The Verve - "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (Alternate Music Video)

 

The music video for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was directed by Walter A. Stern and was released on June 11, 1997.  Regarding Walter Stern:

'[...] One of his favourite jobs was doing the video of The Verve's 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' – although his original version, in which Richard Ashcroft gets beaten up, was rather different from the final cut which was shown on TV. The tale of how the vid for 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' developed is a good example of the way things work. 

Walter initially wrote a treatment that was too expensive, so the record company told him to drop the idea and come back with another one. He then remembered a short film he'd wanted to make at college about a man tring to walk down the street in a straight line. 'Luckily, it fitted in with the band,' he sayd. 'Richard Ashcroft said that he didn't want to do any acting and wanted to keep the filming very low-key and private – just him, me and the cameraman – so he wouldn't be embarrassed. He agreed to my idea, then, the next thing he knew, he was surrounded by loads and loads of people – the exact opposite of what he'd wanted.' 

• 1998. How To Make It In The Music Business. 4th ed. London, p.230.

Universal signs Richard Ashcroft to global music publishing admin deal

Richard Ashcroft, The Verve frontman and celebrated British singer-songwriter, has signed a global administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). 

The move sees Ashcroft bring his publishing back catalog to Universal, ending a relationship with Kobalt that dates back to 2006. 

It also comes a year after Ashcroft announced that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had relinquished their publishing rights to The Verve’s most popular hit, "Bittersweet Symphony," following a long-running dispute – leaving Ashcroft as the 100% credited writer of the song. 

Ashcroft’s songs have seen him receive two Ivor Novello Awards – Songwriter of the Year (1998) and Outstanding Contribution to British Music (2019) – as well as numerous Brit Awards, Q Awards and NME Awards with The Verve. 

Following The Verve’s 1993 album debut A Storm in Heaven, and 1995’s A Northern Soul, the release of Urban Hymns in 1997 launched them to international success. The album’s hits included "Bittersweet Symphony," "The Drugs Don’t Work" and "Lucky Man."

The Verve’s fourth album, Forth, reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, and 23 on the US Billboard 200. 

In 2000, Ashcroft made his solo debut with Alone with Everybody, followed by Human Conditions (2001) and BPI certified-Platinum Keys to the World (2006). He has since released two more solo albums These People (2016) and Natural Rebel (2018). 

Upon announcing the new publishing deal, Mike McCormack, UMPG UK Managing Director, said: “It feels like only yesterday that we signed The Verve to Virgin Publishing back in the early '90s. They went on to become one of the most important bands of the era, and Richard blossomed into an incredible songwriter, composing many of the big hits on his own."

“It’s so good to be reunited with him and his wonderful catalog of songs all these years later. UMPG, both UK and globally, feel as excited as I do about representing and promoting Richard’s catalogue with the respect and care it deserves.” 

Said Ashcroft: “I’m really excited about working with Universal Music Publishing and making this a hugely successful partnership. Music is power."

• Source: Music Business Worldwide, By Tim Ingham