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Richard Paul Ashcroft (born 11 September 1971) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He formed the alternative rock band the Verve in 1990 and served as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist throughout the band's lifetime. Ashcroft was the sole songwriter of the group. The band started as a jam-based band, however, McCabe has clarified that Ashcroft was the one who created the lyrics. In 1997, The Verve released the UK number one album Urban Hymns, that in present day is the 18th most sold album in the UK. In 1998, Ashcroft was awarded the Ivor Novello award for Songwriter of the Year. Following The Verve's disbandment in 1999, Ashcroft embarked on a successful solo career, releasing six UK top-three solo albums, including Alone with Everybody, Keys to the World and These People.
The Verve reformed in 2007 and released another UK number one album Forth and disbanded once again in summer 2009. Ashcroft then released a new album in 2010 under the pseudonym band RPA & The United Nations of Sound. His fourth solo album, These People, was released in 2016. Followed by the album Natural Rebel in 2018.
In May 2019, Ashcroft received a second Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. He released the compilation of acoustic versions of his best hits, Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1, in 2021.
Venerated by his peers, Noel Gallagher of Oasis has described Ashcroft as a "genius", and Chris Martin of Coldplay has described Ashcroft as "the best singer in the world".
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, 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. 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. 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.
The band signed to Hut Records, during which time Ashcroft gained the sobriquet "Mad Richard". 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. 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 and being referred to by the press as "the unmistakable face of the Number One rock band in England". The band's single "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
/ref> At the 1998 Brit Awards, The Verve won the awards for Best British Group and Best British Album ( Urban Hymns). The Brit Awards: The Verve Brit Awards. Retrieved 11 February 2012 The band appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in March 1998. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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. 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. 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, 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 "everyone 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".[5]
After the disintegration of Hut Records in 2004, Ashcroft signed to Parlophone 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". 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. Another UK tour followed five months later, culminating in a show at Manchester's M.E.N. Arena on 30 November. 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, 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.
At that time, Ashcroft was contractually obligated to record another album for Parlophone.Graff, Gary.. "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. A video of the song was posted at Ashcroft's site. 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.
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. The album United Nations of Sound (former working title Redemption) was released on Parlophone on 19 July 2010; "Born Again", the first proper single from the album, was released on the same day. 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. 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.
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.
On 1 March the song "Future's Bright" was premiered on Stereogum. On the official website of the movie The Adjustment Bureau there is also a video created for the song by director George Nolfi.
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. In March 2018, it was announced that Ashcroft would tour with Gallagher in North America in May 2018. On 11 June 2018, it was announced that Ashcroft would support Gallagher at his show at Lancashire County Cricket Club on 18 August 2018.
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.
On February 19, 2021, he released a cover of John Lennon's "Bring On the Lucie (Freda Peeple)" (track 5 on Lennon's 1973 album Mind Games). On 29 October that year, he released his sixth album, Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1. It features acoustic versions of Ashcroft's songs with The Verve and his solo career. The album debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, its peak position.
On May 22, 2025, he released "Lover". The song is based on sample from "Love and Affection" by Joan Armatrading. 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. The song was produced by Esme Ramazanoglu and was accompanied by an announcement of a new album coming September 2025.
Ashcroft is a Manchester United fan, and regularly attends matches.
He is good friends with the band Oasis's Noel Gallagher 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. 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.
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 LP record 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.
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.
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 Philip Larkin and A.E. Housman as some of his favorite poets.
| 1998 | Ivor Novello Awards | Himself | Songwriter of the Year | ||||||||||
| Denmark GAFFA Awards | Best Foreign Songwriter | ||||||||||||
| 2000 | Mercury Prize | Alone with Everybody | Album of the Year | ||||||||||
| NME Awards | Himself | Best Solo Artist | |||||||||||
| 2006 | |||||||||||||
| 2011 | UK Music Video Awards | Live at Shepherds Bush Empire | Best Live Music Coverage | ||||||||||
| 2017 | NME Awards | Himself | Best British Male | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Global Awards | Best Indie | |||||||||||
| Ivor Novello Awards | Outstanding Contribution to British Music |
Discography Albums | + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="10" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" | Certifications | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| + List of project studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions |
| + List of extended plays ! scope="col" style="width:14em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | EP details |
| + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:24em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="10" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album | |||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| + List of singles, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Album |
| + List of guest appearances, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album | |||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
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