This is the first ever in-depth biography of Ashcroft, the frontman for The Verve and also a highly successful solo artist. As a young singer from Wigan, Ashcroft formed The Verve with Nick McCabe and released two critically-acclaimed albums before their third record, Urban Hymns , turned them into one of the UK’s biggest acts. A legendary apettite for psychedelic drugs and even physical collapses from ecstasy abuse, coupled with massive songs such as Bittersweet Symphony , made Ashcroft one of Britpop’s biggest names. However, The Verve was a deeply volatile band and eventually, in 1999, they split acrimoniously following a homecoming gig in front of 40,000 fans in Wigan.Ashcroft had already recorded some aterial on his own and three solo albums duly followed - with corresponding arena tours that often dwarfed the scale of The Verve’s own huge venues. Coldplay’s Chris Martin introduced him at Live 8 as ‘the best singer in the world’ while Noel Gallagher wrote the song Cast No shadow about him. Then, in 2006, The Verve announced they were reforming for a late 2007 arena tour - completely sold out in minutes - and a brand new album released in the summer of 2008.With Ashcroft’s issues with clinical depression, suicidal thoughts, outspoken political views and celebrity admirers, this first-to-the market biography is a tale of rock and roll excess, artistic brilliance and a unique starring role in modern British music.