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.

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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