Did Richard Ashcroft's band The Verve and the band Helium both play alternative rock?
yes
Helium (band)
Helium was an American alternative rock band fronted by Mary Timony.
 The band formed during the summer of 1992.
 Between 1992 and 1997, they released two full-length albums, three EPs and several singles.
Richard Ashcroft
Richard Paul Ashcroft (born 11 September 1971) is an English singer and songwriter.
 He was the lead singer and occasional rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their original split in 1999.
 He became a successful solo artist in his own right, releasing three UK top three solo albums.
 The Verve reformed in 2007 but again broke up by summer 2009.
 Ashcroft then founded a new band, RPA & The United Nations of Sound, and released a new album on 19 July 2010.
 On 22 February 2016 Ashcroft announced his fourth solo album, "These People", set for release 20 May 2016.
 Chris Martin of Coldplay has described Ashcroft as "the best singer in the world".
United Nations of Sound (album)
United Nations of Sound is the debut album by British alternative rock band RPA & The United Nations of Sound (pseudonym of Richard Ashcroft, arrived at his fourth solo album), released on 19 July 2010 through Parlophone (see 2010 in British music).
 The album was released in the United States on 22 March 2011 under the name "Richard Ashcroft" through the record company Razor & Tie. Sleep for Sleepers
Sleep for Sleepers are an American Christian alternative rock band, and they primarily play alternative rock and indie rock.
 They come from Los Angeles, California.
 The band started making music in 2004, and currently their members are vocalist and guitarist, Jamey Price, and, Chad Jordan, with former embers being, guitarist, Christopher Scott Kellogg, bassist, James Michael Price, and drummer, Jeffrey Thomas Darcy.
 The band released one extended play, as The Red Coterie, "Vast", in 2007 independently by themselves.
 When they signed to Dreamt Records, they changed their name to Sleep for Sleepers.
 Their next release, an studio album, "The Clearing", was released with Dreamt, in 2009.
 They released, another extended play, "Conditions", in 2011, with Dreamt Records.
 The subsequent album, also released by Dreamt Records, "Discovery", came out in 2014. No Guitars
No Guitars is an EP by the alternative rock band Helium.
 It was released in April 1997 on Matador Records. Lucky Man (The Verve song)
"Lucky Man" is a song by English rock band The Verve.
 It was written by singer Richard Ashcroft.
 The song was released as the third single from the band's third studio album, "Urban Hymns" (1997).
 It was released on 24 November 1997, charting at #7 on the UK Singles Chart.
 The song was also the band's second Top 20 hit on the "Billboard" Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States.
 In Australia, "Lucky Man" peaked at #60 on the ARIA singles chart. RPA &amp; The United Nations of Sound
RPA & The United Nations of Sound are a British alternative rock band formed by vocalist Richard Ashcroft, former lead singer of The Verve.
 Ashcroft announced the formation of the band (which is a pseudonym more than a real band) and presented the video of the first single, "Are You Ready?"
, on 18 January 2010 in an exclusive premiere on the "NME" website.
 "Are You Ready?"
 was released only in the UK on 1 April 2010 in a limited edition 12" vinyl.
 On 9 April 2010 the band released a fanclub-only track, "Third Eye (Colombus Circle)".
 In the first two weeks of June Ashcroft and his musicians completed a European tour (Ancona, Paris, Berlin, Cologne, Amsterdam, Manchester and London), then they played in Tokyo and Osaka on 7–8 August 2010 during the Summer Sonic Festival 2010 and also in Melbourne and Sydney respectively on 30 July and 31 July.
 The band played in Australia also during the Splendour in the Grass Festival in late July.
 The band's debut album as Richard's backing lineup, entitled "United Nations of Sound", was released on 19 July 2010.
 "Born Again", the first proper single, was officially released the same day of the album as a digital download. Rather Be (The Verve song)
"Rather Be" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve.
 It is the third track on their fourth studio album, "Forth".
 The song was released as the second single from the album on 17 November 2008, following summer hit "Love Is Noise".
 Richard Ashcroft is credited for being the sole composer of the track, although as stated by band members the song has changed a lot since the initial version brought over by Ashcroft thanks to his companions' aid. The Verve discography
The discography of The Verve, a British alternative rock band, consists of four studio albums, two compilation albums, two video albums, three extended plays, fourteen singles, two promotional singles and fifteen music videos.
 The band formed in 1989 as Verve, with original members Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury, although they later added "The" to their name after a lawsuit from the American jazz label Verve Records.
 After signing to Virgin Records subsidiary Hut Records in 1991, The Verve released the non-album single "All in the Mind" and a self-titled extended play containing the singles "She's a Superstar" and "Gravity Grave", the former reaching number 66 on the UK Singles Chart.
 Their debut studio album, "A Storm in Heaven" was released in 1993; despite widespread critical acclaim, it only sold modestly, peaking at number 27 on the UK Albums Chart. The Drugs Don't Work
"The Drugs Don't Work" is a song by the English rock band The Verve, written by Richard Ashcroft and is featured on their third album, "Urban Hymns".
 It was released on 1 September 1997 as the second single from the album, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart.
 In October 2011, "NME" placed it at number 78 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".