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Richard Ashcroft is the man of the moment. Fresh from supporting Oasis as the self-proclaimed “only man for the job”, the former Verve singer is back with an (almost) sold-out arena tour for 2026, and some more Oasis dates in South America, not to mention a seventh solo album, Lovin’ You. We caught up with Ashcroft to chat about loving Abba, being inspired by Serge Gainsbourg and fighting Liam Gallagher.
Hi, Richard! Always a pleasure to interview another Richard – who else is in the club?
Madeley … Hammond … It’s dying out. I wonder if it’s because of the Dick abbreviation? Back in the day, old actors were very happy being Dickie. I went into an off licence in Chiswick and this lad went: “All right, Dickie?” I said: “Do you know what happens to people who call me Dickie?” He said: “Oh no, sorry mate.” I said: “I’m only joking. I don’t give a shit. Call me what you want.”
How does it feel to be selling out arenas in 2025?
The seeds have been germinating. The summer Oasis gigs shone a light on them. Now, the plants have grown faster. The older fans thought: “I’ve forgotten how much I love these songs.” The younger fans are getting introduced to your Bitter Sweets via cover versions and TikTok. My ability to communicate to the audience is reaching the zenith. Everything’s so fractured, we’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to come together and have a fucking good time. I remember seeing what looked like a proper football hooligan crying his eyes out to The Drugs Don’t Work. These songs and moments have that power. There are so few spaces left on this planet where we can create that kind of energy.
Have the Oasis shows helped introduce you to new fans?
My set was only 45 minutes. People thought: “I want to see this guy do his life’s work over two hours.” I’ve already built up a good following. It can be hard when you lose the Verve and just become Richard Ashcroft. It can take people time to rediscover you.
What did you think of that viral clip of someone Shazamming Bitter Sweet Symphony at an Oasis show?
I see that as a beautiful thing. That’s a brand new fan, joining the team.
You came out on stage the next week and said: “Get your Shazams out!”
Exactly. Be proud! Why should everyone know everything? They may have only heard that song before England play football on ITV. If someone doesn’t recognise a famous painting, so what? We can’t be cultural snobs. I’d love to get her on stage with her phone when I’m doing Bitter Sweet. That would be really funny.
Do people still shout “the Bitter Sweet Symphony video’s over, mate” when they see you walking down the road?
Back in the day, I’d walk around in literally the same jacket, T-shirt, corduroys and Wallabees [as in the video]. It doesn’t happen so much now, thank God. I’m supposed to get retribution outside this pub, but we edited that out because it looked ridiculous.
Your 2018 appearance on BBC Breakfast was legendary: from dissing Kellogg’s Krave to complimenting Charlie Stayt on his hair and jumping over the sofa claiming the studio was The Truman Show. Would you like your own chatshow?
In my mind, jumping over the couch, doing the whole Truman Show thing, was a deeper analysis than people thought. Live TV just makes you – me – want to do something stupid, mess the thing up. I’d like my own chatshow, but I’d take it back to the 70s and interview Peter Sellers and Peter Cook. I want to be able to smoke, because that was the great heyday for smokers. If you look at the old chatshows, like Parkinson, there were some amazing moments …
Did you get to go on a Supermarket Sweep-style, grab-all-you-can binge around John Lewis for letting it use Sonnet in its 2024 Christmas advert?
It’s funny you should say that. The first thing I thought was: “Do I get a Christmas run at midnight?” I just got paid and that was it. I don’t think it was loud enough. If you’re going to use a beautiful song like that, make sure people can hear it. But it was cool. I was offered PG Tips, but like nearly all adverts, I turned it down.
Hang on … You mean you could have moved in with the PG Tips monkey in place of Johnny Vegas?
This was post-monkeys, when monkeys were no longer politically correct. I’ve always loved [French songwriter/actor] Serge Gainsbourg and all the eclectic, crazy cultural things he would do. He’d do a reggae album, then an advert for sausages. The way he looked at it was: “I’m going to be omnipresent from high up to the lowest of the low.” Then it all becomes pop art.
Sir Paul, Sir Bob, Sir Cliff, Sir Elton, Sir Rod, Sir Brian … when can we expect Sir Richard?
Years ago, I got invited to Windsor Castle to meet the queen, but it was a solo invite without my wife, and I didn’t want to go on my own. Maybe it was a vetting process? People who were knighted used to have acted in the greatest films of all time. These days, you’re like: “Fucking hell? What has he done?” There are people who give their lives to ensure society doesn’t crumble who never get recognised. Recognising people who are getting paid for their passion can be distasteful. Why should you get the cold steel on your shoulder just because you run around a track or jump over some hurdles? So, no. I firmly believe you will never hear that moment – even though Sir Richard has a great ring to it. Where are Sir Liam and Sir Noel? Who else has brought billions into the economy this summer?
Liam Gallagher reckons you’d have him in a fight (“He’s a lean machine,” Gallagher said). But who’s got the best hair?
That’s a tough one. Other than when I go skinhead, my hair has been the same for 30 years. If he’s going to give me the fight, I’ll give him the hair.
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You were briefly on the books of Rotherham United. What would Richard Ashcroft the professional footballer be up to today?
That’s a great question. I wasn’t good enough when I was a kid, so that’s why I wasn’t a player. I’m sure I’ll slow down but, bizarrely, I’ve got better as I’ve got older. I’d probably be managing Manchester United. They need to get fucking grounded fast. It’d be like Don Corleone had taken over: zero tolerance for any bullshit. I’d have them going to the match on the bus, like the Busby Babes. I tell you what, they’d be a sight better than they are at the moment.
What scares you?
I’ve always projected into the future and read the tea leaves to see where we’re heading. AI feels inevitable, but there’s nothing to be scared of, because we can see that dystopia and technocratic future slapping us in the face. If we went back to the 70s, we’d think smartphones are from Star Trek. As an artist, I’m happy so many people put up AI things on YouTube that get zero views. People are bored already. But technology is only going to grow to the point where it becomes even more difficult to say: is that Frank Sinatra? Is that Elvis? But I have always wanted a doppelganger who went around the world, did all the press.
Have you seen Abba Voyage? You could send a hologram Richard Ashcroft out on tour and stay at home with your feet up.
I went the other week. It was like Oasis … song after song. I’ve always appreciated them as songwriters. That’s the thing about great songwriting. Anyone can make an avant garde experimental record. Not everyone can make songs that communicate to a guy painting a wall at 2pm as much as they do a student stoned out of his head at 4am.
What will you say to God when you meet him?
“Forgive me. Let me in …”
You once said you’ve never had a bad review from a good-looking person. Is this still true?
I must admit, I have looked them up. When I see their profile picture, I’ve thought: “Fair enough. I’d hate me as well if I were you.”
You once filmed yourself burning a copy of NME. Will you be setting fire to the Guardian – or, worse still, me – if you aren’t happy with this interview?
No, my burning days are over. I just thought it was a bit of pop art at the time. I’ve got no beef with anyone. Although I must admit, I haven’t done an interview for this album with NME, so perhaps someone took it to heart. If you’re out there NME, I’m here, and it’s all good …
Richard Ashcroft’s new album, Lovin’ You, is out now. He plays Manchester Co-op Live on 8 November and tours from March 2026.
