The Verve 1991 Second Wigan Session

[@eyemoeba]

pretty incredible how so soon after this they would find the style that culminated in A Storm in Heaven, which i believe will be the era that defines them.

[@nicholaskeatinge446]

sounds like verve is rising is an early version of no come down, quality stuff, they really were in a league of their own

[@amancalledsun92]

yeah you right)

[@fantomaeronautics1148]

Around this time there was a guy called Dominic managing them, who was he then? The demos were probably the ones recorded by Paul O'Neill at Splash Studios in Wigan. He told me recently that he still has the tapes. We all had to move rehearsal rooms from The Boilerhouse in Westhoughton to Splash in Wigan as the Boilerhouse was shut down so they could sell it for development. We all played the same crap gigs - The Boardwalk in Manchester was the most prestigious - and that was crap too. We all went to London, nobody batted an eyelid. So the story behind the Hut deal was never clear to me, but I think it had something to do with the people at Winstanley College pushing the band, and this Dominic guy who could well have been affiliated to the college. Fellow Wiganer Brian Cannon was also mixed up in the tale, and his family were loaded and had big connections. One day they just disappeared from the studios, and that was that until about 1995 when I saw them again rehearsing at Splash. They were very different people by then. It would be good for someone to clear up the finer details, but I havent seen any of the boys for years. Simon has a studio in Cheshire and Nick lives in Staffordshire or somewhere. Sob still plays with Ashcroft, but I heard he also has business connections to The Drum Centre at Eccles.

[@valley_robot]

Nice info , I’m from Manchester and your right the boardwalk was absolutely shit for unknowns (we were one of them ),but I saw some incredible bands back in the day at the boardwalk, Jesus lizard , Bradford , the boo radleys before the trombone player became the singer, lee Griffith’s , he was amazing , the sonik free they were pretty good as well , they played there every Tuesday to about 3 people

[@fantomaeronautics1148]

@@valley_robotYea, agreed. At least they tried but audiences had by then become pretty apathetic. Tuesdays a shit night for a gig, we refused to play anything other than Fridays and Saturdays. The university circuit was far better but much harder to crack.

[@KaiWatson]

Living history man. Thanks for sharing.

[@KaiWatson]

It's like I go back in time and Nick somehow is playing Theremin and guitar at the same time. It's like the Twilight Zone or some shit. Rock n' roll!

[@KaiWatson]

I love how sweethearted some of the early tunes are. "Just To See You Move." Hearts of fucking gold.

[@Transient_media]

Only teenagers can dream this big.

[@K33f11]

Do you have a magic hat you keep pulling this stuff out of!

[@amancalledsun92]

OMG! I was looking for All In The Mind demo for a long time. Thank you so much for uploading this gem! God bless you dude!

[@richgl31]

Yes - one of the best b-sides should have been an a side. Saw them in 1993 ( I think?) with Oasis supporting…

[@jeffmaccormack7796]

These lads still impress me to this day! Thank you so much for this! The chemistry they had was incredible

[@Fatze67]

WOOAW!! Thank you sooooooooo much for the EARLY stuff!!

[@lifeisstr4nge]

All In The Mind is gas

[@lauriemorton9269]

Thanks mate 🍻

[@dane279]

Just To See You Move sounds very Stone Roses like. I wish they’d stuck with that one.

[@HeroesZeros]

Awesome! Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@user-bx6zr6my4d]

U wide me up but that's what8 I hope r like

[@amancalledsun92]

Do you know? Has Blue, the demo?