Simon Jones (The Verve)

Courtesy of The Verve Co UK Courtesy of The Verve Co UK

Courtesy of The Verve Co UK

By Thomas Semioli

The Verve brought forth bombast (“This Is Music”) and grandeur (“Bittersweet Symphony”) to Britpop during their early to mid-1990s glory years. Bassist Simon Jones served as the bridge between guitarist Nick McCabe’s sonic din and the acquired taste croon of Robert Ashcroft – rendering pocket grooves which he enhanced with neo-psychedelic melodic motifs aplenty.

Courtesy The Verve Co UK Courtesy The Verve Co UK

Courtesy The Verve Co UK

Working a Fender Jazz, and Fender Precision with the treble (mostly) rolled off, Jones’ fat tone filled out The Verve’s chart-topping sound, though they eventually brought in keyboardist Simon Tong to flesh out the proceedings.

Amid The Verve’s numerous splits and reunions, Simon ably anchored The Shining – a Britpop all-star collective featuring The Stone Roses’ guitarist John Squire – along with ensembles led by singer songwriters Cathy Davey and Howie Day, among others.

“This Is The Music” https://youtu.be/PgsPAsno4OU

“Bittersweet Symphony” https://youtu.be/1lyu1KKwC74

“Sit and Wonder” https://youtu.be/1PIzTNI9auc

With Howie Day “Come Lay Down” https://youtu.be/G_AjaCuK024

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