If a reunion were a song, it would be on the soundtrack of English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft's life. Ashcroft is distinguishable from other music artists in that he can identify himself as the leader of a band, a solo artist, and once again, the leader of a band. Born in Lancashire, he grew up with his mother and sisters. His father died when he was eleven, leaving him to the influence of his step-father. In his early life, Richard was better known for his football passion than his musical talents.His musical career began in high school, when he and several of his friends formed The Verve (formerly known as Verve). With influences like The Beatles and Pink Floyd, the band signed onto the Hut Records label and shortly after became a hit. Their first album came out in 1993, becoming a big success in the underground music scene, but they never really matched that success with mainstream fans. By 1995, the band had gotten to be so tense that it caused them to disband. From there, Ashcroft would go on to start his solo career.Ashcroft has had a unique solo career, to say the least. His third album (first as a solo artist) eventually became a reunion album for The Verve. Urban Hymns was released in 1997, but as the first single became a hit, it also brought on slight controversy. Even still, the hit made The Verve well-known on both sides of the Atlantic, making them one of the last Alternative British acts to go big in the US until later bands. From 2000 to 2007, Ashcroft released two solo albums that received mostly positive reviews (Alone With Everybody and Human Conditions). As of 2007, he had reunited with members of The Verve and came out with their most current album, Forth.