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{{Short description|English musician}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
⚫
| name = Nick McCabe
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Nicholas John McCabe
⚫
| instrument = Guitar, bass, keyboards, [[accordion]], [[autoharp]], piano.
| name = Nick McCabe
| image = Nickmccabe.jpg
| birth_name = Nicholas John McCabe
| caption = McCabe in 2008
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|7|14|df=yes}}
| caption =
| birth_place = [[Haydock]], [[Lancashire]], England
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|7|14}}
| alias =
⚫
| genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[psychedelic rock]], [[Shoegazing|shoegaze]], [[Ambient music|ambient]]
|birth_place = [[Haydock]], [[Lancashire]], England
⚫
| associated_acts = [[The Verve]], [[Black Submarine]], [[Liam Gallagher]]
⚫
| death_date =
⚫
| instrument = Guitar, bass, keyboards, [[accordion]], [[autoharp]], piano
⚫
| alias =
⚫
| years_active = 1989–present
⚫
| genre = [[Alternative rock]]<br>[[Psychedelic rock]]<br>[[Shoegazing|Shoegaze]]
⚫
| website =
⚫
| associated_acts = [[The Verve]], [[Black Submarine]], [[Liam Gallagher]]
⚫
| audio sample =
| label = [[Hut Records|Hut]]<br>[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
⚫
| years_active = 1989–present
| website =
⚫
| audio sample =
}}
}}

'''Nicholas "Nick" John McCabe''' (born 14 July 1971) is an English musician best known as the lead guitarist of [[The Verve]].
'''Nicholas John McCabe''' (born 14 July 1971) is an English musician, best known as being the lead guitarist of the rock group [[the Verve]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
McCabe is the son of a bus driver father and a social worker mother<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverveonline.com/members.html|title=The Verve Online|website=Theverveonline.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk/biog.htm|title=biog|website=Nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> When asked what it was that inspired him to become a guitarist, he answered: "That was me, I just got a guitar, and I could play a few things on it, and I liked messing with it, and I liked making my own things up."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk/interviews.page10.htm|title=interviews|website=Nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> He attended [[Haydock High School]], and later met [[Richard Ashcroft]] at [[Winstanley College]]. Ashcroft described McCabe's guitar playing as sounding like "a whole other universe"; the two briefly played in a band whilst at college.<ref>[http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/36.shtml] {{dead link|date=January 2018}}</ref> After leaving college, McCabe began a career as a [[quantity surveyor]]. He later recalled: "I hated it. I used to sit there all day scribbling in my pad thinking about guitar sounds."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverveonline.com/press/nme05.01.08.html|title=The Verve Online|website=Theverveonline.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> He gave this up to be part of [[The Verve]] along with Ashcroft, [[Simon Jones (musician)|Simon Jones]] and [[Peter Salisbury]].
McCabe is the son of a bus driver father and a social worker mother<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverveonline.com/members.html|title=The Verve Online|website=Theverveonline.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk/biog.htm|title=biog|website=Nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> When asked what it was that inspired him to become a guitarist, he answered: "That was me, I just got a guitar, and I could play a few things on it, and I liked messing with it, and I liked making my own things up."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk/interviews.page10.htm|title=interviews|website=Nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> He attended [[Haydock High School]], and later met [[Richard Ashcroft]] at [[Winstanley College]]. Ashcroft described McCabe's guitar playing as sounding like "a whole other universe"; the two briefly played in a band whilst at college.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/36.shtml |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-01-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222155655/http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/36.shtml |archivedate=22 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }} </ref> After leaving college, McCabe began a career as a [[quantity surveyor]]. He later recalled: "I hated it. I used to sit there all day scribbling in my pad thinking about guitar sounds."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theverveonline.com/press/nme05.01.08.html|title=The Verve Online|website=Theverveonline.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> He gave this up to be part of [[the Verve]] along with Ashcroft, [[Simon Jones (musician)|Simon Jones]] and [[Peter Salisbury]].


==The Verve==
==The Verve==
{{main|The Verve}}
{{main|The Verve}}
McCabe was generally an aloof member, being involved in relatively few interviews. Tensions and power struggles between McCabe and Ashcroft would later cause the band's dissolution. The first break-up happened in 1995 when Ashcroft left after the band's second album, ''[[A Northern Soul]]''. Shortly thereafter Ashcroft reformed the band without McCabe, replacing him with [[Simon Tong]]. McCabe returned home to work on his own music and spend time with his daughter<ref>[http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/33.shtml] {{dead link|date=January 2018}}</ref> until Ashcroft asked him to return in 1997, for the band's third album, ''[[Urban Hymns]]''. Despite the album's success, McCabe left in 1998, and although The Verve continued touring without him, the band later split for the second time in early 1999.
McCabe was generally an aloof member, being involved in relatively few interviews. Tensions and power struggles between McCabe and Ashcroft would later cause the band's dissolution. The first break-up happened in 1995 when Ashcroft left after the band's second album, ''[[A Northern Soul]]''. Shortly thereafter Ashcroft reformed the band without McCabe, replacing him with [[Simon Tong]]. McCabe returned home to work on his own music and spend time with his daughter<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/33.shtml |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-09-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724114446/http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/33.shtml |archivedate=24 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }} </ref> until Ashcroft asked him to return in 1997, for the band's third album, ''[[Urban Hymns]]''. Despite the album's success, McCabe left in 1998, and although the Verve continued touring without him, the band later split for the second time in early 1999.


In early 2007, McCabe made peace with Ashcroft, and the band reunited. A new album, ''[[Forth (album)|Forth]]'', was released in 2008. However, the band broke up again in 2009.
In early 2007, McCabe made peace with Ashcroft, and the band reunited. A new album, ''[[Forth (album)|Forth]]'', was released in 2008. However, the band broke up again in 2009.


==Other projects==
==Other projects==
Following The Verve's split in 1999, McCabe kept a relatively low profile. In 2001, he played on "Walking Home" for [[John Martyn]]'s album, ''[[On the Cobbles]]''. In 2002, he played on "Lost Broadcast" for [[Faultline (musician)|Faultline]]'s album ''Your Love Means Everything''. In 2004, McCabe's [[remix]] of [[The Music]]'s song "The People" appeared on their single "Freedom Fighters". In March 2009, following the death of Martyn, McCabe discussed Martyn's music and the experience of working with him in an interview with ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/03/all_hail_john_martyn_by_the_ve.html|title=All Hail John Martyn! By The Verve's Nick McCabe – - Mojo<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Mojo4music.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref>
Following The Verve's split in 1999, McCabe kept a relatively low profile. In 2001, he played on "Walking Home" for [[John Martyn]]'s album ''[[On the Cobbles]]''. In 2002, he played on "Lost Broadcast" for [[Faultline (musician)|Faultline]]'s album ''Your Love Means Everything''. In 2004, McCabe's [[remix]] of [[The Music]]'s song "The People" appeared on their single "Freedom Fighters". In March 2009, following the death of Martyn, McCabe discussed Martyn's music and the experience of working with him in an interview with ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/03/all_hail_john_martyn_by_the_ve.html|title=All Hail John Martyn! By The Verve's Nick McCabe – - Mojo<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Mojo4music.com|accessdate=22 January 2018|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209162246/http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/03/all_hail_john_martyn_by_the_ve.html|archivedate=9 December 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref>


In 2009 McCabe founded a new band called The Black Ships with Jones, drummer Mig Schillace, and electric violinist Davide Rossi. The Black Ships released their first EP, "Kurofune", in May 2011, and performed their debut gig at Kings College Student Union on 2 June 2011 before changing their name to [[Black Submarine]] in mid-2012.
In 2009 McCabe founded a new band called The Black Ships with Jones, drummer Mig Schillace, and electric violinist Davide Rossi. The Black Ships released their first EP, "Kurofune", in May 2011, and performed their debut gig at Kings College Student Union on 2 June 2011 before changing their name to [[Black Submarine]] in mid-2012.

In November 2019 McCabe began releasing solo work to Bandcamp, initially as a side project called Litter and Leaves with Black Submarine member Amelia Tucker and then under his own name. In June 2022 he released the EP "Home Is Where the Heart Is", a collaboration with Verve drummer Peter Salisbury and featuring Tucker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nickmccabe1.bandcamp.com/album/home-is-where-the-heart-is/releases|title=Home Is Where the Heart Is, by Nick and Pete|website=Nickmccabe1.bandcamp.com}}</ref>


==Musical style==
==Musical style==
McCabe stands still whilst playing, with one reviewer in 1993 describing him as having "coaxed gorgeous, shimmering wodges of sound from his instrument while exuding all the enthusiasm of a man waiting for a bus."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starla.org/articles/lndntms1.htm|title=SP|website=Starla.org|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref>
McCabe stands still whilst playing, with one reviewer in 1993 describing him as having "coaxed gorgeous, shimmering wodges of sound from his instrument while exuding all the enthusiasm of a man waiting for a bus."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starla.org/articles/lndntms1.htm|title=SP|website=Starla.org|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref>


McCabe has cited artists such as [[Joy Division]], John Martyn and [[Eddie Hazel]] as inspirations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://special.the-raft.com/theverve/nickarticle.html|title=the-raft.com - first for music, music news, features, competitions and reviews|website=Special.the-raft.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> He has also expressed his fondness of synthesizers and explained his '[[psychedelic music|psychedelic]]' sound as trying to make a guitar sound like a synthesizer by using effects pedals and valve amps.
McCabe has cited artists such as [[Joy Division]], [[John Martyn]] and [[Eddie Hazel]] as inspirations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://special.the-raft.com/theverve/nickarticle.html|title=the-raft.com - first for music, music news, features, competitions and reviews|website=Special.the-raft.com|accessdate=22 January 2018}}</ref> He has also expressed his fondness of synthesizers and explained his '[[psychedelic music|psychedelic]]' sound as trying to make a guitar sound like a synthesizer by using effects pedals and valve amps.


Producer [[Owen Morris]] referred to McCabe as "without a shadow of a doubt the most gifted musician I've ever worked with", but also claimed he was "a complete and utter nightmare" to work with, saying "He'll never play the same thing twice. Now you can ask [[Noel Gallagher]] to play the same guitar line a hundred times, and as long as there's a good reason for him doing it, he'll do it. But with Nick you've got no chance. But that's what he does, y'know?"<ref>[http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/27.shtml] {{dead link|date=January 2018}}</ref>
Producer [[Owen Morris]] referred to McCabe as "without a shadow of a doubt the most gifted musician I've ever worked with", but also claimed he was "a complete and utter nightmare" to work with, saying "He'll never play the same thing twice. Now you can ask [[Noel Gallagher]] to play the same guitar line a hundred times, and as long as there's a good reason for him doing it, he'll do it. But with Nick you've got no chance. But that's what he does, y'know?"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/27.shtml |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-02-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013115325/http://www.musicsaves.org/verve/interviews/27.shtml |archivedate=13 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }} </ref>

==Equipment==
'''Amps''' (partial):

*Mesa/Boogie Mark III combo
*Roland JC120 (daisy-chained to the boogie)
*Marshall solid state bass amp

'''Effects''' (partial):

*Alesis QuadraVerb+
*Roland RE-201 Space Echo
*BOSS OD-1
*Ibanez FL9
*Eventide H3000
*Roland GP-8
*DigiTech Whammy IV
BOSS CS-3 Compression/Sustainer

'''Guitars''' (partial):

*Gibson Les Paul
*Fender Stratocaster (1979)
*Gibson ES-335
*Fender Jazzmaster (1959) 70's
*Fender Telecaster Deluxe
*Gibson Flying V
*Fender 12-String
*Mandolin
*Ovation acoustic


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
{{see also|The Verve discography}}
{{see also|The Verve discography}}

1997–
* [[The Beta Band]] – ''[[The Three E.P.'s|Champion Versions E.P.]]'' (1997)
* [[The Beta Band]] – ''[[The Three E.P.'s|Champion Versions E.P.]]'' (1997)
* [[Mellow (band)|Mellow]] – ''Instant Love E.P.'' (1999)
* Mellow – ''Instant Love E.P.'' (1999)
* [[Soundtrack|O.S.T.]] for [[Iain Banks]]' "Complicity" (2000)
* [[Soundtrack|O.S.T.]] for [[Iain Banks]]' "Complicity" (2000)
* [[Neotropic (project)]] – ''La Prochaine Fois/An Ambient Road Movie'' (2001)
* Neotropic (project) – ''La Prochaine Fois/An Ambient Road Movie'' (2001)
* [[Faultline (musician)|Faultline]] feat. Nick McCabe – Lost Broadcast (2002/2004, released on ''Your Love Means Everything'')
* [[Faultline (musician)|Faultline]] feat. Nick McCabe – "Lost Broadcast" (2002/2004, released on ''Your Love Means Everything'')
* [[John Martyn (singer)|John Martyn]] feat. Nick McCabe – Walking Home (2004, released on ''[[On the Cobbles]]'')
* [[John Martyn (singer)|John Martyn]] feat. Nick McCabe – "Walking Home" (2004, released on ''[[On the Cobbles]]'')
* Nick McCabe vs. [[The Music]] – The People (2004, released on ''[[Freedom Fighters (song)|The Freedom Fighters E.P.]]'')
* Nick McCabe vs. [[The Music]] – "The People" (2004, released on ''[[Freedom Fighters (song)|The Freedom Fighters E.P.]]'')
* [[The Nova Saints]] – Far Out (Nick McCabe Remix) (2007, released on ''[[The Draft EP]]'')
* [[The Nova Saints]] – "Far Out" (Nick McCabe Remix) (2007, released on ''[[The Draft EP]]'')
* [[The Twilight Singers]] feat. [[Mark Lanegan]] and Nick McCabe – Be Invited (2011, released on ''Dynamite Steps'')
* [[The Twilight Singers]] feat. [[Mark Lanegan]] and Nick McCabe – "Be Invited" (2011, released on ''Dynamite Steps'')
* [[Intastella]] feat. Jah Wobble and Nick McCabe – Lemons (2011, released on ''The Rise and Fall of a Northern Dubstar'')
* [[Intastella]] feat. Jah Wobble and Nick McCabe – "Lemons" (2011, released on ''The Rise and Fall of a Northern Dubstar'')
* [[Lowline (band)|Lowline]] feat. Nick McCabe – Bury My Soul (2013, released on ''The Howler EP'')
* [[Lowline (band)|Lowline]] feat. Nick McCabe – "Bury My Soul" (2013, released on ''The Howler EP'')
* [[Natalie Kocabova|Natalie Kocab]] and Michaela Poláková feat. Nick McCabe – on 8 songs (2017, ''Ellis Island'')
* [[Natalie Kocabova|Natalie Kocab]] and Michaela Poláková feat. Nick McCabe – on eight songs (2017, ''Ellis Island'')


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English guitarists]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:English male guitarists]]
[[Category:People from St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:People from St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:The Verve members]]
[[Category:The Verve members]]
[[Category:Britpop musicians]]

Latest revision as of 06:36, 9 September 2024

Nick McCabe
McCabe in 2008
McCabe in 2008
Background information
Birth nameNicholas John McCabe
Born (1971-07-14) 14 July 1971 (age 53)
Haydock, Lancashire, England
GenresAlternative rock, psychedelic rock, shoegaze, ambient
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, keyboards, accordion, autoharp, piano
Years active1989–present

Nicholas John McCabe (born 14 July 1971) is an English musician, best known as being the lead guitarist of the rock group the Verve.

Early life

[edit]

McCabe is the son of a bus driver father and a social worker mother[1] and has two older brothers, Alan and Paul.[2] When asked what it was that inspired him to become a guitarist, he answered: "That was me, I just got a guitar, and I could play a few things on it, and I liked messing with it, and I liked making my own things up."[3] He attended Haydock High School, and later met Richard Ashcroft at Winstanley College. Ashcroft described McCabe's guitar playing as sounding like "a whole other universe"; the two briefly played in a band whilst at college.[4] After leaving college, McCabe began a career as a quantity surveyor. He later recalled: "I hated it. I used to sit there all day scribbling in my pad thinking about guitar sounds."[5] He gave this up to be part of the Verve along with Ashcroft, Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury.

The Verve

[edit]
Main article: The Verve

McCabe was generally an aloof member, being involved in relatively few interviews. Tensions and power struggles between McCabe and Ashcroft would later cause the band's dissolution. The first break-up happened in 1995 when Ashcroft left after the band's second album, A Northern Soul. Shortly thereafter Ashcroft reformed the band without McCabe, replacing him with Simon Tong. McCabe returned home to work on his own music and spend time with his daughter[6] until Ashcroft asked him to return in 1997, for the band's third album, Urban Hymns. Despite the album's success, McCabe left in 1998, and although the Verve continued touring without him, the band later split for the second time in early 1999.

In early 2007, McCabe made peace with Ashcroft, and the band reunited. A new album, Forth, was released in 2008. However, the band broke up again in 2009.

Other projects

[edit]

Following The Verve's split in 1999, McCabe kept a relatively low profile. In 2001, he played on "Walking Home" for John Martyn's album On the Cobbles. In 2002, he played on "Lost Broadcast" for Faultline's album Your Love Means Everything. In 2004, McCabe's remix of The Music's song "The People" appeared on their single "Freedom Fighters". In March 2009, following the death of Martyn, McCabe discussed Martyn's music and the experience of working with him in an interview with Mojo.[7]

In 2009 McCabe founded a new band called The Black Ships with Jones, drummer Mig Schillace, and electric violinist Davide Rossi. The Black Ships released their first EP, "Kurofune", in May 2011, and performed their debut gig at Kings College Student Union on 2 June 2011 before changing their name to Black Submarine in mid-2012.

In November 2019 McCabe began releasing solo work to Bandcamp, initially as a side project called Litter and Leaves with Black Submarine member Amelia Tucker and then under his own name. In June 2022 he released the EP "Home Is Where the Heart Is", a collaboration with Verve drummer Peter Salisbury and featuring Tucker.[8]

Musical style

[edit]

McCabe stands still whilst playing, with one reviewer in 1993 describing him as having "coaxed gorgeous, shimmering wodges of sound from his instrument while exuding all the enthusiasm of a man waiting for a bus."[9]

McCabe has cited artists such as Joy Division, John Martyn and Eddie Hazel as inspirations.[10] He has also expressed his fondness of synthesizers and explained his 'psychedelic' sound as trying to make a guitar sound like a synthesizer by using effects pedals and valve amps.

Producer Owen Morris referred to McCabe as "without a shadow of a doubt the most gifted musician I've ever worked with", but also claimed he was "a complete and utter nightmare" to work with, saying "He'll never play the same thing twice. Now you can ask Noel Gallagher to play the same guitar line a hundred times, and as long as there's a good reason for him doing it, he'll do it. But with Nick you've got no chance. But that's what he does, y'know?"[11]

Discography

[edit]
See also: The Verve discography

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Verve Online". Theverveonline.com. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  2. ^ "biog". Nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  3. ^ "interviews". Nickmccabe-kim-2freespirits.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "The Verve Online". Theverveonline.com. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "All Hail John Martyn! By The Verve's Nick McCabe – - Mojo". Mojo4music.com. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Home Is Where the Heart Is, by Nick and Pete". Nickmccabe1.bandcamp.com.
  9. ^ "SP". Starla.org. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  10. ^ "the-raft.com - first for music, music news, features, competitions and reviews". Special.the-raft.com. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
[edit]
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