David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Virgin Records

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Virgin RecordsThe Verve‘s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is officially back in the hands of frontman Richard Ashcroft, as Rolling Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have relinquished their songwriting credits on the song.

“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,'” Ashcroft writes in a statement.

Released in 1997, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” sampled an orchestral version of the 1965 Rolling Stones song “The Last Time,” recorded by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra and written by David Whitaker. According to Rolling Stone magazine, The Verve was granted the sample in exchange for 50 percent of the royalties.

However, former Stones manager Allen Klein accused The Verve of using more of the orchestral recording than the agreement originally stipulated. After a plagiarism lawsuit filed by Klein’s holding company ABKCO Records, The Verve ended up forfeiting all of the song’s royalties and publishing rights, and Jagger and Richards were credited as the writers.

Now, over two decades later, Ashcroft is the sole credited writer.

“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,” Ashcroft writes.

“Bitter Sweet Symphony” became The Verve’s biggest worldwide hit, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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