The Verve The Verve The Verve were an English rock band formed in Wigan in 1990 by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bass guitarist Simon Jones and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboard player Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound with their debut LP "A Storm in Heaven", by the mid-1990s the band had released several EPs and three albums. It also endured name and line-up changes, break-ups, health problems, drug abuse and various lawsuits. The band's commercial breakthrough was the 1997 album "Urban Hymns", one of the best-selling albums in UK Chart history. The
Johnny Ashcroft of an airline sick-bag. It became the Salvation Army’s 1975 Red Shield Appeal Song. The ‘Sallys’ then became widely known as the ‘Salvos’. It's probable no other Australian country artist appeared on Top 40 Charts as frequently as Ashcroft. Ashcroft also wrote Australia's first female trucking song, "My Home-Coming Trucker’s Coming Home", recorded by Gay Kayler. It became a country hit, which was also programmed into general airplay. His 1978 "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" LP, included a faithful cover-reproduction of Fredrick McCubbin’s 1889 painting, "Down On His Luck". In another departure from modern country music, Ashcroft appeared on