Nick McCabe & Simon Jones talking about The Verve & Urban Hymns (August / September 2017)

[@vSpiikey]

It's a shame Nick didn't enjoy being in the limelight when he was in the Verve, because he always gives great interviews. Shame there isn't more interviews of him from the Urban Hymns era.

[@cnpnrbs]

Every single song they produced together is amazing. They were all different pieces of a puzzle.

[@Eyeshadow11]

I saw the Verve in 98 in Denver in a tiny venue of literally 300-400 people tops from 20 feet from the stage, and it was the single greatest live performance that I've ever seen still to this day. It's truly a tragedy they couldn't hold it together.

[@kp4588]

Right on! I was at that show! It was supposed to be at Red Rocks but got moved (probably due to low ticket sales) I think was also a rescheduled show because Nick had quit the band and Simon Tong was doing most of the guitar work. It was a great show regardless. Massive Attack were the openers if I’m not mistaken.

[@Eyeshadow11]

@kp4588 That day if you remember was a massive thunderstorm that lasted all day into the evening and would been hell climbing that hill to Red Rocks lol. Massive Attack was a no show and they played that same slide show for like two hours before the Verve came on. There were 11 of us that came in three cars all the way from SD to see that show and it changed my life. It's so glad to find someone else who was there. It was in the Filmore before it was even the Filmore. I can't remember the name now it's been so many years.

[@kp4588]

@@Eyeshadow11 What a great story! Me and a crew of 10 buddies made the pilgrimage from Salt Lake City to Denver for the big show and it was life changing. We were booked at a hotel near Red Rocks until we found out that the show had moved to Denver. The Venue at the time was called the Mammoth, I believe. We were all a bit bummed about the venue change but still super excited about the show. You are right about Massive Attack... They were a no show. We were all sorted at the time of arrival and maybe I just imagined they were there. LOL. It was a great experience over all and I still have the t-shirt I bought at the show. I have seen the Verve a few times after that and once with McCabe (Forth tour - Las Vegas). Times I will never forget. Thank you for sharing your memories of the show with me. Wondering if you still live in SD and went to the RA show in SD circa 2017 for the These People tour?

[@Drumm3rB0y]

Love nick Seems like a real down to earth guy

[@dreamtree1510]

The Verve had the chance to be a super group that could have stood the test of time and Richard blew it. When they got back together in 2007 and released Forth and toured they were so good! That album and the tour were unreal. Shame Richard doesn't seem to be interested in continuing.

[@dannyh5937]

They weren't good...they were great. Their headlining set at Glastonbury was one of the best rock performances ever. On the same level as the greats that played the pyramid stage. U2, Stones, Muse...The Verve is on that level.

[@gavdann1]

There's a sense you're rewriting the Verve's history here. It was Nick who left the band on all three occasions, not Richard. Who knows what really went on back stage but it's interesting Nick mentions reaching out to Richard this time but it was always Richard (or Pete) who reached out before. I get the sense that Richard and Nick/Si just want different things from the band and Richard doesn't want to drag up all those bad feelings and artistic frustrations for a third time.

[@khicomrostudio8658]

@@dannyh5937 this is definitely the peak live performance of any band i ever heard. the verver glastonburry 2007 was godlike performance

[@dannyh5937]

@@khicomrostudio8658 when they played "The Rolling People" it sounded like there were 20 people on the stage performing. That set blew me away. It's a shame that the best bands are only capable of making it work for 4 - 5 records until they implode.

[@khicomrostudio8658]

all of us can only hope, some kind of miracle will bring them back mate, just for one last time before kicking the bucket

[@nowhereman.]

Simon said that the last time he talked to richard was on stage at vfestival

[@JackSheahan2012]

So great to hear these guys talking about a truly remarkable album and period of time. Please get back together. It would be epic. Thanks for the past, here's to the future. Cheers all.

[@ProfDrDrN0]

nick's appreciation for the verve is really great. no need to be salty, after all it was a unique sound. richard is a great songwriter but his songs never sounded as good as with the verve. if they reunite i'll definitely gonna go see em, just like on four... i'll always love that band

[@unitedstatesofmordor]

...ditto that sentiment.

[@jindo74]

Ditto that ditto

[@dannyh5937]

What an amazing band. Every single album they released was an all-time great album. That's my humble opinion, but when the 4 members of the Verve get together in the studio they create magic.

[@paolo-n2000]

TRUTH!!! The 4 lads are blessed with an incredible, cosmic energy to create majestic music together!

[@conor3000]

two boss musicians

[@Wolfram_Hart]

I miss this band so much.

[@ashdez1173]

The door is open they said, they tried reach out to Richard, We will see what the future brings , Love The Verve

[@nowhereman.]

You know what?i dont know anything but i have a sense that the big problem was not rich and nick but rich and si jones

[@spud74]

I asked Nick (a while ago when on Facebook) and he said he had attempted to speak to RA without success. Shame really.

[@spud74]

Rich always blamed Nick for his "excessive drinking" which, is a bit rich coming from someone that nearly killed himself at Glasto(?) due to a four day drink/drugs bender without so much as a grain of food or drop of water. Si always said Rich was difficult to work with.

[@nowhereman.]

@@spud74 he is for sure a difficult man to be with. And i always wondered how his solo albums would be like with nick on it. But i also think that rich was more open to music as an art and nick and si as clearly rock and ambient. Lets say that phill's spector music which is genius music,wouldnt be something si and nick would like. I mean that in the end of the day a song for the lovers is greater in alone with everybody than in sympathy for the demos

[@jemmawilcock5954]

@@spud74 Where's his head at then we can't blame anyone for our addictions we all have triggers but unless someone forces you to use it's all on us no wonder they don't speak

[@betsybk11]

NICK & SIMON! THIS!!! YES!

[@dotsgrey]

I've been in a band, and have done a degree in psychology. And whilst it's actually nothing like being a psychologist, the dynamics are a special mix of friend/rival, sibling/family and work colleague. And there are so many anxious-resistant attachment styles, it's almost beyond psychological parody.

[@philipcarroll7151]

I love the verve...I think that if you find yourself gifted with something special like the verve, you have a duty to work on this for the greater good and for music. The verve were not just a good band, they were something special, different...

[@paulconnor8516]

They were superb. Loved them, despite Simon having beef with my mate Mitch at winstsnley college. We followed their star and it was great for Wigan

[@danielmcdermott6629]

2 greats there my fave band ever 👌👌

[@End-Result]

they're*

[@1DX2020]

What a great interview...Hope they do go round the block at least one more time.

[@acquiescence5331]

It's SOOOO frustrating knowing that Simon, Nick and Pete are all eager to get the band back together and making new music and the only thing that's stopping it from happening is because Richard inexplicably wants to keep pursuing his inferior solo career. Anyway, top interview. Very much enjoyed listening to it. Nick is very articulate huh.

[@unitedstatesofmordor]

I don't understand why a band can't continue forward in tandem with any solo careers or projects. The universe is most certainly big enough for both to exist simultaneously...and the synchronistic dynamic potentials are limitless.

[@m.s.t3616]

@@unitedstatesofmordor both are full time jobs

[@thegoodsgone1965]

I love Ashcroft's solo stuff.

[@vanman757]

@@thegoodsgone1965 I know, yeah !! Same here... Inferior ?!

[@ken3866]

@@vanman757his solo stuff is pure wank. Most would agree.

[@geoffclarke8934]

Urban Hymns is a brilliant album.

[@machoboyrandyandsavage3439]

What a fucking band they were! I was lucky enough to have experienced them live when they got back together in 07 and saw them at the Roundhouse, o2 arena and Vfest. But I have to say that the Roundhouse gig was a night words can’t describe. Apart from the births of my children, that evening was the greatest of my life! There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to see them again and I don’t pray but tonight I’m on my knees 🙏🏻 please reunite one last time!!!!

[@greengrass1072]

I cannot tell you how much I envy you seeing them live that many times. I’m over here in the States and was a late bloomer to the band. Didn’t really pay attention to them when Bittersweet and Urban Hymns were big over here. It took Ashcroft opening for Coldplay on the X&Y tour to cause me to go down the Verve rabbit hole. I was hoping they went out on tour to support Forth over here, but it just wasn’t in the cards I guess. This band could’ve been one of the greatest ever had they gotten along and stayed together. It’s actually a tragedy they didn’t.

[@machoboyrandyandsavage3439]

It’s such a tragedy they didn’t but thankfully they had in no way lost they’re spark within the 10 year period they parted. In fact I think they sounded better as Ashcroft’s voice had matured. I first saw Ashcroft in 06 when he was solo and he absolutely blew my mind and after became obsessed with the Verve and often wished I had got into them a lot sooner so I could have seen them live because at that point I never dreamed they would reform as Ashcroft had put out that statement saying that there was more chance of getting all 4 Beatles back together. Anyway, one day my partner called me at work to tell me that she had read that they were getting back together and I’ve never felt excitement like it! I then couldn’t find tickets anywhere apart from eBay but which resulting in me getting scammed and my world began to fall in! I finally decided to take myself down to the Roundhouse on the day of the gig in the hope that I could somehow miraculously secure a ticket but couldn’t find one anywhere. With The hours passing quickly and my hopes diminishing with every ticking second I took to begging anyone I could find with a ticket but with no success. Then incredibly this Range Rover screeched up and this fella jumped out like a knight in shining armour clutching a few tickets to sell and I literally jumped on him as though my life depended on it and finally secured my golden ticket! 😂 safe to say the day cost me an arm and a leg but it was 100% worth every penny! 🙌🏻

[@greengrass1072]

@@machoboyrandyandsavage3439 Great story! That’s going above and beyond, but when you want something bad enough, chances are you’re gonna get it. I agree about Ashcroft sounding incredible for the Forth era. If you watch the Coachella show they did, it has the best version of Lucky Man I’ve ever heard. They were on fire that night and probably playing for a crowd where half the people there didn’t remember them. But I guarantee at the end of that show, they won a lot of people over. The show I saw with Ashcroft was amazing. It was in Philly opening for Coldplay and there was some guy there heckling him. He finally ends up yelling at the guy, “have you ever written a classic?” Then all of sudden, you hear those opening strings to Bittersweet and the place went CRAZY and I was hooked. Coldplay did not top what he did that night I can tell you that. I think they got one more reunion in them. They better, I wanna see Nick McCabe play live already.

[@machoboyrandyandsavage3439]

What perfect timing for a classic to kick in! I can imagine how incredible the vibe was, it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it 😬 I really hope one day you fulfil your dream of seeing them. I must say I have a good feeling something will happen before they’re too old 🤞🏻 it can’t not as they have far too much to offer still! 🙌🏻

[@neondemon7617]

Magic happens when these guys work together.its ashame richards ego is so huge he cant seem to work with them.forth is a very underrated album.same with the b sides and unreleased blue pacific ocean.great stuff.

[@zorancvetkovic7204]

Ugly words directed at someone you don't know and who is considered a great person. A man has his own family, he is the author of almost all the songs, which are otherwise increasingly personal. Why would he return to the band?!

[@onespeeddan6803]

Once again, amazing upload. Is this the full version of the interview?

[@jewelrybag4557]

I truly think Urban Hymns was the greatest album of the 90s.

[@michaelharrington75]

Definitely in the top 10 of 90's albums, and an underrated gem.

[@sallydoc4439]

Hopefully they will unite again

[@jemmawilcock5954]

The olive branch has been extended so we shell see, would b great if these guy's did another album hell a song would do but I do love rich on his own too & he did say himself the shit that went down between them was to real to publicise so no matter what we've heard we'll never know what really went on

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

This was 4 years ago. It's never gonna happen. Sad really because there's still music to be created

[@jasonbennett8561]

Get back together....music needs you

[@KaiWatson]

Greatest rhythm section of the last 50 years. Old Dick doesn't know a goddamned thing.

[@Conky769]

The verve has magic and mojo. That's the key. Richard is a goose.

[@bijibadness]

_Achtung Baby, Nevermind, Dookie, The Bends, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Third Eye Blind, Urban Hymns, Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, Enema of the State._ albums that, for me, are not only the best rock/pop records of the '90s but the best ever _made._

[@TheSunTheSea]

Blink 182 😂

[@isaactorres5908]

To each his own..not gonna clown u on some of your choices..but you would have done yourself massive favor if you would have listened to supergrass

[@stevenarmstrong3799]

New radicals

[@MrWayout74]

Be honest, who here bought 4th and really liked it?

[@Destiny93134]

Me.its very underrated.

[@kapler79]

Forth b-sides are the real album.

[@MrWayout74]

@Peter K. Try as I might, for me everything done after A Northern Soul just isn't/wasn't the Verve I loved. Life's an ocean guys. Peace

[@VinylSpotlight77]

Also whos decision was it for nick to leave the band in the 90s??? Its a two way street

[@Drumm3rB0y]

Please tell me this isn’t the full interview.... I need to hear more

[@FerryLuckyMan]

The first one is incomplete. I couldn't find the whole interview, unfortunately.

[@RunOfTheHind]

Amazing that writing a few good songs on an acoustic would make some think they're a greater part than being a part of a sum, even when their solo stuff is crap and sells nowt.

[@liamthomas2494]

I thought these guys would sound a lot more depressing😂

[@tomwilko7841]

lets hope RA makes some terrible bitcoin investments...sounds like its our only chance, bet hes still minted beyond belief tho, those UH n forth tours were beyond huge

[@dfstarborn]

What the fuck are they talking about? Why did the split up or what led to the split was the question asked.

[@mrjamescurry]

Verve were genius. ‘The’ Verve were bloated and egotistical. Classic example of band with a split fan base. To me Urban Hymns is pop drivel, Forth heads back in the right direction tho.

[@Jack-vm1fg]

Wa wa what