The Verve's Glastonbury plan

Nov 14, 2007, 11:30 GMT

The Verve are determined to headline the Glastonbury Festival next year.

The British rock band - who announced in June they were reforming after almost a decade apart - claim they are the only group capable of taking the audience at the summer musical extravaganza on a genuine "rock'n'roll journey".

Frontman Richard Ashcroft said: "It would be a travesty if we didn't headline Glastonbury. I think what's missing from a lot of the headliners is we're one of the few bands that can jam without sounding like Lynyrd Skynyrd on a bad night, so we can take people on a proper journey, rock'n'roll-wise."

Singer Ashcroft revealed the band - which also includes guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones and drummer Pete Salisbury - are returning to their "heavier" roots on their new material.

He added: "We want to revisit some of our heavier groove stuff."

The Verve are hoping to release their new record around Christmas. They kick-off their six-date reunion tour of the UK in Nottingham on December 11.

The Wigan rockers - who endured numerous bust-ups and temporary splits - disbanded in 1999, after Ashcroft and McCabe's strained relationship finally snapped.

Their 1997 album 'Urban Hymns' achieved huge success and spawned a number of hit singles including 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'.

(C) BANG Media International