Richard Ashcroft: I'm happy Oasis are getting chance to have victory lap

Leader Live

10-07-2025

Ashcroft, who fronted The Verve before becoming a solo artist, supported Oasis when they played the first of their series of reunion gigs in Cardiff on Friday.
Speaking to Vernon Kay on his Radio 2 show on Thursday, Ashcroft said The Verve had known brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher for many years and he been the warm-up act for Oasis 'many times' before.
'I've also in a way been there from almost the beginning… our stories are bonded whether we like it or not,' Ashcroft added.
He said the Oasis reunion shows, 16 years after they broke up, are a 'vindication for them that everything they did, it wasn't just some mirage, it wasn't just of the times, their stuff has lasted'.
Ashcroft went on: 'You know, not to have a cliche, they will live forever and I'm just happy for them.
'I'm happy for their mum, their family, everyone involved that they're getting that chance to have a victory lap, you know what I mean?'
Ashcroft was the latest artist to perform in the Piano Room on Kay's show, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra at London's Maida Vale studios.
Ashcroft performed Sonnet, Lover and a cover of Lady by Dennis Wilson and chatted to Vernon about the legacy of Oasis and The Verve.
He said his new solo album is due out in September, after he has finished touring with Oasis.
'I'm buzzing that I'm still here,' he added.
'I'm still making music, people pay me to make music, people pay me to sing live. It's like, I can't complain.'
Asked by Kay whose idea it was for him to support Oasis, Ashcroft said: 'I think it was their promoter, who is my promoter, but I think he had a number of people who would have done it for nothing, and I think he was hoping it was gonna be one of them.
'But I think Liam mentioned it in a meeting and Noel totally agreed because I used to say I supported Noel when I was younger, and Liam, Oasis, as a solo artist, they supported The Verve back in very early days.'
He also joked that when Oasis co-founder and guitarist Bonehead left the band, he would have liked to have filled his position.
'I would have taken the job, to be honest. I'd have been happy. I'd have been happy strumming along to those tunes, you know what I mean? Big weight off my shoulders, just have a laugh.'
Ashcroft also spoke of the timeless appeal of guitar-led bands such as The Rolling Stones, Oasis and The Verve.
He told Kay: 'When I saw The Stones not that long ago, I was amazed at the cross-generational crowd.
'You've got grandads, sons, grandsons all together watching a show. And there's not many acts that can pull that off, and Oasis – and I believe myself – can do that. We can bring in multi-generations of families to enjoy it.'
Kay told listeners that the next Piano Room performance will be from Robbie Williams on August 21.