description The Verve Overview
The Verve are an English rock band formed in Wigan in 1989, consisting of Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones, and Peter Salisbury. Their 1997 single "Bitter Sweet Symphony," built around an orchestral sample from an Andrew Loog Oldham recording of the Rolling Stones, became their signature song and a defining track of the Britpop era. The band released four studio albums, most notably the multi-platinum "Urban Hymns" (1997), before disbanding.
help The Verve FAQ
Where did The Verve form, and who were its core members?
The Verve formed in Wigan, England, in 1989, with Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones, and Peter Salisbury as its core lineup. The band became associated with British alternative rock and Britpop.
What is sampled in The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony"?
The song uses a prominent orchestral sample from the Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra's version of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time." The Verve released the hit in 1997 as part of the Urban Hymns era.
Why did "Bitter Sweet Symphony" become a music-law controversy?
The sample clearance dispute led to songwriting and royalty claims involving Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and ABKCO. In 2019, the songwriting credit and royalties were returned to Richard Ashcroft after the dispute was resolved.
Which album contains "Bitter Sweet Symphony"?
The song appears on Urban Hymns, The Verve's 1997 album and commercial breakthrough. Other recognized tracks from the album include "The Drugs Don't Work," "Sonnet," and "Lucky Man."
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