Damon Albarn finally passes his driving test at 52

 Damon Albarn has finally passed his driving test at age 52 after not learning to drive all of his life. 

The Sun reported that Damon bought a £65,000 Range Rover as his first car. The Blur frontman, who has a fortune worth £10 million, decided to learn to drive to make it easier to get between his west London pad and his big house in the country in Devon.

His fancy new car goes from 0 to 60mph in eight seconds and has a top speed of 130mph – much speedier than most new drivers’ first set of wheels. 

Damon spent most of the UK lockdown in an isolated farmhouse in South Devon which he bought in 1995 with his “ill-gotten gains from Parklife”. 

He previously told a newspaper: “It was the first time I ever had any money and it was the first thing I ever bought. “Everyone’s been telling me I’ve been mad for years. Why did you buy this remote farmhouse in the middle of nowhere? But now everyone thinks I’m a genius.”

He used the extra free time during the pandemic to practise for his driving test having lost his licence 20 years ago and “never bothered” to get it back.

A friend of the singer, who is now 53, told the Mail on Sunday: “Damon loved his time in Devon during lockdown and would love to spend much more time there. “But getting there on public transport would be a nightmare, so he decided to take the plunge and finally learn to drive himself around.” 

They added he had been practising his driving with his partner Suzi Winstanley,, the mother to their daughter Missy, 21.

Looks like Damon put his free time to good use! 

Gorillaz To Sell Exclusive NFTs to Fans - What's Next?

Cryptocurrencies are all in the trend right now. Bitcoin? Check. Altcoins? Going up with insane prices. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? Well, Gorillaz has officially entered the market. 

If you've not heard about NFTs you might be wondering what exactly are these exotic new digital goods? NFTs are essentially digital property which contains a special identifier located on a blockchain. Usually, these are run on the Ethereum network, but newer altcoins such as Cardano and Polkadots have the capacity to host NFTs on them. Imagine owning a piece of digital art that is unique because no matter how much other people replicate them, you own the original piece with it's unique identifier. 

Being a virtual band, it is of no surprise that Gorillaz has recently begun to delve into the NFT space. In light of the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Gorillaz have announced a host of new products for fans to get their hands on. 

Amongst these special anniversary merchandise and artwork is a range of art collectibles that will be made available as NFTs. The Gorillaz NFT collection is a collaboration with the company Superplastic, who the band has already worked with in the past. It is unclear where or when these NFTs will be released, but it can be assumed that they will be on sale in one of the major NFT marketplaces like Rarible or OpenSea. 

Gorillaz's decision enter into the NFT market has been criticised by some fans and websites as "hypocritical". Fans claim that the band's environmentally conscious album "Plastic Beach" advocates preserving the environment. Yet, NFTs are plagued by climate controversies and sources claim that each sale of NFTs consume extremely high amounts of electricity. 

On the other hand, cryptocurrency lovers and investors may be interested in purchasing these lucrative NFTs. Celebrities have embraced the NFT hype with fervour and artists have been making up to a few million in profits for a single sale of NFTs. Some view NFTs as a long-term investment, and who knows if Gorillaz's tokens will appreciate in value over the next ten years. One thing's for sure, NFTs are here to stay. 

One can't help wondering- what's next? Will there be a Gorillaz cryptocurrency? Who knows. 

Damon Albarn to perform in a Glastonbury Festival in May

Head's up Blur fans- Damon Albarn is set to perform on stage in Glastonbury Festival  on the 22nd May 2021 at 19:00 BST. This means that there's going to be an epic lineup featuring Coldplay, Haim, Idles, Jorja Smith, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka, Wolf Alice, and DJ Honey Dijon, as well as other talented musicians in the UK. 

The Glastonbury Festival is going to be streamed live to global audiences online, and promises to be an epic showcase of musical talent. The stream will be directed by Paul Dugdale, and will be filmed in the Worthy Farm site at landmarks including the Pyramid Field and the Stone Circle.

“After two Glastonbury cancellations, it brings us great pleasure to announce our first online livestream, which will present live music performances filmed across Worthy Farm at landmarks including the Pyramid and, for the first time ever, the Stone Circle,” festival organizer Emily Eavis said. 

Glastonbury Festival:

Saturday, 22 May 2021 at 19:00 BST

“It will feature a rolling cast of artists and performers who have all given us enormous support by agreeing to take part in this event, showing the farm as you have never seen it. There will also be some very special guest appearances and collaborations. We are hoping this will bring a bit of Glastonbury to your homes and that for one night only people all over the world will be able to join us on this journey through the farm together.”

Glastonbury Festival has been predicted to lose out on millions of pounds this year due to ongoing cancellations caused by the global pandemic. The festival recently received a £900,000 grant as part of Government's Culture Recovery Fund. It is hoped that the live stream event will attract viewers from all over the world. 

The concert will be available only to ticket holders. The tickets are selling for £20, €23, $27.50 and AUD$35. A special festival poster for the event is also on sale, with proceeds going to Stagehand, the live-production welfare and benevolent fund, which is helping crew who have fallen through gaps in the U.K. government financial support during the coronavirus pandemic. Usually, ticket sales for Glastonbury disappears in a few hours but since this is a livestream, it seems that the tickets are uncapped. 

To buy tickets, visit THIS link. 

Visit Glastonbury Festival's official website HERE. 

Feeling a bit nostalgic? Check out Blur perform "Tender" at Glastonbury in 2009 during the great reunion. 

Funniest Damon Albarn Moments from the Past

With Damon Albarn celebrating his 53rd birthday in March, now's a good time to watch some funny clips of the man himself throughout his musical career. Take a look below to see the funniest Damon Albarn moments from the past! 

Warning: this video is guaranteed to make you laugh and extremely nostalgic. 

Damon Albarn shops in London with partner Suzi Winstanley

The bandage appeared to be off on Tuesday as Damon Albarn stepped out with long time partner Suzi Winstanley after injuring his hand during an unfortunate accident with a kitchen blender. 

The Blur singer, 52, had previously been spotted with protective dressing on his finger following the bizarre incident at his London home in December. 

But he appeared to be fully healed on Tuesday during an appearance with artist Suzi in trendy Notting Hill.

His casual appearance was accentuated with a black beanie hat, while a raffish red patterned scarf rounded things off. Suzi appeared to match his offbeat look in a a camouflage army jacket and faded cargo trousers as they made their way onto the street.

According to The Sun, Albarn injured his hand while making Christmas dinner for his family. The star had previously been spending time at his farm in Devon after briefly moving their with his partner Suzi, daughter Missy, 18, and parents Keith and Hazel in March. 

In October, Damon, who is worth around £30million, told The Sun: 'I was getting up in the morning, going to get food, preparing food, going to the studio, coming back at lunch, cooking, going back to the studio, coming back and cooking again for the family. I was busy. 'Going into lockdown, I was reasonable in the kitchen. 

It's not that I'm a more accomplished cook now, I'm just more efficient and confident. 'I can cook most things and my baking is a lot better but still with room for improvement. It’s very hard to bake in an Aga because the heat’s not consistent. 

Damon Albarn's The Nearer The Fountain More Pure The Stream Flows Tour Rescheduled for 2022

The National Concert Hall has today announced that Damon Albarn: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows planned concerts as part of the NCH Perspectives series on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th April are rescheduled to Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th February 2022.

The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows is a new work by Damon Albarn, inspired by the landscapes of Iceland, which he will perform with a group premiere and tour in 2022.

This new project from Damon Albarn, a frequent visitor to Iceland for almost three decades,  ais inspired by the country's beautiful nature and landscapes. Damon Albarn will perform this very personal piece in its entirety with an ensemble and specially commissioned visuals. 

The title is taken from a John Clare poem entitled "Love and Memory".

The concerts have been rescheduled to next year due to ongoing public health measures and restrictions in respect of Covid 19. Originally the concerts were scheduled for 2021. 

Ticket holders for April concerts will be automatically transferred to the new dates of 23rd and 24th February 2022. 

The National Concert Hall wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused. Damon Albarn’s The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows - is part of the National Concert Hall's Perspectives Series, sponsored by Davy, as Innovation Partner, supported by The Irish Times.

Elton John Praises Damon Albarn For Being "British Jewel"

Elton John and Damon Albarn are two of the greatest musicians in the UK. The ‘Rocketman’ singer recently collaborated with Albarn on ‘The Pink Phantom’ for Gorillaz’ latest project ‘Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez’. 

Speaking in a new interview, John praised Albarn for throwing himself into projects that interest him, rather than focusing on what might be deemed more commercially successful.

Elton praises Damon for writing "simple" and provocative songs, while comparing his style as being too complicated. He claims that Damon is the most interesting British musician and called the last Blur album a "masterpiece". 

Damon Albarn clearly looked flattered and told Elton that at the beginning of Blur, his songs were all over the place and he had to stop playing the piano. He said he wanted to write songs like Elton John. 

The two guys have a very good relationship and the bromance is real. 

Watch Elton John interview Damon Albarn below! 

Watch the duo's collaboration below! 

How To Dress Like Damon Albarn in the 90s

Damon Albarn in the 90s was the envy of all men and women. Men wanted to be him, and women wanted to be with him. Let's be honest, Damon Albarn had some of the best fashion sense of any pop star in the 1990s. Here is how you can recreate his signature looks.

1) Tracksuits and Track Wear

Damon Albarn's into sports and athleisure, as seen in his frequent forays into football during the 90s. He is often seen in his Adidas tracksuit sets and Adidas joggers. Adidas is probably Damon Albarn's go-to brand for sports wear. And boy does he look good in them. Damon and many other musicians of the 90s wears his soccer shorts and track clothing as casual clothes, pioneering the athleisure look that's so popular these days. 

Damon is often seen in matching sets which looks quite slick. 

2) Sports Jacket 

No 90s look is complete without a sports jacket. Damon Albarn seems to be wearing an early Adidas windbreaker in the photo above, which won't be available these days but you can find plenty of similar ones on Amazon. We think this lovely jacket is pretty close to Damon's one. Being a bit loose and scruffled, these sports jackets give off a relaxed vibe and can be worn with blue jeans and sneakers for the ultimate Damon Albarn look. 

3) Harrington Jacket

Nothing is more signature for Damon Albarn than a Harrington Jacket. They are slouchy, cool but fitted at the same time. He wears it out when he's drinking, partying or doing press interviews. Harrington Jackets come in a variety of styles and colors, but we think this Levis Harrington Jacket is the closest to what Damon Albarn wears. 

Damon always layers it over his polo shirts and blue jeans. 

4) Fred Perry Polo Shirts

Damon Albarn loves his Fred Perry polo shirts- whether they are striped, plain or just funky. If you're a Blur fan you would know that he has not stopped wearing Fred Perry ever since the 90s. In fact, he is sponsored by Fred Perry for many of his concerts. This is definitely one of Damon's favourite brands and styles, layered over a cool Harrington jacket. 

5) White sneakers

The classic white sneakers is a look that Damon Albarn will not stop wearing in the 1990s. He wears these Nike sneakers everyday (and these Adidas sneakers were also a 90s classic). Damon Albarn seems to like wearing sneakers with obvious logos which contrasts the white surface of the shoes. He has a huge sneaker collection, and these Puma dupes from Amazon are pretty similar too. 

6) Logo Sweaters

We all remember Damon Albarn's signature look from Beetlebum- his gray sweater with stripes was custom made but we have managed to find a similar one here. Tommy Hilfiger sells pretty similar 90s-styled sweaters that resembles Damon's look. These can be layered over jeans and sneakers for a relaxed and casual look. 

7) Logo T-shirts 

If there's no logo on it, it's not a Damon Albarn-type of t-shirt. Known for his eclectic t-shirt collection, the musician is almost never seen without a funky logo t-shirt such as the British Rail T-shirt, 99p t-shirt, Bullseye T-shirt , Parklife t-shirt or the California 86 shirt when out. In fact, it's what makes his style so iconic. 

There are so many t-shirts out there, but slap a logo on it and you'll instantly look like Damon! 

8) Blue Loose Jeans

Loose jeans were the staple item in the wardrobe of any 90s kid. It was all the trend back then and Damon Albarn is no exception. He wears these Blue loose jeans everywhere to photoshoots and concerts. Classic 90s brands such as Levis does a great job at getting that slouchy, casual look that many 90s rock stars swear by. 

9) Converse Sneakers 

Converse sneakers are the norm for Damon Albarn's style lookbook. He has been wearing these deliciously 90s shoes all the way into the 2000s and 2010s. Just take a look at him above, looking all fresh and preppy. Damon Albarn wears converse sneakers with rolled up blue jeans and black socks. The ankle look is very much trending right now. They come in different colors, but white seems to be Damon's favourite look (though he did delve into pink sneakers sometime in the 2000s). 

They look fantastic when paired with Blue loose jeans (the clothing, not the song). 

10) Chelsea Boots

Think Timberland, think Clarks. Think heavy, thick-soled and practical chelsea boots and you've got the very final touches of a Damon Albarn inspired look. Damon loves wearing chelsea boots, having named it one of his favourite shoes in an old interview. Chelsea boots are practical and screams 90s rock chic. 

As always, Damon loves pairing his boots with rolled up jeans and a casual jacket for a complete look. He is often seen in his signature red chelsea boots on stage. 

With these killer items in your wardrobe, you too can look and dress like Damon Albarn in his prime. Notwithstanding, Damon Albarn still dresses like he does in the 1990s today (if you have ever seen him around). 

If you think this article was useful, make sure to share it to any other Blur fans that love 1990s fashion! 

Damon Albarn Starts Online Store 'West Town' With Daughter Missy Albarn

Damon Albarn has started a shop called West Town with his daughter Missy Albarn. 

The Blur frontman, 52, is running an eclectic, eccentric homeware and accessories shop with Missy, who he shares with artist Suzi Winstanley. 

The shop named West Town, which is located in London's fancy area of Westbourne Grove, sells bags, posters, artwork, T-shirts and fabrics. Their website is quirky and dark, and features a variety of eccentric items sourced by the frontman. 

Official documents filed with Companies House have Damon, Suzi and Missy, 21, as co-directors of parent company Westtown 11. 

While non-essential shops have had to temporarily shut due to Covid, West Town still sells its wares online. 

Its website states its mission, saying: "This is not a shop. "This is a magpies' nest of the collected, collated, agitated, acquired, borrowed, found, bought, lost and forgotten. 

"This is a space dreamt up. A space for all the fabrics, sounds, shapes and colours that we've seen or heard. All the fabrics, sounds, shapes and colours that we’ve seen or heard. A counterpoint to pointless spaces, a space for gorgeous things".

West Town is a collective, curating and selling homewares, art, clothing and curiosities from across the globe.

"Magpie" was also a Blur b-side which can be listened to here:

Missy Albarn was born in 1999 and also appears to run a clothing and mask company via Instagram called Saltman Clothing Co. Images show her modelling the clothes and masks. 

Check out West Town's site: https://www.westtownlondon.com (shop address: 1 Westbourne Grove Mews, London, W11 2RU)