Damon Albarn (born 1968- 44 years old), the singer-songwriter-keyboardist
person, singer, actor, vegetarian,
musician, activist, musical act, composer, person that is the musical composer
for a film, band member, person that was nominated for an award, honour or
prize, aries person
Here are
10 facts about Damon Albarn, quoted from a brilliant archived article from DS.
1. Damon was born on March 23,
1968 to Keith and Hazel Albarn. Keith was an Art College headteacher, BBC
presenter and the manager of jazz-rock outfit Soft Machine, while Hazel was a
theatre set designer.
2. Albarn's strong anti-war political beliefs stem from his relationship with his grandfather, who was imprisoned as a conscientious objector during World War II.
3. Before forming Blur and becoming a global popstar, Albarn performed with synth group Two's A Crowd, attempted a career as a mime and worked at the Beat Factory studio as a tea boy.
4. Damon had the opportunity to meet then Labour leader Tony Blair for a chinwag in 1997. Oasis's Noel Gallagher went along, but Damon declined, citing his disillusionment with Blair's political shift. "I sent him [Blair] a note to the House of Commons saying, 'I'm sorry, I won't be attending as I am no longer a New Labour supporter. I am now a Communist. Enjoy the schmooze, Comrade. Love, Damon'."
5. Reality talent shows such as The X Factor are among Damon's pet-hates. "Celebrity culture sends out all the wrong messages," he says. "It's creating a mindset that suggests you can get something for nothing and that it's easy to acquire status and fame. We need to dismantle very significant parts of our culture... I think for a start you have to get rid of things like The X Factorimmediately." Best not tell Damon about Alex James's stint on Orange unsignedact!
6. At the height of Blur's fame in the '90s, Damon attempted to turn his hand to acting with a cameo on the crime thriller Face. Sadly his performance, alongside Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone, didn't prove as successful as his pop-writing career. Damon was also featured in the 2007 film ‘Anna and the Moods’ and has even played a character called Bull in a radio play about The Beatles called ‘Up Against It’.
2. Albarn's strong anti-war political beliefs stem from his relationship with his grandfather, who was imprisoned as a conscientious objector during World War II.
3. Before forming Blur and becoming a global popstar, Albarn performed with synth group Two's A Crowd, attempted a career as a mime and worked at the Beat Factory studio as a tea boy.
4. Damon had the opportunity to meet then Labour leader Tony Blair for a chinwag in 1997. Oasis's Noel Gallagher went along, but Damon declined, citing his disillusionment with Blair's political shift. "I sent him [Blair] a note to the House of Commons saying, 'I'm sorry, I won't be attending as I am no longer a New Labour supporter. I am now a Communist. Enjoy the schmooze, Comrade. Love, Damon'."
5. Reality talent shows such as The X Factor are among Damon's pet-hates. "Celebrity culture sends out all the wrong messages," he says. "It's creating a mindset that suggests you can get something for nothing and that it's easy to acquire status and fame. We need to dismantle very significant parts of our culture... I think for a start you have to get rid of things like The X Factorimmediately." Best not tell Damon about Alex James's stint on Orange unsignedact!
6. At the height of Blur's fame in the '90s, Damon attempted to turn his hand to acting with a cameo on the crime thriller Face. Sadly his performance, alongside Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone, didn't prove as successful as his pop-writing career. Damon was also featured in the 2007 film ‘Anna and the Moods’ and has even played a character called Bull in a radio play about The Beatles called ‘Up Against It’.
7. Albarn has achieved chart and critical success with Blur, Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad And The Queen, but as a schoolboy he did prove that he wasn't always so perfect. The cheeky singer failed his 11+ exams, meaning he had to attend a comprehensive in Colchester.
8. On the plus side, Albarn's educational failure ensured that he went on to meet future Blur bandmate Graham Coxon. The singer apparently caught Coxon's attention with his confident performance in the school's production of West Side Story.
9. It wasn't just the Gallagher
brothers that took a dislike to Albarn during the '90s. According to his close
friends, pretty much everyone objected to his cocksure attitude. "Damon
was so cocky he found it difficult to go anywhere without getting
punched," said Food Records pal Tony Wadsworth.
10. Even from February 2008, Albarn insisted that there was no chance of a Blur reunion. "I had dinner with the guys recently and it was a laugh but there’s no way they want to work with me again - they all hate me," he said. What changed, Damon!
10. Even from February 2008, Albarn insisted that there was no chance of a Blur reunion. "I had dinner with the guys recently and it was a laugh but there’s no way they want to work with me again - they all hate me," he said. What changed, Damon!
And of course, here are 10 meaningful, insightful and funny quotes from
Damon Albarn, our front man, on music, songs, art, drunkenness, Graham Coxon
and family life.
1. “I once owned up to flooding the
toilets when it wasn't me. I got the slipper from the teacher for it, too. No
one else would own up and we weren't allowed to go home, so I just owned up. I
can't remember whether it was for anyone in particular, or whether it was a
random act of chivalry - or just play stupidity.” – 1995 Damon Albarn
2. “We were young, good looking and in
the best band in the world.” – on Blur
3. “The things that make me happy most
are my family and working.”
4. “No, every album is something like a
snapshot. It only shows one moment in time. It shows what we feel and think
right at that point in time, nothing more and nothing less.”
5. “As soon as it sounds fine, I'm on to
the next thing, man.”
6. “The most drunk I ever got was at a
private view for a college art show. I think I had two bottles of tequila and
completely lost about ten hours. I woke up in a cell and, when my vision
cleared, I found myself staring at a Nepalese soldier in full uniform. He
didn't speak any English and he was just very alarmed that I was in there with
him. When I asked the coppers what had happened, they said, 'Well we found you
at Euston station, unconscious and surrounded by a group of tramps, so we
thought we'd bring you here for your own good.' I'd had all my money taken, so
I had to walk home.” 1995
7. “I am genuinely inspired by my mum. I
love and respect my mum and I think she's great. She always makes me laugh and
I trust her totally. Both my parents are artists and I grew up in quite a
liberal home; I was allowed to do what I wanted, but all based on a strong
moral foundation. I think it's really important that parents allow you to do
what you like when you're young because you're more likely to get it all out of
your system. I do love my mum.”
8. "There's always been a bit of a
hip-hop element to my trousers." - Damon.
9. "We've always seen ourselves as
putting on white coats and going into the lab." – Damon on Blur.
10. “He always looks like he’s crying.
that’s his style…” – on Graham Coxon
A very happy birthday to Damon Albarn!
Read all about Blur being BASHED AT THE BRITS HERE,
Blur talking about their future HERE
New tear jerker song HERE and check out their newest track HERE
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