Richard Ashcroft has ruled out a reunion for The Verve.
The Bittersweet Symphony singer has been supporting Oasis on their comeback tour over the summer but he insisted it hasn’t inspired him to get his former band – who were together from 1990-1995, 1997-1999 and 2009-2007 – back together once more because the differences between them would be “tougher” to resolve than the tensions that drove Liam and Noel Gallagher apart.
Asked about the possibility, Richard told The Sun newspaper: “We’ve already played that hand.
“I don’t think it would work.
“The Verve’s situation was a tougher one than Oasis — it was a different dynamic to Oasis.”
The 54-year-old singer hailed the Oasis reunion shows a “beautiful thing” because of the way they brought people together.
He said: “It’s been a massively cathartic summer for the crowd and for everyone involved.
“Society has become fractured and that feeling of all coming together at those shows felt so important.
“The older fans had missed Oasis and they were bringing their kids who had never seen them.
“It’s been a full-circle moment.
“We’ve lost parents, we’ve lost friends, we’ve lived the dream and seen the dream disappear — so there are thousands of people bringing that emotion with them and the songs are the catalyst to express that emotion.
“It’s been a beautiful thing.”
And Richard insisted the Live Forever hitmakers’ reunion has been about more than just nostalgia.
He said: “I’ve always had total respect for Noel as a songwriter and admiration for Liam as a frontman, but watching it all unfold now feels like a real re-appreciation of that era.
“It’s not nostalgia — it’s real and happening right now.”
The Lover hitmaker knew he had a key role to play during the concerts.
He said: “I’m the guy who sets up the slam dunk. It’s a very important part to play in a basketball team.
“If you’re that guy, you can pass the ball on and set up the atmosphere for them.
“So, when I leave the stage, it’s half an hour before they get on it and the anticipation for them is so strong.”