Group formed simply as Verve in 1991 (they became The Verve in 1994 after a dispute with the jazz label Verve). Early material tended toward guitar-based soundscapes influenced by My Bloody Valentine, but they would later become a more conventional alt-rock group.

In April 1999 The Verve announced that they had mutually agreed to disband. 8 years later the original band reconciled their differences and reunited to record a new album and resume touring.