Richard Ashcroft says the deaths of David Bowie and Prince inspired his comeback.
The former Verve frontman made a return to music with his solo album ‘These People’ in May and the loss of the two musical legends made him eager to release new music.
Of what made him get back in the studio, he said: "Bowie and Prince dying definitely, even though I’d already started doing work for the album and things like that, this time because they’re such icons of music you start thinking about the fact that they can’t go to the rehearsal room or they can’t go to the studio."
Ashcroft – who has children Sonny and Cassius with former Spiritualized keyboard player Kate Radley – said that his wife encouraged him to get back out there and now he doesn’t envisage himself ever having a break again.
He said: "I’ll be honest there are moments of insecurity in there as well where you feel like you’re not really appreciated or loved. My wife used to say you have a gift and people genuinely want to hear you play those songs. That was the spare now and I don’t really ever want to have a particular break from this and I want to see it out while I can."
The 44-year-old singer-songwriter said when the likes of ‘Starman’ hitmaker and ‘Kiss’ singer died, it makes you realise how luck you are to be alive and able to make music.
He said: "There’s going to be periods where you lose that insight into why you’re doing it, who you are, where’s your place. Unfortunately like anything in life it sometimes takes the loss of people for you completely get clarity on what you should be doing.
And they definitely had that effect on me for the future, like David Bowie’s not going into the studio; Prince isn’t going to be performing tonight at Paisley Park."
Richard Ashcroft: Bowie and Prince inspired comeback
