Credit: Far Out / Simon Emmett / Roger Woolman

Richard Ashcroft on friendly rivalry with Oasis: “They did everything first”

Sat 24 May 2025 15:23, UK

Ahead of supporting Oasis on their upcoming reunion tour, Richard Ashcroft discussed the friendly rivalry his former band, The Verve, had with the Britpop brothers.

Speaking on Radio X in celebration of his new single, ‘Lover’, the musician expressed his excitement about the upcoming tour, which will take place across stadiums in the UK and Ireland this summer.

The tour, taking place over July, August and September, will see Richard Ashcroft and Cast play the 19 sold-out shows. As the musician discussed ‘Lover’, his first song since 2018, he joked with Chris Moyles about the brothers’ precarious relationship.

“I’ll be doing seven Wemblies on my own,” he laughed, pretending he was the headliner, at which Moyles retaliated, “You might be doing one of them!” Ashcroft laughed, muttering, “Who knows?” in response. This comes after Oasis were spotted rehearsing without Liam Gallagher.

Discussing the tour, Ashcroft reminisced, “I see it as a very important part to play. Back in the day, Oasis supported The Verve, and then it flipped around.”

Aware of the huge responsibility that will soon fall on his shoulders, he continued. “I said to Noel, I think I’m the only person who could go in this slot, especially for a huge outdoor show. Because everyone wants you lot, and unless you’re coming with something and unless you have something to offer, I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

Ashcroft then turned his attention to his relationship with the band over the years: “I’ve been there almost in that whole story right from the day one, before the first album came out. They were mega successful before I was. They did everything first. They were on top of the pops; by the time it was my turn, it’s like yeah, but they’ve been all over it!”

Notably, Oasis supported The Verve in 1993, and later shared a stage several times over the next few years. Furthermore, Ashcroft inspired Noel Gallagher to write the Oasis classic ‘Cast No Shadow’, and also provided backing vocals on Be Here Now’s ‘All Around The World’.

He finished, “The rarity of two bands both in transit is incredible, and I’m happy for them personally and for their mum. We’re drowning in anxiety and worry about the future; this can be an amazing way for us to come together and lose all our differences, like music should be.”

Richard also revealed on the show that he has an album coming out in September.