Catching the Butterfly: The Verve and Richard Ashcroft

Psychedelic rock's four-part machine rose from early 1990s beginnings, reshaping sound through album-by-album evolution, conflict, and fame.

Four equally vital components in one psychedelic machine, The Verve emerged in the early 1990s and set themselves apart, first from shoegaze and then Britpop. From shimmering, other-worldly elegance to timeless songwriting, they set about creating their own sonic soundscapes, releasing four albums which represented different corners of their world. Along the way they had musical differences, went through drug hell, split up three times and released an album that defined the latter years of the 1990s.

At the centre of the story is Richard Ashcroft, whose intense personality and songwriting drove the band to international success. This book traces their beginnings and the setbacks that led to internal conflict and breakups. It studies the making of their iconic album Urban Hymns, which brought worldwide recognition and produced unforgettable songs that still resonate today.

With in-depth analysis of every album, the book also delves into the challenges that came with fame, including legal disputes and the strain it placed on band relationships. The struggles reveal the fragile balance between creativity and personal conflict that defined much of their career.

After The Verve split up as the millennium approached, Ashcroft went on to solo success which, a brief reunion aside, he has maintained to the present day. The book covers the entire musical career of the band members, from their days in Wigan through to Ashcroft's support slots during the Oasis Live '25 tour and his arena shows the following year. A must for any fan.