2,000 copyrights including compositions by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, Cooke, Womack, Ray Davies of the Kinks and Pete Townshend of the Who.
Klein broke into the music business by auditing record labels on behalf of clients including Bobby Darin and Connie Francis. When he found they were owed royalties, he took half of the difference as a fee.
His first big management client was Sam Cooke, for whom he negotiated a lucrative recording deal in 1963 that gave the soul star unprecedented control over his own catalogue.
Klein, who was already representing "British Invasion" artists such as the Animals, Dave Clark Five and Herman's Hermits, set his sights on the Rolling Stones, who were labouring under an onerous deal.
He renegotiated their pact in 1965, and ended up managing the group for about five years -- taking a 20 percent fee.
The Stones eventually tired of Klein. But the only way to break free of him was to give up the rights to their master recordings and rights to such timeless tunes as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
"In some ways Allen Klein was very much ahead of his time," Jagger said in the 1989 Stones documentary "25x5." "We lasted about three or four years with him, really, though the ramifications of that still continue to this day."
Richards was more philosophical, describing their experience with Klein as "the price of an education."
By then, Klein was focussed on the ultimate prize, the Beatles. He offered his help to Lennon in early 1969, when the Fab Four's idealistic Apple Corps. label was fast draining the fractured group's coffers.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr also warmed to his pitch, but Paul McCartney was fiercely opposed. He preferred the expertise of his father-in-law, high-powered New York attorney Lee Eastman.
Amid a series of complex manoeuvrings that also have consequences to this day, Klein unsuccessfully tried to secure control of the Beatles' copyrights on behalf of the group. Michael Jackson ended up with the rights 16 years later.
Klein did score a rich recording deal for the Beatles, but relations within the group were past frayed, and it dissolved in 1970.
That year, Harrison "honoured" Klein in a rough version of his song "Beware of Darkness" with the line "beware of ABKCO." "It might have ended up being prophetic. But at the time it was just a little joke," Harrison told Reuters in 2000.
Indeed, Harrison and Klein reunited in 1971 to put on the all-star Concert for Bangladesh shows at Madison Square Garden in New York. It took a decade for the funds to reach the refugees because of complex tax problems.
In addition to his children and wife, Klein is survived by his long-time girlfriend Iris Keitel, an ABKCO executive. His funeral will take place in New York on Tuesday.
For more on Allen Klein's aggressive business practices and the infamous "five-note" orchestral sample used by The Verve from one of the Rolling Stones’ lesser hits, please see below:
Article by: Dean Goodman, Reuters
During a career spanning more than 50 years, the New Jersey-born accountant enjoyed a reputation as a savvy gangster-like figure. His ruthless business practices were reviled by many, but he also earned grudging respect for bullying labels into giving rich deals to his clients.
"Don't talk to me about ethics," he told Playboy magazine in 1971. "Every man makes his own. It's like a war. You choose your side early and from then on, you're being shot at. The man you beat is likely to call you unethical. So what?"
It did not hurt his reputation when he was sentenced to two months in prison in 1979 for tax evasion.
He once said John Lennon hired him to protect his interest in the Beatles because he and wife Yoko Ono wanted "a real shark -- someone to keep the other sharks away."
His company, ABKCO Music & Records, is one of the biggest independent labels in an industry controlled by multinational corporations. The spokesman said it would remain family-controlled. Two of Klein's three adult children work at the company, including son Jody who runs ABKCO. (The acronym stands for Allen and Betty Klein Co., Betty being his wife.)
Its assets include recordings by the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Womack, the Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and many others.
The publishing arm boasts more than 2,000 copyrights including compositions by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, Cooke, Womack, Ray Davies of the Kinks and Pete Townshend of the Who.
Klein broke into the music business by auditing record labels on behalf of clients including Bobby Darin and Connie Francis. When he found they were owed royalties, he took half of the difference as a fee.
His first big management client was Sam Cooke, for whom he negotiated a lucrative recording deal in 1963 that gave the soul star unprecedented control over his own catalogue.
Klein, who was already representing "British Invasion" artists such as the Animals, Dave Clark Five and Herman's Hermits, set his sights on the Rolling Stones, who were labouring under an onerous deal.
He renegotiated their pact in 1965, and ended up managing the group for about five years -- taking a 20 percent fee.
The Stones eventually tired of Klein. But the only way to break free of him was to give up the rights to their master recordings and rights to such timeless tunes as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
"In some ways Allen Klein was very much ahead of his time," Jagger said in the 1989 Stones documentary "25x5." "We lasted about three or four years with him, really, though the ramifications of that still continue to this day."
Richards was more philosophical, describing their experience with Klein as "the price of an education."
By then, Klein was focussed on the ultimate prize, the Beatles. He offered his help to Lennon in early 1969, when the Fab Four's idealistic Apple Corps. label was fast draining the fractured group's coffers.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr also warmed to his pitch, but Paul McCartney was fiercely opposed. He preferred the expertise of his father-in-law, high-powered New York attorney Lee Eastman.
Amid a series of complex manoeuvrings that also have consequences to this day, Klein unsuccessfully tried to secure control of the Beatles' copyrights on behalf of the group. Michael Jackson ended up with the rights 16 years later.
Klein did score a rich recording deal for the Beatles, but relations within the group were past frayed, and it dissolved in 1970.
That year, Harrison "honoured" Klein in a rough version of his song "Beware of Darkness" with the line "beware of ABKCO." "It might have ended up being prophetic. But at the time it was just a little joke," Harrison told Reuters in 2000.
Indeed, Harrison and Klein reunited in 1971 to put on the all-star Concert for Bangladesh shows at Madison Square Garden in New York. It took a decade for the funds to reach the refugees because of complex tax problems.
In addition to his children and wife, Klein is survived by his long-time girlfriend Iris Keitel, an ABKCO executive. His funeral will take place in New York on Tuesday.
For more on Allen Klein's aggressive business practices and the infamous "five-note" orchestral sample used by The Verve from one of the Rolling Stones’ lesser hits, please see below:
Article by: Dean Goodman, Reuters
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Ashcroft plans to release a B-sides album...and needs some fan input
The line 'We're looking at putting a B sides compilation together. What should be on it?' says it all.'The Debating Chamber' has been put together on Ashcroft's website for fans to put forward their ideas on what they would like to see on the compilation.
Talk about it and place your top 10 choices on the Virtual World Forum.
Also new to Ashcroft's site is a 'radio' section as well as a 'news updates' section, which also provides a link to an email where fans can send photos for possible inclusion in a planned Richard Ashcroft Flickr group.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Uncle Joe's Mint Balls + McCabe
Last June, several personal videos surfaced from Verve's 1997 US Tour, presumably from Simon Tong's video camera. If I remember correctly, the official Verve video shows Tong holding a video camera while overlooking a cityscape, so presumably its him.
Anyway, one of the videos, humorously titled "US TOUR - Sponsored by Uncle Joe's Mint Balls," sees Ashcroft holding a can of Uncle Joe's mints with plans of selling the product on the road. The video found its way to Uncle Joe, a Wigan based confectioner, and is now mentioned on their website. Class promotion of a Wigan based company!! Link here.
Also, here are two videos. The first contains footage from Nick McCabe's fairly recent gig with Damo Suzuki (Can) and Jeff Wootton at the Night & Day in Manchester. It passes visually but struggles aurally. The second is an amalgamation of sound using one of Nick McCabe's guitar tracks wrapped around Annie Lennox's song "Why." Clever.
Anyway, one of the videos, humorously titled "US TOUR - Sponsored by Uncle Joe's Mint Balls," sees Ashcroft holding a can of Uncle Joe's mints with plans of selling the product on the road. The video found its way to Uncle Joe, a Wigan based confectioner, and is now mentioned on their website. Class promotion of a Wigan based company!! Link here.
Also, here are two videos. The first contains footage from Nick McCabe's fairly recent gig with Damo Suzuki (Can) and Jeff Wootton at the Night & Day in Manchester. It passes visually but struggles aurally. The second is an amalgamation of sound using one of Nick McCabe's guitar tracks wrapped around Annie Lennox's song "Why." Clever.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Richard Ashcroft on The Stone Roses
In this week's NME, 'Why I Love The Stone Roses' by Richard Ashcroft, The Verve (as it reads in the article).
The Stone Roses blew me away, right from the very beginning. People used to hand around bootleg tapes of Roses gigs in Manchester even before the first record came out - so when it did, everyone already knew the words. Not many bands these days have that sort of enigma to them.In another section, Kevin Cummins (photographer of the iconic image featured on the NME cover of the Nov 18th, 1989 issue where the Roses are covered in paint), mentions that "Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft have said it was the greatest NME cover of all time. Richard Ashcroft said it defined his generation."
Lyrically, they were striving for something so much bigger than guitar music was at the time. It was strange; there were a few girls at the front and the rest were lads, very hard, aggressive lads. This whole contradiction gave me insipration. I tapped into that aswell. When I go to a football game and a guy with one tooth and tattoos all over his arms stops me and says my songs changed his life, you realise the potency of this music. The Roses did that to people too."
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Paying tribute to the Stone Roses
In this weeks NME, Richard Ashcroft will pay tribute to The Stone Roses' debut album in celebration of it's 20th anniversary. Link here.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
McCabe plans future project
Though perhaps not a permanent move, Nick McCabe has announced he is working on a new project. After months of silence, we finally have confirmation that Verve are currently inactive and "on holiday." Meanwhile, Richard Ashcroft is contractually obligated to one more studio album, so we can assume that he'll be busy with that until further notice. Here is McCabe's message:
Hello
Back from the dead. What a strange couple of years.
Anyway.
The Verve seems to be on holiday, and shows no sign of not being on holiday- so, I've been hesitant to breach Official Secrets style policy with any missives from the, well, from any front, basically. Don't ask me anything about the big V, just let me enjoy my non-alcoholic Piña Colada and tell you about what's going on elsewhere.
Thumb twiddling was never our forté so Si Jones and I have been busy with a new project. Currently this includes the brilliant violinist, Davide Rossi, who you may have had the pleasure of seeing with the Verve at various festivals last year. Also with us, an old friend, multi instrumentalist Michelle Schillace on drums and whatever he fancies playing that particular day.
The project is shaping up nicely. Expect krautrock style excursions into the unknown and maybe, just maybe, the killer pop record we're toying with making. Two sessions took place so far, Best Kept Secret studios in Copenhagen last year, and this year, my place in Walworth. There is a huge amount of material being generated and we have several interesting vocalists in mind. Clips to follow.
Also up and running as hinted above is my humble tracking studio in South London. Current clients are willing Guinea Pigs while I am learning the craft. The Albini model is a good one, the days of the super studio are gone thank god but bands still need a place to track and I've put a place together which is already serving this function.
Recently we have had Jamie and Alex from Bath's X is Loaded, along with Charley Bickers, another Bath veteran (ha ha, sorry mate) and myself (just veteran, heh) playing together for the first time, again at my place in Walworth. An incredibly productive two days, very promising and Charley is in fine voice currently.
Also played with Damo Suzuki, Jeff Wooton and Mark Heaney at Night and Day Cafe, Manchester. Will be working more with both Jeff and Mark in the near future.
Pictures and sound to follow.
Will try and wade through some of the missed emails in the absence but Verve radio silence has infected my very being (ha ha ha). Do my best though.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Verve no more?
Just one day after performing at a private party for Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini, the Telegraph are referring to Richard Ashcroft as 'former lead singer of The Verve.' Bear in mind, the article's author may not be up to date on the Verve reunion. Ashcroft attended the event and performed as a solo artist, but with The Verve having attracted so much attention during their reunion period, this may be a stretch. The past five to six stagnant months of waiting for any sign of life has led to speculation on the band's future. Hopefully this isn't it. Read below. Link here.
While the G20 world leaders and their wives dined at Downing Street last night, the fashion pack assembled in Chelsea to enjoy a candle lit dinner in honour of Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini, hosted by Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman.
Giannini, who was in London to unveil her new design concept for Gucci’s newly refurbished Sloane Street store, which reopened at the weekend, dined at the new Saatchi Gallery at the former ‘Duke of York’s HQ’ on the King’s Road, along with 150 specially invited guests.
The gallery’s first floor was transformed for the evening, with customised black and gold features – the signature colours of the new flagship Gucci store.
In attendance was Claudia Schiffer, who rubbed shoulders with fellow models Erin O’Connor, Jacquetta Wheeler, and Sophie Dahl, who was there with her beau, the singer Jamie Cullum.
Never ones to miss a party, the Geldof sisters, Peaches and Pixie, looked elegant in floor-length gowns. Guests were treated to an acoustic session by Richard Ashcroft, former lead singer of The Verve.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Feast for Frida (w/ an exclusive performance by Richard Ashcroft)
ALEXANDRA SHULMAN (editor of the British edition of Vogue) last night celebrated the success of Gucci creative director Frida Giannini, hosting a candlelit dinner in her honour at the new Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea.In town to unveil her new design concept for Gucci's refurbished Sloane Street flagship store, Giannini was joined by a select crowd including the fashionable likes of Claudia Schiffer, Sophie Dahl, Erin O'Connor, Elizabeth Jagger and Suzy Menkes (to name but a few) - as well as Richard Ashcroft, who performed an acoustic session dressed in a suave cream and black pinstripe ensemble.
Enjoying pre-dinner apple and ginger Mojito cocktails, and Laurent Perrier Champagne in a specially designed Gucci lounge (complete with fixtures in the brand's signature gold and black colours), guests then sat down to an Italian-style antipasti dinner.
"We're here to celebrate the redesigned Gucci store on Sloane Street and to welcome Frida to London. With recently announced great results and general good news Frida proves to be not only a brilliant creative director but something of a magician," Shulman said in her toast.
Canapé puddings, specially created Gucci chocolates and some grooving away to Richard Ashcroft from Jamie Cullum and Sophie Dahl completed the rest of the evening.See some of the guests at Vogue's Gucci dinner here. Slide show one and two, plus pre-event pictures can be found here.
Source: Vogue
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Special one-off performance featuring Nick McCabe
Nick McCabe will play a special set with Damo Suzuki (Can) on Thursday, April 2, in Manchester, England at the Marquee Club, Night & Day cafe. Mark Heaney will feature on drums and Jeff Wootton on bass. I've been told tickets are limited and can be found here. More information at The Black Marquee MySpace page.
Event: Night no.1 of Residency featuring The Sand Band, Damo Suzuki (CAN) + Nick McCabe
Location: 26 Oldham St, Manchester, M1 1JN
Cost: £5
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