THE VERVE are back in the news this weekend. As we reported earlier, not only did the Wigan lads lose the opening act for their upcoming US tour (Massive Attack bowed out due to "scheduling conflicts"), but they also lost lead guitarist Nick McCabe, who has chosen to take a sabbatical from touring due to "stress". Well, The Verve's camp has now announced that in the wake of McCabe's departure from the live stage, the band is attempting to quickly assemble a string section and a session steel guitarist to join them on the road. The Verve's US tour kicks off on Tuesday, July 28, at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.