Question 1

Did The Verve write their own songs?

Accepted Answer

All 45 of their studio tracks are written by the band, with no outside writer on any of them. Richard Ashcroft is credited on every single one.

Question 2

Who wrote "Bitter Sweet Symphony"?

Accepted Answer

Richard Ashcroft. The song samples an orchestral version of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time", and after a lawsuit from Allen Klein the band gave up all royalties to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. ABKCO returned the songwriting royalties to Ashcroft in May 2019.

Question 3

How many albums did The Verve release?

Accepted Answer

Four: A Storm in Heaven (1993), A Northern Soul (1995), Urban Hymns (1997) and Forth (2008).

Question 4

Which album sold the most?

Accepted Answer

Urban Hymns, at 3,315,950 in the United Kingdom, where it is certified 11x platinum.

Question 5

Why did they keep breaking up?

Accepted Answer

Ashcroft left in 1995 and the band reformed within months. Nick McCabe left during the Urban Hymns tour and the band split in 1999, reformed in 2007, and split again in 2009.

Question 6

Who is Simon Tong?

Accepted Answer

The guitarist who joined in 1996 after McCabe first left. He is credited on four Urban Hymns tracks and no others.

Question 7

Did they win a Grammy?

Accepted Answer

No. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was nominated twice in 1999, for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Question 8

How did the writing credit work?

Accepted Answer

The first two albums credit the band as a unit. Urban Hymns credits Ashcroft except where noted, and Forth goes back to the band, so the shape moves with whoever was in the room.

Question 9

Did "Bitter Sweet Symphony" chart in America?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is their only Hot 100 entry.

Question 10

What happened to Richard Ashcroft?

Accepted Answer

He has released solo albums since 2000 and was named Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards in 1998.