Rolling Stones Finally Give “Bitter Sweet Symphony” Songwriting Credit to the Verve’s Richard Ashcroft
The Verve’s best-known song, “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” famously samples an orchestral cover of the Rolling Stones’ 1965 song “The Last Time.” The portion sampled was written by arranger David Whitaker. It is not part of the Stones’ original song. But while the Verve cleared the rights to sample the orchestral recording, they did not get the publishing rights from the Stones.
In the late ’90s, longtime Stones manager and music industry figure Allen Klein, whose company ABKCO Records owned the copyright to “The Last Time,” subsequently sued frontman Richard Ashcroft, resulting in Mick Jagger and Keith Richards receiving songwriting credit and 100% of the songwriting royalties from “Bitter Sweet Symphony.”
Now, according to a press release from Ashcroft’s camp, Jagger and Richards have agreed to unconditionally give their songwriting credits and publishing rights for “Bitter Sweet Symphony” to Ashcroft. The decision comes on the heels of Ashcroft’s management making a direct plea to the Stones members, according to the release.
A full statement from Ashcroft reads:
It gives me great pleasure to announce as of last month Mick Jagger and Keith Richards agreed to give me their share of the song Bitter Sweet Symphony. This remarkable and life affirming turn of events was made possible by a kind and magnanimous gesture from Mick and Keith, who have also agreed that they are happy for the writing credit to exclude their names and all their royalties derived from the song they will now pass to me.
I would like to thank the main players in this, my management Steve Kutner and John Kennedy, the Stones manager Joyce Smyth and Jody Klein (for actually taking the call) lastly a huge unreserved heartfelt thanks and respect to Mick and Keith.
Music is power.
When reached for comment, representatives for the Rolling Stones referred back to Ashcroft’s statement.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
