Damon Albarn torn over whether Blur should record new album

BLUR NEWS: All's well in the rehearsals, the Hyde Park show preparations and all's good in the interpersonal relationship side of things. But Damon Albarn has admitted that he is unsure about the possibility of Blur ever recording a new album. 
   
Pressparty reports:

Damon Albarn has admitted that he’s torn over whether Blur should record a new studio album.

Rumours about a possible follow-up to 2003’s ‘Think Tank’ have been circulating ever since the band reformed for a series of comeback gigs in 2009, but the 44-year-old told Q magazine that he’s still unsure whether it would be a good idea:

“It’s very much on my mind. I feel very…torn between a lot of different emotions. I’m undecided about how I feel. The problem is, I’m constantly asked about it and I don’t really know. 

“Genuinely, as a human being – not as Damon Albarn, whatever that is – as just a person. I don’t know how I feel.”

The Britpop icon, whose band will perform at the Olympics closing ceremony gig in Hyde Park next month, went on to add:

“There’s part of me that would love to be able to bring it into our 40s and our sort of family world. But does it belong in that world?

“That’s the other side of it. Do any of us need that? And I have got so many more interesting things to do.”

There seems to be no solid "yes/ no" answer right now as to the band's future. But why ask so many questions when we can enjoy Blur this summer for their massive gigs, warm up shows and exhibition? 

Blur is also featured on this month's Q Magazine cover - watch out for Damon's toothy smile and the other Blur members on the front. 

Get your copy of Q Magazine, out on 31st July (Tuesday) in your local newsstand. There will be an exclusive interview with Damon Albarn about Blur and the coming gigs. 

Damon Albarn says Blur will continue after 2012- HERE

The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Top 7 Blur Updates of 2012 HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

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Blur - The Countdown to the Hyde Park 2012 Olympics Gig

Last night's Olympics Opening Ceremony was epic - Blur's 'Song 2' came on for about 10 seconds. And the crowds went wild. "WOO HOO" was heard all over the stadium and the crowds chanted along, much unlike that Brit Award performance we all know about. Blur was on - short and sweet. 

Promotional Poster

But have you ever wondered about the design process of Blur's album arts, merchandise or art work in general? Who makes the posters, ads, videos, chooses the colours and picks the designs?

For the Hyde Park Olympics gig, which is considered to be Blur's biggest event in the last decade, there are many talented graphic designers and artists working hard to produce and develop on every detail for the upcoming shows.

The following fabulous poster was originally designed for Blur's Eleven Management to promote Blur's Hyde Park summer gigs. As it is not in use right now, designer Sharon Chai of eyeflyhigh.com kindly contacted us to share her interesting and beautiful poster. 

Alternative Hyde Park Poster - can you spot the Girls and Boys cover ?

It contains many references to Blur's album artwork in an Olympic context, including the greyhound standing at third place, the signature man from Think Tank standing at second place and the leisure swimsuit model on the very top. 

The Big Ben and other iconic structures of London feature in the background. There's even a milky present in the foreground.

After witnessing 4 billion people tune into Blur's 'Song 2' during the Olympics opening ceremony last night, it all seems very close to the Blur gig. 

Less than 1 month now!

There's less than 1 month till the Hyde Park concerts (beginning on August 12th 2012) - anticipation is building up in the Blur camp. Will they play the new Blur songs again ? What will the setlist be like? 

Damon Albarn wowed by Magician Impossible

A new Damon Albarn clip where he and his daughter, Missy Albarn, watches Dynamo the magician perform a coin and hand trick. Damon invited the magician back to his London studio after meeting him at a New York Gorillaz concert during one of his tours.

Obviously, Damon was impressed and stunned by this performance. We are too - the hand trick was just amazing!



Damon Albarn says Blur will continue after 2012- HERE

The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Top 7 Blur Updates of 2012 HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

Liked this article? Share it to everyone and leave us a comment. 

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe now to RSS to stay tuned for the Latest Blur News, delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!  "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Damon Albarn - Blur Will Still Be Playing live after the Olympics

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon appeared on a brand new interview for BBC Two's Culture Show on July 25th 2012. Apart from the funny Leisure-era introduction clip at the beginning (note the floppy hair), the interview was serious, reflective and hinted at Blur's bright future. 

The interview's focus was on whether the band's comeback for the massive Hyde Park gig marks the 'end-of-Blur' or a new beginning. There's some interesting talk on 'Under the Westway' being Blur's "response to the London 2012 Olympics". There are even some clues as to what the band are going to do in the future.

The clip was recorded on the rooftop where the band played their hymn 'Under the Westway' live on July 2nd. The background features the very highway that inspired the song's theme. Damon and Graham, the key songwriters for the band, looked fresh and cheerful against the backdrop of a cloudy sky.

Damon also said that Muse's Olympics song may not be something they will "play in a few years time". He added - "We will still be playing Under the Westway".

"We will still be playing Under the Westway" 

- Damon Albarn on BBC July 2nd 

Hold on a second - could this mean Blur WILL be playing new shows with their brand new single in a few year's time ? This seems to imply Blur will be continuing to perform after the summer!



It is a very nice interview and generally what the boys said were very positive - they even said that the box set did not represent a 'goodbye present' to hardcore Blur fans, and that fans should "take it as they come" without assuming the end of Blur. Certainly, this is very ,very reassuring. 

But of course, one thing continues to remain unknown - will Blur truly continue to play after their summer shows ?

Could we take this Damon comment seriously ?

Order the new Blur vinyl HERE

The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

Liked this article? Share it to everyone and leave us a comment. 

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe now to RSS to stay tuned for the Latest Blur News, delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!  "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Top 7 Updates from the Blurosphere - Blur

While Blur have been rehearsing feverishly (we hope!) for their Hyde Park Olympics gig, the Blur graphics design and PR team have been also working hard behind the scenes. 

There has been many changes on the http://blur.co.uk, the band's official site, and we bring you the 5 must-visit updates and pages this week. 

1. Blur iPad / iPhone App
is now out - download it from iTunes (free, compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch) for an awesome interactive experience to celebrate the Blur21 box set and the band's musical  contribution. Lots of rare new pictures and cool features to be explored. Definitely worth getting immediately - be prepared for many hours of Blur nostalgia! 
2. Official Blur Shop - this merchandise shop is now open, selling tees that were printed even from the 90s (Blur McNormal Vintage Red T-shirt and others). CDs, beer mat sets, Hyde Park lithograph, Blur's new 7 inch vinyl, box set and the new 'Under the Westway' single and even a Blur track jacket are in stock. 
3. Blur Timeline - well-designed little London tube map imitation widget for all to explore Blur's history, videos, cultural information, film, art, international, music and even all the Blur locations featured in their music videos and work. This new feature is Blur's discography and live history at it's best. What's more - YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE to the timeline by selecting "Add a Memory" on any stop, and following the instructions to submit your Blur note to the official site. 




4. Watch the BBC Maida Vale Gig - live on July 31st - to be broadcasted LIVE on the blur.co.uk official site. Great news for those who can't make it to the gig, or did not win the BBC Blur ticket lucky draw to the rare intimate show. 
5. Blur 21 Remastered tracks available - via iTunes. All the Stephen Street remastered albums including extra tracks and previously unheard demos, live versions and extra tidbits can be previewed for 90 seconds / downloaded on the music store. The tracks are in excellent quality and are much clearer than the album tracks currently available. 

Just two more interesting 'non-official site' related links: -  

1. Blurry Picture Game - There's huge support for Blur's comeback from BBC and BBC 6 Music - the latter is holding a game where fans have to guess the blurry Blur memorabilia or item posted each day leading up to the BBC 6 Maida Vale gig. Join in the fun and guess today's picture - we have to admit that today's picture is a tough one to guess. 
2. Blur21 Box Set Review - Read all about the Blur21 Box set that BBC reviewed positively. They even went so far as suggesting that "the absence of new single Under the Westway/The Puritan suggests that 21 is not a full-stop". Could this be true ? Could this mean there could be more Blur after the 'end' of 2012? 

With Blur back for the summer, it seems everything's in full swing. There's a new Blur exhibition, Blur game, Blur review, a new Blur CD and vinyl, a new Blur21 Box Set and some new gigs and shows.

Blur, Blur, Blur ... could this get any better ?

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Damon Albarn works on Mali Music amidst Blur rehearsals

Damon Albarn has been working on something other than Blur and Britpop- Mali Music. The Blur singer was featured on The Sunday Telegraph Magazine this July, with a special interview talking about African music, religion, being in Africa to visit a friend and many more related musical chit chat.

A new single 'Bamako' was also debuted live, and the video is streaming on Oxfam's official youtube channel. Damon joined up with Malian musician Afel Bocoum for a special performance from the album 'Mali Music', an album Damon produced in 2002 with collaborations with several Malian singers and musicians.

All scans Credit: damon4president from the official Blur forums

The scans for the magazine article can be accessed below. Funny quotes, Damon-isms, typical rants, philosophical debate and talk about Modern Life is Rubbish, Blur's second album, can also be found on the article.

 

Also, scroll down to check out the new videos of the frontman. Damon's perhaps taking some time off Blur rehearsals to do something meaningful and productive for his previous works, and also raise money for Oxfam's worthy cause.

Note the head bobbing, snappy outfit, summer heat and how he's so into the music he creates. Making new Blur songs and new Mali music? Rehearsing for their massive Hyde Park Olympics gig too? Planning African Express and the train tour?

Damon's hectic schedule may have just gotten a bit busier than usual!

  

Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

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Blur to be special headliners for 100 club gig

GIG NEWS: After a few weeks of speculation, the truth about who is the secret guests for a Converse-hosted special gig is revealed. And obviously, the very special guests that night are none other than Blur, who will headline REPRESENT at the legendary 100 Club (Oxford Street, London) on August 2nd 2012. 

The background image of the poster is from Blur's 'No Distance Left to Run'

This will be the first official warm up gig ever for Blur in 2012, just before their massive Hyde Park Olympics gig a few weeks after this show. There are around 200 pairs of tickets available for this performance, so it is definitely going to be an intimate and close-up gig for the few chosen lucky fans!


To get a chance to watch Blur live in this special event, register for tickets on the official Converse website (www.converse.co.uk/blur) from 9:00am - 6:00pm (UK time) on Wednesday, August 1st 2012. 


Order the new Blur vinyl HERE

The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

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Blur: Under the Westway (William Orbit Version) Lyrics

Blur - Under the Westway (William Orbit Version) 

Lyrics 

The sky won in my city today

She was so blue she swallowed the Monday

On the 52

As the traffic grew

Upon the Westway

Here I sat watching comets lonesome trails

Shining up above me

The jet fuel it fell

Down to earth where the money always comes first

And the chorus sings

Where is the day they switch off the machines

The men in yellow jackets put adverts in my dreams

Government why do you always lie

But I soon know

Captain hit the rocks so he had to fall

Throwing you love would

Suffer the rising 
Call for radical change 
'cause your mind's deranged

If you think I want to be like that

I ain't cruel

You're as tied to me

As I am to you

All aboard

Take the lifeboats home

that may defend us

It's pouring out of us today

La la la la la la la la

And it's pouring out us today

La la la la la la la la

Sold the world like everyone else does

Cock and Bull

I downed a rum or two with you

I dream of the sun

I dream the sun like everyone else does

Work's done

On Friday night in public houses

We are wonderful, Pathetic, or just

Plain gone

So it's magic arrows hitting the bull

Doing one eighty while sounding the call

And the flags coming down

And the last post sounds just like a love song

For the way I feel about you

Forgetting paradise, it's with you

On a permanent basis I apologise

But I am going to sing hallelujah

Sing it out loud, sing it to you

Always lost in the sea

'Till the tide it washes over me

Thanks D for compiling the lyrics ! 

New Blur Exhibition in London - July to August 2012

Heads up - there's a new Blur event in town. Blur will be holding a band exhibition to celebrate the band's new 'Blur21' box set and their 21 years in music.

Spotify presents Blur 21: The Exhibition will take place in London at the Londonewcastle Gallery, East London.  

It will run from July 27th to August 14th 2012, and entry is free for all. 

Memorabilia and other items of the band will be shown for all to enjoy. Images of the band, taken by famous photographers Pennie Smith (who took the Blur black and white 2009 comeback photos) and Kevin Cummins will also be shown. 

Will the props from Blur's music videos, or some their early apparel will be there?

Will the milk carton from Coffee and TV will make a special appearance?

Here is what is in store for all visiting, according to the venue's official site:

21 years after the release of their debut albumLeisure (1991), Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree will return to the heart of London in an exhibition of rare photographs, artwork and never-before-seen images of this great British band.

Presented by Spotify and EMI Music, the retrospective celebrates Blur’s era defining music, documenting their career as one of the most successful and influential bands of the past two decades, through the lens of legendary and iconic music photographers Pennie Smith, Kevin Cummins, Tom Sheehan and Paul Postle, among others. Previously unseen artwork will also be on display.

Spotify presents Blur 21: The Exhibition documents the band’s story from the early days as Seymour through the 1990s and the height of Britpop, the performance at Alexandra Palace in 1994, seven chart topping studio albums, and eleven top 10 singles, including Country House, Song 2 and Beetlebum, to a historic Sunday night appearance at Glastonbury.

Bringing us right up to 2012 - a year that has seen Blur awarded the BRIT for Outstanding Contribution to Music and the release of two new songs - Under The Westway and The Puritan - ahead of a sold out show at London’s Hyde Park on 12th August, before the upcoming release of career spanning Blur 21: The Box on 30th July.

Curated by leading expert on music photographyDave Brolan, all the key moments of the band’s career are illustrated – on the road, live on stage, in the studio, as well as formal portrait sessions. Additional Blur 21 material will be made available to Spotify users globally over the coming weeks.

Don't miss this opportunity to visit the exhibition if you are in London this summer. Blur also did a Blur X Exhibition in 1999. It's a nice side-event to the Blur Olympics hyde park gigs. 

Visit the venue website for more details here.

Order the new Blur vinyl HERE
The Puritan- new track HERE

Damon Albarn says it's the End of Blur! Read HERE

Is Damon and Graham Coxon recording together? Find out HERE

Check out Blur's rumoured new album HERE. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

If you missed old news, visit the NEWS ARCHIVE to read about past news!

Remember to subscribe to RSS and "LIKE" BlurBalls on Facebook.

Stay Tuned, leave us a comment below and Get The Latest Blur News delivered straight to you- BlurBalls is the most updated Blur fan site on the internet!