Ashcroft attended Up Holland High School, along with future bandmates Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury and Simon Tong, and then attended Winstanley College, where he met Nick McCabe. His teachers referred to him as "the cancer of the cl", though one member of staff recalled him being "incredibly intelligent". Ashcroft was an avid football player, playing junior football for Wigan Athletic. For some time Ashcroft wanted to be a professional football player, idolising George Best, but as he grew older he lost interest in this, turning to music instead.
THE VERVE RETURN TO AMERICA WITH COACHELLA SET
British rockers THE VERVE returned to America for the first time since their split a decade ago to perform at the Coachella Festival in California on Friday night (25Apr08) - and frontman RICHARD ASHCROFT told the faithful the band is back for good.
Richard Ashcroft of The Verve performing at the Coachella Music festival 2008. Indio, California - 25.04.08
During a hits set, featuring the anthems The Drugs Don't Work and Bittersweet Symphony, Ashcroft introduced "a new song" titled Sit + Wonder and then told the "hardcore" fans that had showed up for the pre-headliner slot on the opening day of Cochella there would be more new material to come.
He explained, "Most bands, when they reform, they don't bother making any new music. That's what this band's all about."
Ashcroft went on to grumble about the stench of the backstage toilets from the stage, but seemed genuinely glad to be back with his band, concluding the set by saying, "It's been a f**king great night... I'm off to Vegas after this."
The Verve will perform at the Pearl Concert Theatre in Sin City on Saturday (26Apr08) before heading off to New York for two nights at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater.
The band ended their Coachella set by dedicating Bittersweet Symphony to late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
The Brits failed to come close to the highlight of the festival's first day - sandwiched between the Raconteurs and Jack Johnson on the mainstage, they mostly provided a filler with a polished but uninspired set.
Johnson's mellow charm won him the night as the Raconteurs had to challenge fellow Coachella virgins Vampire Weekend and The National for performance of the day.
The weekend's Coachella days are headlined by Prince on Saturday (26Apr08) and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters on Sunday (27Apr08).
Source: news.superiorpics.com
this is the amazing video of richard ashcroft singing the bitter sweet symphony. he played like the man who can handle the world in their hand. there's no one things is impossible when he played this song. the angel of the camera is perfect like i watch the ultraman movies.great and perfect and two tumbs up for this video
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