Richard Ashcroft: 'Verve won't return'

Richard Ashcroft has claimed that it is unlikely The Verve will ever reform.

The band's former frontman, who recently formed new group United Nations Of Sound, believes reuniting would be pointless because the band already achieved a lot during their time together.

He told Shortlist: "I can't see any reason why, after headlining Glastonbury, headlining Coachella, headlining in Japan and making an album that's better than 99 per cent of other bands' albums, The Verve would get back together."

On the group's brief reforming in 2007, he said: "Our reunion was more reassuring for our audience than a nice tidy situation. The personalities are who we are, so s**t happens."

The singer also revealed that his new band's album was inspired by Kanye West's former mentor No I.D.

He said: "I went to New York to work with a hip-hop producer called No I.D. He describes the finished album as a 'cake!' He said, 'What type of cake do you want?' and I came in with a lot of ingredients - I had a hard drive full of ideas.

"'Bittersweet Symphony' is pretty much a hip-hop song, so I knew working with No I.D. would take my music to another level."

United Nations Of Sound release Redemption on July 19.