Retro Clip: Blur Visits Jools Holland, Circa '96

Enjoy The Great Escape's 'Stereotypes' below. Download a classic Blur tune at bottom.


MP3: Blur - Parklife

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Graham Coxon Explains Blur Non-Reunion

He tells New Musical Express: *"People thought, ‘Oh, it’s a bit too much, just jumping into a studio’. We met for a catch-up & it was great, but there was no real talk of recording. It doesn’t really bother me. I’ve got enough going on to feel happy & fulfilled."*

MP3: Blur - Parklife

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Rumor Of The Day: Blur + Oasis = Cheese?

Oh, English tabloids. Today, they're claiming that...

The rivals will make a 'special cheese' for The Brit Awards.

We're just as confused as you are.

NME's got further (albeit nebulous) details.

MP3: Oasis - Wonderwall

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Brace Yourself For 'Britpop Weakest Link'

Digital Spy reports: *Oasis and Blur have reportedly been lined up to appear in a Britpop special of The Weakest Link. The show's bosses have contacted Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Damon Albarn and Alex James to appear in the episode of the gameshow, according to the Daily Star. "If we can pull this off it would be unbelievable," commented a BBC source. "Noel admits he’s a Weakest Link fan." Other stars that bosses want to have on the show include Jarvis Cocker, Elastica's Justine Frischmann, Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield & Suede's Brett Anderson.*

MP3: Oasis - Wonderwall

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Retro Clip: Blur Visits Letterman, Circa '99

Enjoy an abbreviated version of 13's 'Tender' in the clip below. MP3 at bottom.


MP3: Blur - Song 2

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Smiths, Blur & Oasis On VH1 Classic's '7 Ages Of Rock'

The network's feature on 'British Indie' has arrived!

J. Marr & Noel Gallagher sit down for very personal Q&As.

Here's a teaser video for you to enjoy.

Catch the program on your TV set all of next week.

MP3: Blur - Jets

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Retro Clip: Blur @ Reading Festival, Circa '99

Watch the massive crowd go completely bonkers as the band performs 'Song 2'. Insanity!

MP3: Blur - Song 2

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The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #109

Blur - Boys & Girls (demo)

While we anxiously await the return of Blur (fingers crossed for an LP by the end of '08!), take a listen to this early version of Blur's mega-massive single, 'Boys & Girls'.

The song will never grow old.

Ever.

MP3: Blur - Boys & Girls (demo)

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Blur Drummer Explains Coke Addiction

Dave Rowntree tells NME: *"I didn't start using regularly until the 90s, but as my tolerance increased, I used more. I managed to get help before they destroyed my life, and these days I'm active in the recovery community. The key point is that all the way along, I thought my behaviour was normal and it was the rest of the world that had gone mad. I had no idea my experience was different to anyone else's because I had nothing to measure it against.

Some evidence suggests that the proportion of people who may be at serious risk of becoming dependent could be as high as one in six.

If so, taking drugs is really like playing Russian roulette. Most people will get away with it, but for some it will mean their death. And just like Russian roulette, you won't know which group you're in until it's too late."*

MP3: Blur - Song 2

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Graham Coxon Faces Stalker

Via Contact Music: *Former BLUR guitarist GRAHAM COXON's alleged stalker has been cautioned by police. The Song 2 hitmaker's country house in Kent, England was trashed by crazed fan Sue Ellingham last month (Jul07) after she met Coxon at one of his gigs.

She also began posting abusive messages on his website and reportedly turned up at singer's five-year-old daughter's London school. A police spokesperson says, "We cautioned a woman for harassment and criminal damage."*

Yikes!

MP3: Blur - Coffee & TV

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Blur's Alex James Explains Sobriety

Contact Music reports: *BLUR bassist ALEX JAMES has been forced to turn tee-total because alcohol tempts him back onto drugs.

The rocker once famously quipped he was "the second drunkest member of the drunkest band in Britain" and, despite efforts to stay sober since starting a young family with wife Claire Neate, he confesses his last drink almost led to a cocaine binge.

He says, "I have to be so careful. I had a big drink 18 months ago, and I was straight on the phone trying to get some coke - and it reminded me of what I used to be like. "So I haven't had a drink or taken drugs since."*

Previously: Ryan Adams shares about his newly sober ways to the New York Times.

(photo via BBC)

MP3: Blur - Charmless Man

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Damon Albarn: No More Gorillaz Albums

Although he still won't confirm anything about the Blur reunion...

Speaking to BBC Radio 2 about Gorillaz, Albarn said: "We're trying to make a film next, starting in September hopefully. It will be a film score. There won't be another pop record."

When asked about Blur, Damon replied: "I really don't know. I think it's possible that we might be. But I'm not entirely sure we are."

In case you forgot, Damon is a busy busy man.

MP3: Gorillaz - Dare (Soulwax remix)

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Blur Drummer Is Running For Office

No, this isn't a late April Fool's joke. Blur drummer, Dave Rowntree, recently told The Independent that he intends to run in the UK local council elections as a Labour candidate, next month.

More from Dave, himself: "I've been a long-standing member of the Labour party and active in local politics for a while. I'm a Westminster resident and in my experience of living here, it all looks lovely - there are hanging baskets everywhere - but you only need to scratch beneath the surface and see that there's a lot of deprivation and a lot of inequality around. I think someone needs to do something about it."

Let's all wish him lots of good luck as the area is still very much conservative...

MP3: Blur - Parklife

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Damon Albarn Just Cannot Sit Still

This man needs a vacation! The Tripwire has info on his latest project involving, of all things, the opera.

With rumors of Blur reuniting, and the formation of two powerhouse super groups (Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad & The Queen), one would think Mr. Damon Albarn would have his plate full. Luckily for us, this is not so. Now it appears that Damon is going to premiere his Monkey King opera this summer at the Manchester International Festival.

According to The Guardian, Albarn's opera has been commissioned by the first Manchester International that is taking place June 28-July 15, 2007. The opera is loosely based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King's enlightenment, and a new cantata, with a silent film that will be performed by the Halle Orchestra and Chorus. Traditional Chinese and western instruments will be used in addition to some newly invented ones created for the opera. Keeping things in the family, the animations were created by the fabulous Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz, Tank Girl). Forty Chinese circus acrobats, singers and martial arts performers will also be on hand.

Sounds like quite the spectacle! Although I'd still rather have a new Blur album...

MP3: Blur - Beetlebum

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Graham Coxon Becomes Fashion Designer!

Well, not full-time but he did do a fantastic job with the suit he's wearing in this photo, don't you agree? The Blur guitarist is looking like a hip English lit professor, I'm a mega fan of the style.

Want your very own? Act quick! These suits are limited edition - only 100 available (UK only)!

Graham explains: "Do you know Merc, the Mod fashion shop? They said to me a while ago, 'Hey, why don't you design a suit?'. And I thought about it and i considered the lack of suits that are actually quite nice, and i thought i'd have a go. I've chosen the cloth, the buttons, the angles of the pockets and the jacket.

His work has been titled 'Graham Coxon for Merc' and you can get the suit at the Merc store, if any still remain. The designer's web site can be found here!

If they're all sold out, have no fear, an 'EL-COXO' TOY figurine is in the works, via Merc, as well. Hey, if Damon can have one, so can Graham!

MP3: Beastie Boys - Triple Trouble (Graham Coxon remix)

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In a chemical world... it's very very very cheap

Matt's post about Damon Albarn's apparent lack of interest in the next Blur album sent me away to relisten to a couple of blur records this week; and sent me back to the Starshaped film which received some pretty heavy promotion last year.

It's amazing to watch: they're all so young. Especially Alex. Who's not just young. But also thin. No Fat Les there, anyway. Chronicling 1992, Blur's year of Hell (Damon: "the question was what do you think about 1992. Note the silence" - and the track from 13). These were the lean years: when people refused to buy (in my opinion, still Blur's best record) Modern Life is Rubbish in droves, and Popscene only made it to 32 in the charts. Madness!

"I mean, the whole thing about pop music is that you're, you know, you're ripping off as many people as you possibly can, you know, and the trick is just to listen to the right people".

To be honest, Blur don't come off very well at all in Starshaped; but it's a refreshingly honest look at a band (and a major pop figure such as Damon) who've matured into something special. And lots of special moments, such as Damon throwing up, Damon riding (again and again) in Postman Pat's little red van, and the band's visit to Stonehenge.

There is at least one sweet irony - the late, great John Peel claiming that Blur are
too melodic for his taste, just after Popscene had come out; the definitive version of Popscene, of course, being that recorded at Peel Acres and released on the Bustin' & Dronin' album in '97.

Blur - Popscene (Live at Peel Acres)

Modern life, well it's rubbish: I'm holding on for tomorrow.

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Damon Albarn Will Do Everything Except Work On A New Blur Album

A few months back, he told us it was on its way. Graham was back. Everybody was on board. Hallelujah and all that jazz. I believe he even guessed at a mid-'07 release date. Well, post solo album, post Gorillaz, post GoodBadQueen, now Damon is working with Massive Attack!

NME reports: The Good, The Bad And The Queen's Damon Albarn has worked with Massive Attack on tracks for their new album. The band are currently working on the follow up to their first new studio album since 2003's '100th Window'. Albarn is one of the featured vocalists on the new tracks along with TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and former Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval plus regular collaborators Horace Andy and Liz Fraser....

Will we ever see the follow-up to Think Tank (which I loved)? Anybody wanna take stabs on what's next for Damon? God love him but I'm aching for some new Blur..... aren't you?

MP3: Blur - Parklife

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Blurriness

Following up on Matt's post earlier... there's a great Blur torrent over on Purelivegigs (registration required) of Blur playing in 1991 and 1999:

National Kilburn, London, England, 1991
Intro
Pop Scene
Fool
High Cool
Bad Day
Oily Water
Slow Down
There`s No Other Way
Turn It Up
She`s So High
Wear Me Down
Come Together
Day Upon Day
Sing
Explain
Outro

Princess Charlotte, Leicester, England, 1991
?
There`s No Other Way
High Cool
Wear Me Down

Viva 2 Overdrive, 1999
The Swamp Song
1992
B.L.U.R.E.M.I.
Battle
Mellow Song
Trimm Trabb
No Distance Left To Run
Song 2

There's also a torrent of a 10 year anniversary documentary; havent't watched this yet, but I'm sure it'll make a great companion to 3862. All great stuff! (Now I just have to get a DVD copy of Starshaped...)

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Blur: New Album In '07!

Wooooo!

Thank the heavens above we don't have to endure another mediocre Gorillaz album.

According to The Trip Wire, the boys are also trying to get Graham back on board! Let's hope all this talk becomes reality.

It seems like Think Tank was a released a hundred million years ago.

MP3: 'Charmless Man'

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