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Richard Paul Ashcroft (born 11 September 1971 in Billinge, Wigan, England) is an English singer...

Richard Paul Ashcroft (born 11 September 1971 in Billinge, Wigan, England) is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer,primary songwriter and occasional guitarist of rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their split in 1999. After this, he became a solo artist in his own right before reforming The Verve in 2007. He is still scheduled to continue his solo career at some point in the future. Ashcroft was the only son of office worker Frank and hairdresser Margaret; he also has two younger sisters. When Ashcroft was 11, his father died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage. Ashcroft soon "fell under the influence of his stepfather", who belonged to the Rosicrucians. Ashcroft attended Up Holland High School, along with future bandmates Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury and Simon Tong, and then attended Winstanley College, where he met Nick McCabe. His teachers referred to him as "the cancer of the class", though one member of staff recalled him being "incredibly intelligent". Ashcroft was an avid football player, playing for Wigan Athletic. For some time Ashcroft wanted to be a professional football player, idolising George Best, but as he grew older he lost interest