Verve drummer Pete Salisbury to join Charlatans on tour

The Verve's Pete Salisbury is to join The Charlatans on tour, replacing drummer Jon Brookes, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

A statement on the band's website said Salisbury "will complete the October UK tour at least", adding that Brookes would undergo an operation this week.

The group, whose hits include "One To Another," are due to start their European tour in Hatfield on 5 October.

Brookes's illness was diagnosed last week after he collapsed and briefly stopped breathing during a concert in Philadelphia.

The rest of the band's US tour was canceled as Brookes was flown to the UK for treatment.

A spokesperson for The Charlatans said: "The band and Jon would like to thank all well wishers for their kind messages of support."

• Source: BBC

Update on Berns Salonger

According to the entertainment manager at Berns Salonger, Richard Ashcroft's performance was planned for the 29th of November. However, the show was never confirmed and unfortunately will not happen. If a new date is set, it will be posted on their website.

Artist highlight: Exit Calm

"with ragged vocals and swathes of widescreen guitar effects reminiscent of early Verve, South Yorkshire's four-piece Exit Calm have a penchant for all things epic" (Q MAGAZINE)

Fans of The Verve's pre-Urban Hymns output will be familiar with Exit Calm's style; cascades of dreamy, shimmering landscapes and wall of sound guitars full of reverb and waves of splashing cymbals. Hailing from Barnsley and basing themselves in Sheffield, Exit Calm find inspiration in the feedback-drenched phychedelic noise of early Verve. Their self-titled debut album is stunning. With The Verve in stasis and The Black Ships still at sea, Exit Calm are sure to fill the musical void. Sonic goodness at its best.

Below is the promotional video for "We're On Our Own" followed by the first and second promotional videos, "Hearts and Minds" and "Don't Look Down," from their eponymous debut (get it here).

Tour in the works?

It appears Richard Ashcroft has been booked to play at Berns Salonger in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday, November 29. More information as it becomes available.

A picture is worth a thousand words

13 years ago this month

'Alone With Everybody' articles added

Twenty-three news clips and articles from the Alone With Everybody era have been added to The Verve Live. They include updates from Ashcroft's then official website and also updates from the old VIN.

Check them out here or check the "Archives" drop down in the side bar.

Richard Ashcroft's absent collaborators

Richard Ashcroft claims many of the people he wanted to work with on new project United Nations of Sound were either ''in jail'' or too expensive.

Richard Ashcroft couldn't collaborate with the people he wanted to because many of them were in prison.

The former Verve frontman is currently working on a new venture, United Nations of Sound - in which he goes by his initials, RPA - and admits he ran into difficulties arranging guest vocalists because so many of them were unavailable.

He said: "Half the people I wanted on the record were either in prison or going there. I tried to get Lil Wayne on the end of 'America' because of his gravel, but he was about to start his sentence for gun possession so he was busy recording 15 videos and three albums...so they were either in prison or wanted £70,000."

Although the 'Lucky Man' star's latest project showcases a radically different sound, the singer - who has previously released three solo albums - insists it could have happened any time.

He added: "When I look at it, I could have attempted this in the Nineties. I could have been working with these guys then, it just took a long time to get there.

"The idea, if there was any idea, was carrying on the dream of still believing the roots of music can be drawn on as inspirations."

• Source: Contact Music

Ricky Gervais inspired by rockers Richard Ashcroft and Liam Gallagher

Richard Ashcroft & Liam Gallagher

Ricky Gervais has hailed rockers Liam Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft as the inspirations behind Cemetery Junction.

The funnyman and pal Stephen Merchant turned to the iconic duo when casting and scripting their superb coming-of-age comedy/drama set in early 70s Reading.

Ricky found that British actors are generally split into two categories, with half destined to play posh society types and the others primed for violent, wife-beating roles.

Hell bent on bucking the trend of gritty UK flicks, Ricky and Stephen got to work on making their characters rock star cool.

The Extras star revealed: "We didn't want it to be one those really gritty 'isn't England a bit depressing and crap and normal' films.

"We wanted it to be a bit more glorious and evoke those possibly false memories of every day being sunny and brilliant and fun. That's how I remember my childhood.

"We cast about a thousand people to try and find these Jimmy Deans and John Travoltas - half of them will be Mr Darcy one day, and the other half will be going, 'You f****** slags.'

"So we had to look to our rock stars like Richard Ashcroft and Liam Gallagher. That's where we rule the world." Stephen added: "This country's always been very good at making rock stars, and rock stars are unashamedly cool.

"But somehow British films are less like that. It's like we're a little bit more embarrassed to be like that. We need to be self-conscious and make things seem gloomier and grittier.

"But that wasn't my experience of growing up. Everything seemed very cool to me."

• Source: The Sun
• Cemetery Junction can be purchased at Amazon.co.uk on DVD and Blu-ray