RICHARD Ashcroft is married to Kate Radley, who is a musician in her own right.
The former Verve frontman has been confirmed as one of the support acts for Oasis' massive 2025 tour — here we take a look at his wife's life and career.
When the news was announced on October 21, 2024, Richard Ashcroft said in a statement: "As a fan from day one, I was buzzing for many reasons when the news of Oasis' return was announced.
"I can say with no exaggeration that the song-writing talent of Noel, and Liam's pure spirit as a lead singer helped to inspire me to create some of my best work.
"It was the perfection of Live Forever that forced me to try and write my own.
"They dared to be great, made the dreams we had real and I will always remember those days with joy.
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"Now it's time to create more memories and I'm ready to bring it.
"See you next summer. Music is power."
Who is Kate Radley?
Kate Radley was born in England on February 19, 1967.
She is an English keyboard player who gained recognition for her work with the British rock band Spiritualized.
Kate contributed to the albums Lazer Guided Melodies (1992), Pure Phase (1995) and Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997) before leaving the band in 1997.
Relationship with Richard Ashcroft
The exact dates when Kate and Richard met, or when they became an item, are not publicly known.
Classic music video for Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve sees Richard Ashcroft walking down a London road
However, their relationship predates his rise to fame with The Verve.
Their relationship has weathered the storms of the music industry, spanning nearly three decades.
He has described her as his "rock" — acknowledging her unwavering presence through the ups and downs of his career.
Richard also mentioned that she used to lend him money — indicating they were together when he was still struggling financially.
In 2018, he wrote on Instagram: "I love this woman stuck by me through it all.
"She was a musician before me, used to lend me money for cigarettes, we’ve seen it all and she is my rock. I was a lucky man".
Married with children
Kate and Richard tied the knot in 1995.
Interestingly, their marriage was kept private for several years before being publicly revealed.
The couple has two sons — Sonny, born in 2000, and Cassius, born in 2004.
Throughout their marriage, Kate has been a constant source of support for Ashcroft.
Her influence on Ashcroft's music is evident, both directly and indirectly.
She has collaborated with him professionally throughout their marriage, even touring with him when he supported Coldplay in 2006.
Her presence in Richard's life has also inspired his songwriting, and she has made appearances in some of his music videos.
For instance, she can be seen screaming at him in Bittersweet Symphony (1997) and hugging him in Surprised by the Joy (2018).
On July 14, 2024, Richard paid tribute to his wife on stage at Kew The Music.
He also told how he took her mother on The Verve’s most recent tour so the family could be together.
Richard said: “It’s our 29th anniversary. I want to thank Katie, because without her I wouldn’t be here.
“I’ve taken my mother-in-law on tour, and people say, ‘You took your mother-in-law?’.
“Yeah, because she’s beautiful and special and it’s a family thing, it’s a family affair.”